NoFollow In HTML And HTTP Header: How to Fix This Technical SEO Issue

Understanding Nofollow Directives

What is nofollow and its purpose

Nofollow serves two key purposes: preventing search engines from discovering and crawling linked content, and signaling that linked pages should not receive ranking benefits. Website owners commonly use nofollow for user-generated content links, paid advertisements, and untrusted external content to maintain their site’s link quality. The directive can be implemented through HTML meta tags, individual link attributes, or HTTP headers. Since 2019, nofollow is treated as a ‘hint’ rather than a strict directive by major search engines, and additional attributes like rel=’sponsored’ and rel=’ugc’ provide more specific signals.

HTML implementation of nofollow

Nofollow can be implemented in HTML through page-level meta tags or link-level attributes. For page-level implementation, add this meta tag to the head section:

<meta name="robots" content="nofollow">

For individual link control, add the rel=”nofollow” attribute to specific anchor tags:

<a href="example.com" rel="nofollow">

HTML implementation allows granular control over which links receive nofollow directives, making it ideal for selectively managing link equity on pages with mixed content types.

HTTP header implementation of nofollow

The X-Robots-Tag HTTP header provides server-level control, allowing you to apply nofollow directives across entire file types or site sections. This method is especially useful for non-HTML resources like PDFs and images. When both HTTP headers and HTML meta tags contain nofollow directives, search engines use the most restrictive option, so it’s best practice to implement nofollow in only one location to avoid conflicts.

HTML Nofollow Implementation

Rel nofollow attribute syntax

The basic syntax for the nofollow attribute is:

<a href="example.com" rel="nofollow">Link text</a>

Multiple values can be combined, like:

<a href="example.com" rel="nofollow sponsored">Link text</a>

Originally created to combat comment spam, nofollow is now widely used for paid links, untrusted content, and preserving link quality.

When to use HTML nofollow

HTML nofollow should be used for:

• Paid or sponsored content links
• User-generated content like comments and forum posts
• Links to untrusted sources

Avoid using nofollow indiscriminately on trusted editorial links ^[2]. For internal links, nofollow is rarely needed unless managing crawl budget in complex site architectures. Since nofollow is a ‘hint’, search engines may still consider these links ^[3].

Impact on SEO and link equity

Nofollow links don’t directly pass ranking signals, but they can still drive referral traffic and create a natural-looking link profile. Since 2019, search engines treat nofollow as a hint, potentially counting some nofollow links for ranking ^[3]. However, overusing nofollow internally can hamper link equity distribution and crawl efficiency.

HTTP Header Nofollow

X-Robots-Tag implementation

The X-Robots-Tag HTTP header uses a syntax like:

X-Robots-Tag: nofollow

For Apache:

Header set X-Robots-Tag "nofollow"

For Nginx:

add_header X-Robots-Tag "nofollow";

This server-level approach is especially useful for non-HTML resources.

Site-wide nofollow configuration

Implementing nofollow site-wide through HTTP headers streamlines management for large sites. Apply it across directories or file types without modifying individual pages. This approach suits extensive platforms, ensuring consistent directives without manual HTML adjustments.

Header-level vs HTML-level differences

HTTP headers apply nofollow at the server level, ideal for large-scale, non-HTML implementations, while HTML allows granular, page-by-page or link-by-link control. Headers require server access and technical expertise, while HTML nofollow is easier for CMS editors.

Best Practices and Use Cases

Choosing between HTML and HTTP implementation

HTML implementation suits most websites due to its granular control and ease of management. HTTP headers are best for large-scale scenarios or non-HTML resources. Sites using both methods must avoid conflicts, as search engines select the most restrictive directive.

Common implementation scenarios

Nofollow commonly applies to e-commerce affiliate links, user-generated content on forums, corporate login portals, and sponsored content on media sites. Social platforms use nofollow for user profiles and ads, while documentation sites apply it to version archives. Development and staging environments, healthcare patient portals, and government external links also benefit from nofollow.

Avoiding nofollow mistakes

Common mistakes include:

• Applying nofollow indiscriminately to all external links ^[2]
• Using nofollow on internal navigation unnecessarily
• Failing to update legacy implementations with newer rel=’sponsored’ or rel=’ugc’ attributes ^[3]
• Inconsistent implementation across HTTP headers and HTML
• Improper configuration on faceted navigation URLs ^[4]

Avoid these errors to ensure a natural link profile and maintain proper search engine directives.

Monitoring and Maintenance

Testing nofollow implementation

Check page source for rel attributes, use browser dev tools for HTTP headers, and Google’s URL Inspection tool to see how bots interpret nofollow. Test various page types and scenarios. Since nofollow is a hint ^[3], verify that unwanted pages aren’t indexed.

Tools for verification

Browser extensions highlight nofollowed links ^[5]. HTTP header checkers validate server-level directives. Google Search Console’s URL Inspection tool confirms nofollow recognition. Specialized crawling tools and link analysis platforms help audit nofollow usage ^[6][7].

Troubleshooting common issues

Address syntax errors in meta tags and link attributes, ensure correct server configuration for headers, and resolve plugin conflicts in CMS setups. Debugging tools and validation services help identify problems ^[8]. Review guidelines for implementing nofollow and updating legacy directives ^[9]. Regular auditing helps maintain consistent nofollow usage across all content types, ensuring your nofollow implementation supports overall SEO goals ^[6].

Loud Interactive’s SEO experts can help you implement and optimize nofollow directives as part of a comprehensive search engine optimization strategy. Our team stays up-to-date with the latest best practices to ensure your site’s link profile supports your ranking goals.^[1]