If you’re managing a WordPress site, you’ve probably heard the term nofollow links before. Nope, not a follow link, a nofollow link. What exactly are they, and why are they important? Whether you’re a blogger, an affiliate marketer, or a business owner, knowing how to add nofollow links in WordPress can help protect your site’s SEO while keeping search engines happy.
Allow us to walk you through the what, why, and how of adding nofollow links in WordPress, step by step. Plus, we’ll introduce you to our plugin, ClickWhale, as the easiest way to manage and customize your links without any hassle!
What Is a Nofollow Link?
A nofollow link is a hyperlink with a special HTML tag that tells search engines not to pass link authority (or “link juice”) to the linked page or post. This means that when Google crawls your website, it won’t consider these links as endorsements.
The HTML Behind a Nofollow Link
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<a href="https://example.com">Check this out</a>
A nofollow link, however, includes a small change:
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<a href="https://example.com" rel="nofollow">Check this out</a>A regular link looks like this:
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<a href="https://example.com">Check this out</a>
A nofollow link, however, includes a small change:
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<a href="https://example.com" rel="nofollow">Check this out</a>That rel=”nofollow” tag tells search engines, “Hey, I’m linking to this post or page, but I don’t vouch for it!”
Why Should You Use Nofollow Links?
Search engines like Google want websites to use nofollow links in certain situations. Here’s why you might need them:
1. To Avoid Passing SEO Value to Paid or Sponsored Links
If you’re running an affiliate marketing site or posting sponsored content, Google requires you to use a nofollow or sponsored tag to prevent manipulation of search rankings.
2. To Prevent Spammy or Low-Quality Links from Hurting Your SEO
If you link to a site that Google considers spammy or untrustworthy, your own website’s credibility might suffer.
3. To Keep Your Site’s SEO Strategy Balanced
A good mix of dofollow and nofollow links makes your website look more natural in Google’s eyes, helping you avoid penalties.
How to Add Nofollow Links in WordPress (Step-by-Step)
If you manage a WordPress website, you may need to control how external and affiliate links interact with search engines. The good news is that WordPress allows you to easily add the “nofollow” attribute to all external links, including those in WordPress posts or pages. This is especially useful for websites that use internal links on their site strategically while avoiding issues related to selling links on your site. The process for adding nofollow is straightforward—you can manually add the external link with the attribute or use a plugin for WordPress that automates the process.
Many site owners prefer plugins because they simplify the process of adding the attribute to all comment links and certain links on a new page or post. Since search algorithms now use nofollow to determine link value, managing this setting properly ensures compliance and optimal SEO performance for every link on a website. Now that you know why nofollow links matter, let’s go through the easiest ways to add the nofollow attribute in WordPress.
Method 1: Manually Add Nofollow Links in the WordPress Editor
If you prefer doing things manually, follow these steps to easily add nofollow links:
Step 1: Add the Link in the WordPress Block Editor
- Open the post or page you’re editing.
- Highlight the text you want to turn into a link.
- Click the link button (🔗) and insert your URL.
Step 2: Switch to HTML Mode
- In the top-right corner of your editor, click on the three-dot menu and select Edit as HTML (or switch to the “Text” tab in Classic Editor).
- Find the link you just added and modify it to include the rel=”nofollow” attribute, like this:
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<a href=”https://example.com” rel=”nofollow”>Example</a>Step 3: Save and Update
Once done, switch back to the Visual Editor, check your link, and publish or update your post!
Method 2: Add Nofollow Links Using a WordPress Plugin
If manually editing HTML feels too tricky of a way to add nofollow links, a plugin is your best bet for discovering the easiest way to add nofollow links. Here’s how you can do it effortlessly with our plugin, ClickWhale, a powerful link management tool for WordPress.
Step 1: Install and Activate ClickWhale
- Go to your WordPress Dashboard.
- Click on Plugins > Add New.
- Search for ClickWhale and hit Install Now.
- Once installed, click Activate.
Step 2: Create or Edit a Link in ClickWhale
- Open the ClickWhale dashboard inside WordPress.
- Click Add New Link or edit an existing one.
- Enter the destination URL and customize the link settings.
Step 3: Enable the Nofollow Attribute
- In the link settings, find the “Rel Attributes” option.
- Check the box for Nofollow to automatically add the correct tag.
Step 4: Copy and Use the Shortened Link
ClickWhale generates a clean, trackable link that you can use anywhere on your site without worrying about SEO issues!
✅ Bonus: ClickWhale also lets you track clicks, customize redirects, and manage all your links from one simple dashboard.
Method 3: Use the Classic Editor Plugin (For Older WordPress Versions)
If you’re using the Classic Editor, adding a nofollow link is still simple:
- Highlight your anchor text and click the link icon.
- Add your URL and click the pencil/edit icon.
- Click the gear icon (⚙️) for link options.
- Check the box that says “Add rel=nofollow” and save.
That’s it! Your nofollow link is ready to go.
Common Mistakes When Adding Nofollow Links
Even seasoned website owners make mistakes when handling nofollow links. Here are some common pitfalls to avoid:
❌ Forgetting to use nofollow on paid or sponsored links – Google penalizes sites that don’t use rel=”sponsored” or rel=”nofollow” for paid links.
❌ Adding nofollow to internal links – Your own pages need SEO authority! Avoid nofollowing links to your own content.
❌ Overusing nofollow links – Not every external link needs to be nofollow. Use it wisely, or your site might look unnatural to Google.
❌ Not checking links after updating them – Always inspect links to ensure the nofollow attribute is correctly applied.
How Nofollow Links Affect SEO in 2024
Google’s approach to nofollow links has evolved over the years. Initially, nofollow links completely blocked link juice, but since 2019, Google has treated them as “hints” rather than strict directives.
So, do nofollow links still matter?
✅ Yes! Even though Google may still crawl nofollow links, they help maintain a healthy link profile and prevent SEO penalties.
✅ Nofollow links can still drive traffic to your site, even if they don’t directly boost rankings.
✅ Using a balanced mix of dofollow and nofollow links ensures your SEO strategy looks natural.
Alternative Link Attributes: When to Use Sponsored & UGC Tags
Besides rel=”nofollow”, there are two other important link attributes you should know:
1. rel=”sponsored” (For Paid Links)
Use this for:
- Affiliate links
- Sponsored posts
- Any paid promotions
2. rel=”ugc” (For User-Generated Content)
Use this for:
- Comments
- Forum posts
- Guest posts from unverified contributors
Using these attributes correctly helps Google understand your links better and keeps your site compliant with SEO guidelines.
How ClickWhale Helps with Link Tracking & SEO
Managing links manually can be time-consuming—that’s where our plugin, ClickWhale, comes in!
✅ One-click nofollow settings – Easily apply nofollow, sponsored, or UGC tags to your links.
✅ Track clicks & performance – See how many people are clicking your links.
✅ Shorten & brand your links – Make your URLs look clean and professional.
✅ Organize & manage links in one place – No more hunting through old posts!
How to Check If a Link is Nofollow?
Want to double-check that your nofollow links are working? Here’s how:
1. Inspect Element (Chrome/Firefox)
- Right-click on the link and select Inspect.
- Look for rel=”nofollow” in the link’s HTML code.
2. Use a Browser Extension
Tools like NoFollow Chrome Extension highlight all nofollow links on a page instantly.
3. Check with an SEO Tool
SEO tools like Ahrefs, Moz, or SEMrush can analyze your site’s links to confirm nofollow status.
When Not to Use Nofollow Links
While nofollow links are useful, you should not overuse them. Keep these rules in mind:
🚫 Don’t nofollow internal links – Your own content deserves SEO credit!
🚫 Don’t add nofollow to trusted sites – If you’re linking to high-quality sources like Google, Wikipedia, or industry blogs, there’s no need to block SEO value.
🚫 Avoid excessive nofollow usage – Google prefers a natural mix of both dofollow and nofollow links.
Manage Your Links Easily with ClickWhale
Adding nofollow links in WordPress is essential for keeping your SEO strategy strong and compliant with search engine guidelines. Whether you do it manually, use the Classic Editor, or take the easy route with our sophisticated plugin, protecting your site’s credibility is just a few clicks away.Want to simplify link management? Get started with ClickWhale today and take control of your links like a pro!
