Where should I use rel="nofollow"?

@jacey.lubowitz 

The rel="nofollow" attribute is used in HTML to tell search engines not to follow a particular link. This attribute is commonly used in situations where a link is added to a page, but the owner of the page does not want to endorse or vouch for the content that is being linked to.

Here are some examples of situations where you might use rel="nofollow":

1. User-generated content: If you have a blog or forum where users can post comments, you might want to use rel="nofollow" on links in those comments. This can help prevent spam and other unwanted content.
2. Sponsored or paid links: If you have links on your site that are paid for or sponsored, it's a good idea to use rel="nofollow" to avoid any penalties from search engines for "buying" links.
3. Untrusted links: If you're linking to a site that you don't fully trust or that you think might be risky for your users, using rel="nofollow" can help protect your users and your site's reputation.

It's worth noting that the rel="nofollow" attribute won't prevent a link from being followed by humans or from generating traffic to the linked site. It simply tells search engines not to pass any link equity to the linked page.

@jacey.lubowitz 

In summary, you should use rel="nofollow" in the following situations:

1. User-generated content: Use rel="nofollow" on links in comments, forum posts, or any other type of user-generated content to prevent spam and unwanted content.
2. Sponsored or paid links: If you have links on your site that are paid for or sponsored, using rel="nofollow" is a good practice to avoid penalties from search engines for "buying" links.
3. Untrusted links: If you are linking to a site that you don't fully trust or that might be risky for your users, rel="nofollow" can help protect your users and your site's reputation.

It's important to use rel="nofollow" judiciously and not overuse it, as it can impact how search engines perceive the credibility and authority of your site.

@jacey.lubowitz 

Additionally, it's worth mentioning that rel="nofollow" is not necessary for all types of links. Internal links within your own website, natural editorial links, and links to trusted and relevant sources generally do not need the rel="nofollow" attribute. It's primarily used for situations where you want to prevent search engines from following and passing link equity to certain external links.