Introduction
Noindex vs Nofollow often confuse those new to Search Engine Optimization. These two terms sound similar. They are actually used for very different things.
One of these things tells Google and other search engines not to include a page in their search results. The other thing tells search engines like Google not to pass on any signals when someone clicks on a link to your website. Knowing about Noindex vs Nofollow can really help your SEO strategy. Help you avoid making mistakes.
In this guide you will learn what Noindex vs Nofollow do. You will also see when to use Noindex vs Nofollow and how to pick the one, for your own website.
What Is Noindex?
Noindex is a thing that tells search engines like Google not to add a page to their list of pages. Google can still look at the page if your settings say it is okay. The page will not show up when you do a Google search.
This is useful for pages that’re not important for search engines or should not be shown to people who are searching. Noindex is helpful for these kinds of pages because they do not have any value for search engines like Google. Noindex is what you use for pages that should not be in Google search results.
You can use Noindex for:
- Thank you pages
- Login pages
- Admin pages
- Internal search result pages
- Duplicate content pages
- Temporary landing pages
Noindex keeps unnecessary pages out of search results. This helps keep the index clean.
What Is Nofollow?
Nofollow is something that tells search engines to not give any credit to a website when someone clicks on a link. This does not mean people cannot click on the link and go to the website.
Nofollow tells search engines that you do not want to help the Nofollow linked page get a ranking, on search engines it is like you do not want to give the Nofollow linked page any extra points for being linked to your website.
You might use Nofollow for these types of links:
- Paid advertisements
- Affiliate links
- User-generated content
- Blog comments
- Links to untrusted websites.
Nofollow helps reduce spam and protects your website from giving authority to low-quality pages.
Noindex vs Nofollow: A Quick Comparison
Here is a comparison of Noindex vs Nofollow:
* Noindex affects search results but Nofollow does not.
* Noindex does not affect links. Nofollow does.
* Noindex stops a page from being indexed. Nofollow stops link authority from being passed on.
* Both Noindex vs Nofollow allow people to visit the page.
* Noindex is best for hidden pages. Nofollow is best for untrusted links.
How Does Noindex Work?
When Google checks a page it sees a Noindex directive. This tells Google not to show the page in search results.
Google may still occasionally look at the page.
It does this to see if the Noindex directive has been changed.
If the Noindex tag is taken off later the page can then be considered for indexing by Google.
Google looks at pages with Noindex directives to make sure they are still not supposed to be shown in search results.
The Noindex directive helps Google understand what pages to exclude from search results.
How Does Nofollow Work?
When Google comes across a Nofollow link it does not treat the Nofollow link like a link. Google may decide not to pass on any PageRank or other things that help with ranking through the Nofollow link.
Nowadays Google views Nofollow links as a kind of suggestion rather than a hard and fast rule. Google still thinks Nofollow links are important for Search Engine Optimization, which’s what people do to help Google find their website and Nofollow links play a role in this Search Engine Optimization.
When Should You Use Noindex?
You should use Noindex when a page should not be shown in search results.
You might use Noindex on thank you pages. They don’t offer value to searchers.
You might also use Noindex for login pages because they are not useful for Google search.
Duplicate pages can confuse search engines so using Noindex can help reduce indexing.
Test pages should also be hidden from search engines so you should use Noindex for these pages.
Google suggests that you prevent internal search result pages from appearing in search results. So, you should use Noindex for these pages.
When Should You Use Nofollow?
You should use Nofollow whenever you do not want to pass on any signals.
For example affiliate links should usually use sponsored or Nofollow attributes because they are promotional.
Paid links should never pass on PageRank so you should use Nofollow for these links.
Blog comments can be a source of spam so using Nofollow can help reduce comment spam.
Forum posts can also be a source of spam so you should use Nofollow for user-generated links.
If you cannot verify the quality of a website, adding Nofollow is often the choice.
Can You Use Noindex vs Nofollow Together?
Yes you can use both Noindex vs Nofollow together.
Sometimes you might want to use both directives, such as for a landing page, temporary campaign pages, internal documents or member-only resources.
Using both tells search engines not to index the page and not to follow its links.
Here are some examples of how to use Noindex vs Nofollow in HTML:
Noindex: <meta name=”robots” content=”noindex”>
Nofollow: <a href=”https://example.com” rel=”nofollow”>Example</a>
Together: <meta name=”robots” content=”noindex, nofollow”>
Common Search Engine Optimization Mistakes
When people first start doing Search Engine Optimization they often make mistakes with Noindex vs Nofollow
If you block a page with robots.txt or you use Noindex this can stop Google from finding the Noindex tag on your Search Engine Optimization pages.
Using Noindex on pages can stop them from being indexed. This can hurt your website’s performance.
Forgetting to remove Noindex from pages after development can hurt your website’s performance.
Using Nofollow on links can stop search engines from finding key pages. This might hurt your website’s performance.
Using Nofollow on every link is unnecessary and can also hurt your website’s performance.
Search Engine Optimization Benefits of Noindex
Using Noindex correctly can really help with how the search engine crawls your website. It gets rid of the pages that’re not very good. This means you have stuff on your website. The search results will be cleaner. Your website will be better overall. Noindex is very useful for keeping your website in shape and making sure people see the right things when they search for something. Using Noindex correctly is important for your website quality. It helps with the search results.
Search Engine Optimization Benefits of Nofollow
Using Nofollow correctly helps reduce spam. It protects PageRank and follows Google’s guidelines. This also manages user-generated links and boosts website trust.
Nofollow: Which One Should You Choose?
The answer depends on your goal.
If you do not want a page to appear in Google search you should use Noindex.
If you want people to visit a page but don’t want to share any SEO authority, use Nofollow.
If both conditions apply you can safely use both together.
Best Practices
Here are some practices to follow:
* Audit your website regularly to make sure you are using Noindex and Nofollow correctly.
* Remove any Noindex tags.
* Use Nofollow when necessary.
* Keep pages indexable.
* Build an internal linking structure.
* Review affiliate links regularly.
* Check indexing inside Google Search Console.
* Test pages before publishing.
Real Example
Imagine you own a store.
Your checkout page should use Noindex because customers do not search for it.
Your affiliate product links should use Nofollow or Sponsored because they are promotional.
This keeps your Search Engine Optimization strategy clean. Follow Google’s recommendations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Noindex for Search Engine Optimization?
No, it is helpful when used on pages that should not appear in search results.
Does Nofollow stop people from being able to open a link?
No people can still. Visit the page.
Can Google crawl a Noindex page?
Yes Google can crawl it unless crawling is blocked.
Can I use both Noindex vs Nofollow together?
Yes many websites use both directives on temporary pages.
Does Nofollow improve rankings?
Not directly, but it helps manage link equity and follows Google’s link guidelines.
Which is more important?
Neither is better; each serves a purpose. Use the one that matches your Search Engine Optimization goal.
Final Thoughts
Understanding Noindex vs Nofollow is essential for every website owner.
Although the names sound similar they solve Search Engine Optimization problems.
To keep pages out of search results you should use Noindex. On the other hand , you can use Nofollow to control what search engines do with links.
Following these rules does things. It makes crawling more efficient. It also protects the authority of your website. It helps your SEO strategy.
Before you add one of these directives think about this: Do you want people to find this page when they search for something? Or do I just want to manage how search engines deal with its links?
This answer will help you pick the best option and avoid SEO mistakes. These mistakes can hurt your website’s performance.