Dofollow and nofollow links are types of hyperlinks that indicate to search engines whether they should pass SEO value (link equity) to the linked page. Understanding the difference between these two types of links and when to use them can help you optimize your website’s SEO and control how search engines interpret your links. Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to create and manage dofollow and nofollow links using OzSpeed’s hPanel.
What Are Dofollow and Nofollow Links? #
- Dofollow Links: These are regular links that allow search engines to follow the link and pass link equity (SEO value) to the destination page. They help improve the SEO of the linked site.
- Nofollow Links: These links contain a
rel="nofollow"
attribute, instructing search engines not to follow the link or pass any link equity. They are typically used for paid links, user-generated content, and external links where you don’t want to endorse the linked site.
Tip: #
- Use dofollow links for internal linking and trusted external sources. Use nofollow links for paid links, affiliate links, and untrusted external sites.
Step 1: Access the Page Editor in hPanel #
To add or modify a hyperlink, open the Page Editor in hPanel.
- Log in to hPanel at ozspeed.com.au.
- Go to Website Builder > Edit Site.
- Select the page where you want to add the link.
Tip: #
- Before editing links, plan which ones should be dofollow and which should be nofollow based on your SEO strategy.
Step 2: Create a Dofollow Link #
Dofollow links are the default type of link and pass SEO value to the destination page.
How to Add a Dofollow Link: #
- Highlight the text you want to use as the link anchor (e.g., “Learn more about OzSpeed hosting”).
- Click the Link Icon in the editor toolbar.
- Enter the URL you want to link to (e.g., “https://ozspeed.com.au“).
- Click Apply.
Tip: #
- Use descriptive anchor text that includes relevant keywords for better SEO (e.g., “best web hosting services”).
Step 3: Add a Nofollow Attribute to the Link #
If you want to prevent search engines from following a link, add a rel="nofollow"
attribute.
How to Add a Nofollow Link: #
- Highlight the text you want to link and click the Link Icon in the toolbar.
- Enter the URL of the link.
- Click on the Settings (gear icon) next to the link options.
- Check the box labeled Add Nofollow Attribute or manually enter
rel="nofollow"
in the link settings. - Click Apply and then Save.
Tip: #
- Use nofollow links for user-generated content, such as blog comments or forum posts, to avoid endorsing potentially low-quality links.
Step 4: Verify Dofollow and Nofollow Links #
After adding your links, verify that the correct attributes have been applied.
How to Check Link Attributes: #
- Right-click on the page and select View Page Source.
- Use Ctrl + F (Windows) or Cmd + F (Mac) to search for the link.
- Look for the link code:
- Dofollow Link:
<a href="https://ozspeed.com.au/home">OzSpeed Hosting</a>
- Nofollow Link:
<a href="https://external-site.com" rel="nofollow">External Resource</a>
- Dofollow Link:
Tip: #
- Use online tools like Ahrefs SEO Toolbar or MozBar to quickly identify nofollow links on your page.
Step 5: Monitor Your Link Profile in Google Search Console #
Regularly monitor your website’s link profile to ensure you have a good balance of dofollow and nofollow links.
How to Monitor Links: #
- Log in to Google Search Console.
- Go to the Links section.
- Review the Top Linked Pages and Top Linking Sites reports to check the type and quality of your backlinks.
Tip: #
- Too many dofollow external links can dilute your link equity. Use nofollow for untrusted or low-quality sites.
Best Practices for Using Dofollow and Nofollow Links #
- Use Dofollow for Trusted, High-Quality Links:
- Link to authoritative and relevant sources within your content using dofollow links to pass link equity.
- Use Nofollow for Paid and Sponsored Links:
- Always add
rel="nofollow"
orrel="sponsored"
to paid and affiliate links to comply with search engine guidelines.
- Always add
- Balance Internal and External Links:
- Use dofollow links for internal linking to boost SEO and improve site navigation. Use nofollow for untrusted external sites.
- Use the
rel="ugc"
Attribute for User-Generated Content:- For comments, forums, and other user-generated content, use
rel="ugc"
to indicate that the link was added by a user.
- For comments, forums, and other user-generated content, use
Example: #
htmlCopy code<a href="https://example.com" rel="ugc nofollow">User-Generated Link</a>
Troubleshooting Tips #
- Nofollow Links Not Working:
- Check the HTML source code to ensure the
rel="nofollow"
attribute is correctly added. - Clear your website cache in hPanel and your browser cache.
- Check the HTML source code to ensure the
- Dofollow Links Affecting SEO:
- Regularly review your outbound links to ensure they point to high-quality, relevant sites.
- Use tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush to analyze your link profile and disavow harmful links if necessary.
- Too Many Nofollow Links:
- Overusing nofollow links can limit your ability to pass link equity. Use them strategically and focus on building a strong internal linking structure with dofollow links.
Additional Tips: #
- Test Links Regularly: Use a broken link checker tool to identify and fix broken or incorrect links.
- Update Link Attributes Periodically: Revisit your nofollow and dofollow links periodically to ensure they align with your current SEO strategy.
- Educate Contributors: If you have guest bloggers or content contributors, provide guidelines on when to use dofollow and nofollow links.