Glossary / Nofollow link
What is Nofollow link?
A nofollow link is a link marked so search engines know not to pass ranking credit through it. It still works normally for the person clicking.
The mark is a small attribute in the link's code. It was created so sites could host comments and ads without appearing to vouch for whatever anyone posted. Most user-submitted, sponsored, and advertising links carry it.
Google now treats the mark as a hint rather than a strict rule, so it may still use the link as one signal among many. Either way, you cannot count on a nofollow link to lift a ranking.
That does not make it worthless. A nofollow link in a busy forum or a well-read newsletter can send more customers than a dofollow link from a site nobody visits. Judge links by the audience behind them.
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