Only Receives NoFollow Links Or Links From Canonicalized URLs: How to Fix This Technical SEO Issue

Understanding NoFollow Links and Canonicalized URLs

What are NoFollow Links

NoFollow links contain a special HTML tag (rel="nofollow") that tells search engines not to pass authority or PageRank through that link. This tag serves three key purposes: preventing spam in comment sections, signaling paid or sponsored content, and indicating links that webmasters don’t fully trust or endorse.^[2] While regular (dofollow) links pass ranking signals between pages, nofollow links create a clear separation—telling search engines “don’t count this link as a vote of confidence.”^[1]

Understanding Canonicalized URLs

A canonicalized URL is the designated primary version of a webpage when multiple similar or identical versions exist. Search engines use canonical URLs to determine which version of a page to index and rank when faced with duplicate content. The canonical tag is implemented through a rel="canonical" link element in the page’s HTML head section that points to the preferred version.^[4]

Impact on Link Authority

When a page only receives nofollow links or links from canonicalized URLs, its ability to accumulate link authority is significantly impacted. Nofollow links do not pass PageRank or authority signals to the target page, effectively blocking the flow of ranking power. Similarly, when links come from canonicalized pages, the link equity is redirected to the canonical version rather than benefiting the linked page directly.^[6]

SEO Implications of NoFollow and Canonicalized Links

Link Equity Distribution

Link equity distribution follows specific patterns when a page only receives nofollow links or links from canonicalized URLs. For nofollow links, the traditional assumption was that no authority passed, but research shows high-traffic pages with nofollow links can still transfer ranking power if they meet key criteria. The distribution of authority through canonicalized URLs works differently, as link equity flows to the canonical version rather than the linked page.

Search Engine Crawling Behavior

Search engines treat nofollow links and canonicalized URLs differently when crawling websites. For nofollow links, while they don’t pass ranking authority, search engines may still crawl the linked content based on other signals and context.^[7] For canonicalized URLs, search engines will typically crawl both the canonical and non-canonical versions but consolidate the indexing signals to the specified canonical URL.

PageRank Flow Considerations

PageRank flow through a website follows specific patterns when pages only receive nofollow links or links from canonicalized URLs. The damping factor (typically 0.85) determines how much authority passes through each link, with the remaining value lost in transmission. This means pages receiving only these types of links face compounded authority loss—first through the damping factor’s natural decay, then through either the nofollow filtering or canonical redirection.

Addressing Link Quality Issues

Link Building Strategies

Building quality backlinks requires a strategic mix of outreach and content creation. Focus on creating valuable content tailored to your target audience while naturally incorporating relevant backlinks. Review opportunities and broken link building can also be effective tactics. Maintain link diversity by acquiring backlinks from many different relevant domains rather than repeatedly targeting the same few sites.

Diversifying Link Sources

A diverse link profile requires acquiring backlinks from multiple types of sources rather than relying on a single link type. Key sources include industry blogs, news sites, directories, forums, and social platforms. Beyond source diversity, effective link profiles should balance different link attributes including dofollow vs nofollow ratios, branded vs keyword anchors, and contextual vs navigational placements.

Building DoFollow Links

Building dofollow links requires focusing on high-authority sites and valuable content contributions. The most effective approaches include creating original research that naturally attracts citations, developing comprehensive resource pages that serve as industry references, and building relationships with established publishers through guest posting. For maximum impact, promote these assets directly to relevant industry influencers and journalists who frequently cover related topics.

Working with Canonicalized Source Pages

Impact on Link Value

When pages only receive nofollow links or links from canonicalized URLs, their ability to accumulate link authority is significantly limited. The actual authority transfer depends on several key factors, including the source page’s authority and the context of the link. This makes it crucial for pages to develop alternative ranking signals through user engagement metrics and content quality to establish authority when limited to nofollow or canonicalized inbound links.

Canonical Tag Implementation

Implementing canonical tags requires careful attention to HTML placement and syntax. The canonical tag must be placed in the <head> section of the page’s HTML using the correct format. Always use absolute URLs rather than relative paths to ensure search engines can properly interpret the canonical reference. For non-HTML documents like PDFs, use the rel="canonical" HTTP header instead of HTML tags.

Link Authority Transfer

Link authority transfer between pages follows specific rules when dealing with nofollow links and canonicalized URLs. The actual transfer of authority depends on several factors including the source page’s own authority level, total number of outbound links, and whether search engines choose to honor the nofollow/canonical signals in that specific context. Pages receiving links exclusively from canonicalized sources face additional challenges since the authority must pass through multiple steps before reaching the target page, potentially diluting the passed value.

Optimization Strategies and Solutions

Improving Link Profile

To improve a link profile dominated by nofollow links or canonicalized URLs, focus on acquiring high-quality followed links from authoritative domains. Create compelling, data-driven content that naturally attracts citations—original research, case studies, and comprehensive guides tend to earn the most natural backlinks. Diversify link sources through guest posting on relevant industry blogs, creating shareable infographics and visual assets, and building relationships with influencers who can amplify your content.

Technical SEO Adjustments

Technical SEO adjustments for pages receiving only nofollow or canonicalized links require focused optimization across multiple areas. Implement proper HTTP header responses, configure server settings to prioritize crawl efficiency, strengthen internal linking, and enhance the technical implementation of canonical tags. Focus on making pages technically sound through proper HTML structure, clean URLs, and optimized meta elements to maximize the chances of search engines properly interpreting and valuing the content despite link restrictions.

Monitoring and Measurement

Effective SEO monitoring requires tracking key performance metrics over time to identify trends and opportunities. Track organic traffic, keyword rankings, and backlink profiles using tools like Google Analytics and Search Console to measure progress. Monitor technical health through regular crawl reports and site audits that identify issues with mobile optimization, page speed, and indexing. Set up custom dashboards and automated reporting to track progress toward specific goals like improving rankings for target keywords or increasing organic conversions.

At Loud Interactive, our SEO experts can help you navigate these complex link-related challenges and develop a comprehensive strategy to improve your website’s authority and rankings. Our tailored approach ensures that your unique business needs are met while adhering to best practices in search engine optimization.

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