SEO Simplified - Why some backlinks have no follow?

SEO Simplified - Why some backlinks have no follow?

As a website owner looking to improve your online presence, you've likely heard that backlinks are digital gold for SEO. But not all backlinks are created equal. Today, let's demystify "nofollow" backlinks and understand why they matter for your lifestyle and beauty blog.

What Exactly Is a "Nofollow" Backlink?

A nofollow backlink contains a special HTML attribute (rel="nofollow") that tells search engines: "Don't count this link as an endorsement." It looks like this in HTML code:

<a href="https://yourbeautyblog.com.au" rel="nofollow">Your Beauty Blog</a>

Normally, when a website links to yours, search engines consider it a vote of confidence, which can boost your rankings. With nofollow links, this voting power is essentially neutralized.

Why Do Websites Use Nofollow Links?

There are several legitimate reasons why websites implement nofollow attributes:

  1. To prevent spam: Particularly on user-generated content platforms
  2. To avoid endorsing paid links: For sponsored content and advertisements
  3. To maintain SEO equity: Websites don't want to pass their hard-earned "link juice" to others
  4. To follow search engine guidelines: Google recommends nofollow for certain link types

Platform Examples: Reddit & Pinterest

Let's look at two popular platforms that handle backlinks differently, using real examples from our own "SEO Simplified" blog.

Reddit: A Classic Nofollow Example

Reddit, one of the world's most popular social platforms, consistently applies nofollow attributes to external links.

When you share a link on Reddit (whether in a post or comment), the platform automatically adds a nofollow attribute to it. Here's why:

  1. User-generated content protection: Reddit has millions of users posting links daily. Without nofollow, the platform would become a prime target for spammers seeking SEO benefits.
  2. Quality control: Reddit can't manually review every link posted, so nofollow serves as a blanket policy to prevent passing authority to potentially low-quality or harmful sites.

For example, if I share an "SEO Simplified" blog post in r/SEO or r/DigitalMarketing, the link will look like this in the HTML:

<a href="https://seosimplified.com.au/backlink-guide" rel="nofollow">Comprehensive backlink guide from SEO Simplified</a>

Pinterest And Nofollow Links:

If I create a pin promoting my latest "SEO Simplified" article about backlink strategies, the link from Pinterest to my blog will be nofollow. The HTML would look like:

<a href="https://seosimplified.com.au/backlink-guide" rel="nofollow">5 Essential Backlink Strategies for 2025</a>

This happens with:

  • Regular pins
  • Links in pin descriptions
  • Your website link in your Pinterest profile
Infographic comparing follow vs. nofollow backlinks.

When You Might Get Follow Links Instead:

Interestingly, if another blogger reads my "SEO Simplified" article and decides to quote it as a source on their own website, they'll likely give me a regular follow link, a regular link to my website. 

Are Nofollow Links Worthless for SEO?

Definitely not! While they don't pass direct ranking power, nofollow links:

  1. Create a natural backlink profile: A healthy mix of follow and nofollow links looks more natural to Google
  2. Drive referral traffic: Quality visitors can lead to higher engagement metrics
  3. Increase brand visibility: More exposure leads to more natural backlinks from other sources
  4. Offer potential SEO value: Google now treats nofollow as a "hint" rather than a directive

How Should You Approach Your Backlink Strategy For Your Eshops and Blogs?

  1. Focus on value, not link attributes: Create content that people genuinely want to share
  2. Diversify your backlink strategy: Don't obsess over whether links are follow or nofollow
  3. Leverage Reddit and similar platforms: They can drive significant traffic despite nofollow status
  4. Build authentic relationships: Engage with communities naturally, not just for link-building
  5. Create content for humans first: Search engines reward sites that users love

Understanding nofollow links is important. However, the most successful SEO strategies focus on providing genuine value to readers while building a diverse, natural backlink profile.

Remember: A high-traffic nofollow link from a relevant site like Reddit can be far more valuable than a dofollow link from an irrelevant, low-traffic website. Keep creating quality content, engaging authentically with your community, and the right mix of backlinks will follow naturally.

What questions do you have about SEO for your lifestyle and beauty blog? Drop them in the comments below!

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