Nofollow Link
A link with rel="nofollow" that tells Google not to pass PageRank.
Definition
A nofollow link contains the HTML attribute `rel="nofollow"` (or `rel="sponsored"` / `rel="ugc"`), which signals to search engines that the linking page does not want to vouch for the linked URL. Google originally treated nofollow as a hard directive — it would not crawl the linked URL or pass PageRank through it. Since 2019, Google treats nofollow as a "hint" rather than a directive, meaning it may choose to follow and index nofollow links but still typically does not pass PageRank.
In the context of directory submissions, nofollow links are less valuable than dofollow links for building domain authority. However, they are not worthless: they drive referral traffic, contribute to link profile diversity, and provide brand visibility on the linking domain.
Example
Wikipedia uses rel="nofollow" on all outbound links. A Wikipedia citation for your startup is still extremely valuable for traffic and credibility, even though it doesn't pass PageRank.
Frequently Asked Questions
All three prevent PageRank from flowing. "nofollow" is the original generic attribute. "sponsored" signals a paid or affiliate link. "ugc" (user-generated content) marks links from forums, comments, or user profiles. For directory submissions, any of these attributes effectively means the link is nofollow for SEO purposes.
No. Start with dofollow directories, but don't ignore nofollow ones — especially high-traffic, high-DR platforms. A nofollow link from a DR 90 site with millions of monthly visitors still drives referral traffic, builds brand awareness, and signals to Google that your site is being discussed on authoritative platforms.
Related Terms
Put it into practice
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