🚫 What Are NoFollow Backlinks? The Truth About NoFollow Links in SEO [2025 Guide]

When building backlinks for SEO, most beginners focus only on dofollow links, assuming they’re the only ones that matter.

But what about nofollow backlinks? Are they useless?
Do nofollow backlinks help SEO at all?
Should you still build them in 2025?

The short answer: Yes — but not in the way you think.

In this complete guide, you’ll learn:

• What nofollow backlinks are

• The difference between dofollow and nofollow

• When to use them

• How they affect SEO

• How to create and check them

• Top nofollow backlink sources in 2025

Let’s dive in.

📘 What Is a NoFollow Backlink?

A nofollow backlink is a hyperlink that includes the HTML attribute:

This tag tells search engines:

“Don’t pass PageRank (SEO value) to the target link.”

In other words, Google will crawl the link, but it won’t count it as a vote of authority or relevance.

Example of a nofollow link:

🔍 Difference Between Dofollow and Nofollow Backlinks

❓ Do Nofollow Backlinks Help SEO?

This is where things get interesting.

While nofollow links don’t directly pass authority, they can still benefit your SEO in indirect — and sometimes powerful — ways:

✅ 1. Drive Targeted Referral Traffic

High-quality nofollow links from popular sites like Reddit, Quora, or YouTube can bring visitors who are already interested in your niche.

More clicks = more engagement = better SEO signals.

✅ 2. Improve Link Profile Diversity

Google prefers a natural mix of backlinks — not just dofollow links.

If your site has only dofollow links, it may look suspicious. A healthy backlink profile includes:

• Dofollow

• Nofollow

• UGC

• Sponsored

✅ 3. Boost Indexing

Nofollow links still help Google discover your pages, even if they don’t count for ranking.

They’re especially useful for:

• New pages

• Low-crawl-budget sites

• Deep content discovery

✅ 4. Build Brand Awareness

Nofollow links on high-traffic platforms can expose your brand to a wider audience — leading to:

• Social shares

• Branded searches

• Natural backlinks from real users

🔧 How to Create Nofollow Backlinks (The Right Way)

Here are some effective ways to earn or build nofollow backlinks in 2025:

💬 1. Comment on Blogs

Find popular blogs in your niche. Leave thoughtful, valuable comments with your link.

✅ Most comment links are nofollow by default
⚠️ Avoid spammy “great post” comments — add insight or ask questions.

🧵 2. Post in Forums

Contribute to relevant forums like:

• Reddit

• Stack Exchange

• Warrior Forum

• SEO Chat

Use links only where they genuinely help the conversation.

🧠 3. Answer on Q&A Sites

Sites like Quora, Yahoo Answers (still active in some regions), or StackOverflow provide powerful nofollow backlinks.

Write high-quality answers, then link to your blog or page when relevant.

📹 4. Add Links to YouTube Descriptions

If you have a YouTube channel (or collaborate with one), add your website or content link in the video description.

These are nofollow, but powerful for visibility and traffic.

🛍️ 5. Comment on YouTube Videos

Relevant, value-packed comments on high-engagement videos can drive targeted clicks and build visibility.

🧾 6. Use Social Media

Almost all social links are nofollow, but they’re still helpful for:

• Engagement

• Indexing

• Referral traffic

Post regularly on platforms like Facebook, Twitter (X), Pinterest, and LinkedIn with links to your content.

🛠️ How to Check Nofollow Backlinks

To find and monitor nofollow backlinks pointing to your site:

✅ Use SEO Tools Like:

• Ahrefs: Go to Backlinks → Link type → Nofollow

• SEMrush: Backlink Audit Tool → Link attributes

• Ubersuggest: Link report section

• Moz Link Explorer: Filter by nofollow

• Screaming Frog (for crawling your own links)

✅ Chrome Extension: NoFollow

This browser add-on highlights all nofollow links on a page in red. Great for quick checks.

📋 NoFollow Sites List (Updated for 2025)

Want a shortcut? Here’s a list of top nofollow backlink sources for free:

⚠️ Common NoFollow Mistakes to Avoid

Even nofollow link building has its rules. Here’s what not to do:

❌ Spam blog comments with keywords or sales pitches
❌ Buy nofollow links — it’s a waste of money
❌ Use link-building bots for forums or Q&A sites
❌ Over-optimize anchor text — this still gets flagged

✅ Always focus on adding value, context, and relevance.

📈 DoFollow vs NoFollow: Which One Matters More?

Here’s the real takeaway:

Dofollow links help you rank. Nofollow links help you grow.

Dofollow links are crucial for boosting your domain authority and keyword rankings.

Nofollow links help you:

• Get discovered

• Drive traffic

• Build relationships

• Diversify your profile

A smart SEO strategy uses both.

💡 Pro Tip: How to Turn Nofollow Links Into Dofollow

Sometimes, if your nofollow link is valuable, a webmaster may:

• Upgrade it to dofollow

• Reference your content in a post

• Give you a guest post opportunity

This is why value-first marketing beats spam every time.

🧠 Final Thoughts: Are NoFollow Backlinks Still Useful in 2025?

Let’s wrap it up with a truth most SEOs don’t say loud enough:

Nofollow backlinks are not dead. They are just different.

You shouldn’t chase nofollow backlinks for rankings alone — but you shouldn’t ignore them either.

They’re vital for:

• Natural link signals

• Referral traffic

• Indexing new content

• Brand awareness in your niche

🧾 Summary: Nofollow Backlinks in SEO