What is the impact of nofollow links on off-page SEO?

Nofollow links are a type of link attribute that instruct search engines not to follow the link or pass on link equity. The impact of nofollow links on off-page SEO is a topic of debate in the SEO community.

Here are some ways that nofollow links can impact off-page SEO:

1. Diversify backlink portfolio: Nofollow links can help diversify a website's backlink portfolio, which is important for off-page SEO. A diverse backlink portfolio can help improve a website's search engine rankings and make it less susceptible to algorithm updates.

2. Increase referral traffic: Nofollow links can still drive referral traffic to a website, which can be beneficial for off-page SEO. Referral traffic can help increase a website's online visibility and brand awareness, which can lead to more backlinks and higher search engine rankings.

3. Build brand awareness: Nofollow links can help build brand awareness and establish a website as a trusted authority in its industry. Even if nofollow links don't pass on link equity, they can still help increase a website's online visibility and reach.

4. Indicate natural link building: Nofollow links can indicate natural link building, which is important for off-page SEO. Search engines want to see a natural and diverse backlink profile, and nofollow links can help signal that a website's backlinks are natural and not manipulated.

5. Don't harm search engine rankings: Nofollow links do not harm a website's search engine rankings. While they don't pass on link equity, they also don't negatively impact a website's search engine rankings.

Overall, nofollow links can still have a positive impact on off-page SEO. While they don't pass on link equity, they can help diversify a website's backlink portfolio, increase referral traffic, build brand awareness, indicate natural link building, and not harm search engine rankings. It's important to focus on building a natural and diverse backlink profile, including both follow and nofollow links, to improve off-page SEO.