Url Receives Both Follow Nofollow Internal Links: How to Fix This Technical SEO Issue

Understanding Follow and Nofollow Links

What are follow and nofollow links

Follow and nofollow links are HTML attributes that tell search engines how to treat backlinks between web pages. Follow links pass SEO value and authority between pages, while nofollow links include a rel=”nofollow” attribute that prevents passing ranking signals.

The key differences appear in the HTML code:

• Follow link: <a href=”example.com”>
• Nofollow link: <a href=”example.com” rel=”nofollow”>

While nofollow links don’t directly boost SEO, they remain valuable for:

• Driving referral traffic
• Building brand awareness
• Creating natural link profiles
• Generating social signals

Purpose and implementation of link attributes

Link attributes serve three key purposes in modern SEO: controlling PageRank flow, identifying paid content, and classifying user-generated content. The standard rel=”nofollow” attribute tells search engines not to pass ranking signals through a link, though Google now treats this as a hint rather than a directive^[1].

Implementation requires adding the appropriate rel attribute to link HTML. For example, a sponsored product review would use: <a href=”example.com” rel=”sponsored nofollow”>. Multiple attributes can be combined when needed, like rel=”ugc nofollow” for user comments. The key is matching the attribute to the link’s purpose.

Impact on SEO and crawling behavior

When a URL receives both follow and nofollow internal links, search engines must reconcile these mixed signals. This creates an inconsistent authority flow that can dilute the page’s overall ranking potential. The impact is especially pronounced when important pages receive contradictory link signals, potentially confusing search engines about the page’s relative importance in the site hierarchy^[2].

For optimal SEO, maintain consistent link attributes to important pages while reserving nofollow for specific use cases like login pages or user-generated content sections.

Mixed Link Signals on Internal Pages

Causes of mixed follow/nofollow signals

Mixed follow/nofollow signals commonly arise from several technical scenarios:

• Inconsistent CMS settings where some navigation elements receive nofollow attributes while others don’t
• Plugin conflicts that modify link attributes differently across various page components
• Manual content editing where editors apply different link policies
• Automated systems adding nofollow to specific content types like login pages or user profiles while keeping navigation links as follow

Large websites frequently encounter this issue when different teams or systems manage various site sections, leading to inconsistent link attribute implementation.

Common implementation scenarios

Mixed follow/nofollow signals commonly appear in several implementation scenarios:

• Navigation menus and breadcrumbs typically use follow links while user-generated content sections automatically apply nofollow attributes
• E-commerce sites often have follow links in main product categories but nofollow links in customer reviews and related product widgets
• Content management systems frequently create mixed signals by applying nofollow to dynamically generated content while keeping static navigation as follow links
• Login pages, user profiles, and administrative sections commonly receive nofollow attributes from templates while being linked with follow links from other site areas

Technical implications for search engines

When search engines encounter URLs with mixed follow/nofollow signals, they process these pages differently than those with consistent link attributes. This mixed signaling can impact crawl efficiency as search engines may need to make additional passes to properly evaluate the page’s importance.

Search engines also consider the context of mixed signals – for example, treating template-level navigation differently than dynamically generated content areas. The presence of both follow and nofollow links to the same URL may trigger additional algorithmic analysis to understand the page’s true purpose and value within the site structure.

SEO Impact Analysis

Link equity distribution

Link equity distribution varies when pages receive both follow and nofollow internal links. This creates an inconsistent authority flow that can dilute ranking potential, especially for important pages that should receive clear signals about their value in the site hierarchy^[3].

To optimize link equity flow, maintain consistent follow links to key pages while reserving nofollow for specific use cases like login areas or untrusted content. This helps search engines properly assess page importance and allocate crawl resources.

Crawl budget considerations

When pages receive mixed follow/nofollow signals, search engines must balance their limited crawling resources. Large sites with over 1 million pages, frequently updated content, or high volumes of unindexed pages are most affected by crawl budget constraints.

To optimize crawl budget with mixed signals, focus on blocking low-value URLs through robots.txt, improving page speed, and maintaining a clean site architecture that prioritizes important content.

PageRank flow effects

PageRank flow behaves differently when a URL receives mixed follow/nofollow signals internally. Rather than evenly distributing authority, nofollow links cause some PageRank to effectively disappear from the flow, reducing the total authority passed through the site’s link graph^[4].

When pages receive both follow and nofollow internal links, the reduced PageRank flow can impact their perceived importance in the site hierarchy, potentially affecting crawl priority and ranking potential.

Best Practices for Internal Linking

Consistent link attribute strategy

A consistent link attribute strategy means applying follow/nofollow tags systematically across your site based on clear rules. Core navigation and important content pages should use follow links to pass authority, while nofollow should be reserved for specific use cases like user-generated content, login pages, and dynamically generated sections.

Avoid mixing follow/nofollow signals to the same destinations, as this creates confusion about the page’s relative importance. Instead, establish clear guidelines – like always using follow links for main content and nofollow for administrative sections – then apply them uniformly across templates and manual linking.

When to use nofollow internally

Nofollow should be used selectively on internal links to maintain proper authority flow through your site. Apply nofollow to login pages, user profiles, and administrative sections that don’t need to rank in search results^[5]. Use nofollow for dynamically generated content like search results pages and filtered category views to prevent crawling duplicate content variations.

However, avoid using nofollow on core navigation, important content pages, or category structures as this disrupts natural authority distribution. The key is maintaining consistent follow links to strategic pages while reserving nofollow for specific technical scenarios where ranking isn’t desired.

Auditing and fixing mixed signals

Regular auditing helps identify and fix mixed follow/nofollow signals that can confuse search engines. Start by crawling the site to identify pages receiving both follow and nofollow internal links. Use crawling tools to analyze link patterns and identify pages with mixed signals.

Review each case to determine if the mixed signals are intentional or need standardization. Common fixes include updating CMS settings to apply consistent link attributes, removing unnecessary nofollow tags from navigation elements, and implementing proper rel attributes for user-generated content.

After making changes, re-crawl the site to verify fixes and monitor key metrics like crawl efficiency and indexation rates. Document your link attribute strategy to maintain consistency as new content is added.

Monitoring and Maintenance

Tools for link attribute analysis

Several specialized tools help analyze and monitor link attributes across websites. Google Search Console provides free basic tracking of follow/nofollow distribution and new link acquisition through its Links report^[6]. For deeper analysis, professional SEO tools offer comprehensive link attribute monitoring, including anchor text distribution, link velocity tracking, and automated alerts for attribute changes.

These tools help maintain consistent implementation by flagging template-level conflicts and monitoring automated nofollow applications. Most tools offer customizable reports and alerts to track when important pages receive conflicting link signals that could impact crawling and indexing.

Regular audit procedures

Regular auditing of internal link attributes requires a systematic approach. Start by crawling the site to identify pages receiving mixed follow/nofollow signals. Export and analyze data to find target keywords ranking in positions 5-15, then use custom search configurations to locate pages where these terms appear without proper internal linking^[7].

Review each instance to determine if mixed signals are intentional or need standardization. Key audit steps include checking template-level navigation conflicts, identifying plugin-generated attribute inconsistencies, and verifying proper implementation of rel attributes for user-generated content.

After making corrections, monitor keyword rankings and track changes in the number of inbound links. Document link attribute decisions to maintain consistency as new content is added, and schedule quarterly reviews to catch new instances of mixed signals, especially after CMS updates or template changes.

Performance tracking metrics

Tracking performance metrics helps identify and fix issues with mixed follow/nofollow signals. Key metrics to monitor include:

• Link indexation rates
• Authority flow
• Crawl efficiency
• Ranking impact
• Link velocity

Regular performance tracking helps maintain optimal link attribute implementation while identifying opportunities to improve authority flow through your site’s architecture.

Need help optimizing your site’s internal link structure? Our Search Engine Optimization services can help you maximize your site’s authority flow and improve your rankings. Get Started with Loud Interactive