Nofollow Links: Understanding Their Impact on SEO
Google does not transmit PageRank through nofollow links, as clarified by Webmaster Trends Analyst John Mueller on the August 15 edition of #AskGoogleWebmasters, even though these links might be displayed in Search Console.
The Question
A user asked via Twitter, “Does Google count nofollow links as backlinks? I’m seeing these links in the Link Report in the GSC that I know for sure are nofollow.”
The Answer
Mueller confirmed that nofollow links do not pass PageRank, even if they appear in your GSC Link Report.
“However, it’s still a link on the web, and users may be using those to reach your website,” Mueller elaborated. He added, “And so, in Search Console, we decided to show these as links alongside other links pointing to your site. Similarly, if you were to use the disavow links tool, those links would no longer pass any signals but would continue to show up in the Links Report in Search Console.”
Why This Matters
Misinterpreting the nature of the links shown in your GSC Link Report could lead to an inaccurate understanding of your PageRank, which might result in a flawed evaluation of your site’s overall SEO.
Learn More About Linking Best Practices
Here are some additional resources to help you master both outbound and backlinks:
- Infographic: What Is The Nofollow Tag; When & How To Use It
- The Blogger’s Guide To Nofollow Links
- Back to Basics: Do outbound links matter for SEO?
- Is link building dead? Depends on who you talk to
