Understanding how nofollow links work can be confusing, especially for beginners in SEO. Let’s clarify the concept:
Nofollow Links:
- Definition: Nofollow is an HTML attribute that can be added to a hyperlink to instruct search engines not to follow or crawl that link. It essentially tells search engines that the linked page should not receive any authority or PageRank from the originating page.
- Placement: Nofollow attribute can be added directly to the hyperlink (inline) or within the HTML code of the page (in a different area from the link). Regardless of where the nofollow attribute is placed, it applies to the hyperlink it’s associated with.
- Effect on SEO: Nofollow links do not pass PageRank or contribute to the linked page’s authority in search engine rankings. However, they can still drive traffic to the linked page and have other indirect benefits.
Interpretation of Your Observation:
- High DA Site: The fact that the site has a high Domain Authority (DA) suggests that it is authoritative and respected by search engines.
- Nofollow Links: If you observed some links on the page source with a nofollow attribute, it indicates that those specific links are marked as nofollow and should not pass PageRank.
- Location of Nofollows: Whether the nofollow attribute is adjacent to the links or in a different area of the page doesn’t affect its functionality. If a link has a nofollow attribute associated with it, it will be treated as such by search engines.
Conclusion:
Given that you observed nofollow attributes on some links of the high DA site, those links are likely to be nofollow and won’t pass PageRank. However, other factors, such as the relevance of the linked content and the potential for referral traffic, should also be considered when evaluating the value of such links. It’s essential to focus on building a diverse backlink profile with both follow and nofollow links to maintain a natural link profile and maximize SEO benefits.