--- title: "Makes Sense: Use NoFollow When Linking to Suspect Websites" description: The nofollow tag is important to those responsible for search engine optimization as it enables them to indicate to search engines not to count links image: https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/favoritecms-3-1-1-1.jpg --- [Log In](https://www.websitemagazine.com/_hcms/mem/login) [Subscribe](https://websitemagazine.tradepub.com/free/w_webk05/prgm.cgi) [![Website Magazine Logo](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hs-fs/hubfs/gradient-regular@3x-1.png?width=586&height=145&name=gradient-regular@3x-1.png "Website Magazine Logo")](http://Website%20Services,%20Inc.) - [About](https://www.websitemagazine.com/about) - [FAQs](https://www.websitemagazine.com/about/faq) - [Advertise](https://www.websitemagazine.com/about/advertise) - [Editorial Staff](https://www.websitemagazine.com/about/editorial-publishing-staff) - [Resources](https://websitemagazine.tradepub.com) - [Newsletter](https://www.websitemagazine.com/newsletter-sign-up) - More - [Contact Us](https://www.websitemagazine.com/contact) [Log In](https://www.websitemagazine.com/_hcms/mem/login) [Subscribe](https://websitemagazine.tradepub.com/free/w_webk05/prgm.cgi) Search - [Latest](https://www.websitemagazine.com) - [Design](https://www.websitemagazine.com/web-design) - [Development](https://www.websitemagazine.com/web-development) - [SEO](https://www.websitemagazine.com/seo) - [Ecommerce](https://www.websitemagazine.com/ecommerce) - [Content](https://www.websitemagazine.com/content) - [Marketing](https://www.websitemagazine.com/marketing) - [Advertising](https://www.websitemagazine.com/advertising) - [Email](https://www.websitemagazine.com/email) - [Infographics](https://www.websitemagazine.com/infographics) - [View All Topics](https://www.websitemagazine.com/channels) # Makes Sense: Use NoFollow When Linking to Suspect Websites ![Pete Prestipino](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Pete%20Prestipino.jpeg) [by Pete Prestipino](https://www.websitemagazine.com/seo/author/pete-prestipino) 24 Jan, 2017 - - - [mailto:?Body=https://www.websitemagazine.com/seo/makes-sense-use-nofollow-when-linking-to-suspect-websites](mailto:?Body=https://www.websitemagazine.com/seo/makes-sense-use-nofollow-when-linking-to-suspect-websites) - Link Copied! ![Makes Sense: Use NoFollow When Linking to Suspect Websites](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/favoritecms-3-1-1-1.jpg) **The nofollow tag is important to those responsible for search engine optimization as it enables them to indicate to search engines not to count links with the nofollow tag as votes in its favor, controlling their reputation along the way. ** Using the nofollow can help SEOs and webmasters in general avoid problems with search engines believing they are selling influence or are somehow involved in schemes known widely as generally unacceptable SEO practices. What that means is that the right time to use nofollow is primarily on paid links, but many have found them useful on comments, user-generated content, even embeds all types. Essentially it can be used any time you don't want your site to be seen as endorsing a link to another site (the target site).  Google's Gary Illyes posted a [tweet](https://twitter.com/methode/status/822329261411270657) recently confirming that it does make sense to use nofollow, particularly when you're writing about a bad site. Illyes also suggested in the Twitter conversation resulting from the post that the nofollow tag may not be necessary in every instance - calling it "silly" for reputable news publications to use the tag on all their external links.   While it doesn't make sense to blanket no-follow every link away from your site, feel confident that there is value in doing so selectively because your reputation may be on the line.  ![Pete Prestipino](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Pete%20Prestipino.jpeg) [Pete Prestipino](https://www.websitemagazine.com/seo/author/pete-prestipino) Digital marketing executive with proven experience in all aspects of search engine optimization (SEO), performance-based advertising, consumer-generated/social media, email marketing, lead generation, Web design, usability, and analytics. - 20-year Internet marketing veteran, currently serving as the Digital Marketing Campaign Manager at Antenna Group (formerly Chicago Digital). - Former Editor-In-Chief of Website Magazine, and a regular speaker on Web technology digital marketing strategy - Author of several books on digital marketing Including Web 360: The Fundamentals of Web Success; Affiliate 360: The Fundamentals of Performance Marketing; Domains 360: The Fundamentals of Buying & Selling Domain Names, and SEO 360: The Fundamentals of Search Engine Optimization. - - - [mailto:peter@websitemagazine.com](mailto:peter@websitemagazine.com) #### Popular Post ### [Core Principles of SEO ![Core Principles of SEO](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/seo-map_200x200-Jan-23-2023-12-19-44-5053-AM-1-1-1.gif)](https://www.websitemagazine.com/seo/core-principles-of-seo) ### [Is Microsoft's New Chat GPT Enabled Bing the Google Killer? ![Is Microsoft's New Chat GPT Enabled Bing the Google Killer?](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/pexels-photo-8294625-1.jpg)](https://www.websitemagazine.com/seo/is-microsofts-new-chat-gpt-enabled-bing-the-google-killer) ### [SEO vs SEM: Choosing a Sustainable Path to Long Term Success ![SEO vs SEM: Choosing a Sustainable Path to Long Term Success](https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/black-and-white-people-bar-men.jpg)](https://www.websitemagazine.com/seo/seo-vs-sem) #### Subscribe to Our Newsletter! 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All Rights Reserved - [Privacy Policy](https://www.websitemagazine.com/about/privacy) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Pete Prestipino", "url" : "https://www.websitemagazine.com/seo/author/pete-prestipino" }, "dateModified" : "2023-05-01T21:39:29.282Z", "datePublished" : "2017-01-24T06:00:00.000Z", "headline" : "Makes Sense: Use NoFollow When Linking to Suspect Websites ", "image" : [ "https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/favoritecms-3-1-1-1.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.websitemagazine.com/seo/makes-sense-use-nofollow-when-linking-to-suspect-websites", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.websitemagazine.com/hubfs/gradient-regular@3x-1.png" }, "name" : "Website Services, Inc." } } ``` ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "NewsArticle", "author" : [ { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Pete Prestipino" } ], "headline" : "Makes Sense: Use NoFollow When Linking to Suspect Websites", "publisher" : { "name" : "Website Magazine", "url" : "https://www.websitemagazine.com/" } } ```