Deutsch Deutsch English English

Link Attributes

Link attributes are HTML attributes that provide additional information about links to search engines and browsers. They influence how search engines evaluate links and how browsers handle them. In modern SEO practice, link attributes are crucial for correctly signaling link quality and intention.

Overview of the Most Important Link Attributes

Attribute
Purpose
SEO Impact
Usage
nofollow
Don't follow link
No Link Juice
User-Generated Content
sponsored
Paid Links
No Link Juice
Advertising, Affiliate
ugc
User-Generated Content
No Link Juice
Comments, Forums
noopener
Security
Neutral
External Links
noreferrer
Privacy
Neutral
External Links

Nofollow Attribute: Fundamentals and Application

The nofollow attribute is the most well-known link attribute in the SEO world. It signals to search engines that they should not follow the link and should not transfer link power.

When to use nofollow?

  1. User-Generated Content
    • Blog comments
    • Forum posts
    • Social media links
    • Guest posts without editorial control
  2. Paid Content
    • Sponsored posts
    • Affiliate links
    • Advertising banners
    • Cooperations
  3. Trustworthy but non-editorial links
    • Footer links
    • Partner links
    • Reference links

HTML Syntax for nofollow

<a href="https://example.com" rel="nofollow">Link Text</a>

Sponsored Attribute: Transparency for Paid Links

The sponsored attribute was introduced by Google in 2019 and explicitly marks paid or sponsored links.

Application areas for sponsored

  • Affiliate Marketing: Amazon links, partner programs
  • Influencer Marketing: Sponsored posts
  • Native Advertising: Paid articles
  • Cooperations: Compensated partnerships

HTML Syntax for sponsored

<a href="https://partner-site.com" rel="sponsored">Partner Link</a>

UGC Attribute: Marking User-Generated Content

The ugc attribute (User-Generated Content) marks links that were created by users without editorial control.

Typical UGC scenarios

  • Blog Comments: Links in comments
  • Forum Discussions: User posts with links
  • Social Media: Shared links
  • Community Content: User reviews with links

HTML Syntax for ugc

<a href="https://user-site.com" rel="ugc">User Link</a>

Security Attributes: noopener and noreferrer

These attributes serve security and privacy purposes but have no direct SEO impact.

noopener Attribute

Prevents the new page from accessing the window.opener object of the original page.

<a href="https://external-site.com" rel="noopener" target="_blank">External Link</a>

noreferrer Attribute

Prevents the transfer of referrer information to the target page.

<a href="https://external-site.com" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">External Link</a>

Using Combined Attributes

Multiple attributes can be combined to mark different aspects of a link.

Common Combinations

<!-- Paid link with security -->
<a href="https://affiliate.com" rel="sponsored noopener" target="_blank">Affiliate Link</a>

<!-- User-Generated Content with security -->
<a href="https://user-site.com" rel="ugc noopener" target="_blank">User Link</a>

<!-- External link with full security -->
<a href="https://external.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">External Link</a>

SEO Impact of Link Attributes

Ranking Signals

  1. Dofollow Links: Transfer link juice and ranking signals
  2. Nofollow Links: Do not transfer link juice but can still be valuable
  3. Sponsored/UGC Links: Are recognized by Google and treated accordingly

Google's Handling of nofollow

Since 2019, Google treats nofollow links as "hints" rather than strict instructions. This means:

  • Google can still follow nofollow links
  • Nofollow links can in rare cases still transfer ranking signals
  • The attributes primarily serve transparency

Best Practices for Link Attributes

1. Consistent Application

  • Internal Links: Usually without attributes (dofollow)
  • External Links: Always noopener for security
  • Paid Links: Always sponsored
  • User Content: Always ugc

2. Implement Automation

<!-- Example for automatic attribution -->
<a href="https://external.com" rel="noopener" target="_blank" 
   data-link-type="external">External Link</a>

3. Regular Audits

  • Backlink Audit: Checking your own backlinks
  • Outbound Link Audit: Controlling outgoing links
  • Attribute Consistency: Checking uniform application

Common Mistakes with Link Attributes

1. Wrong Attribution

❌ Wrong: Internal links with nofollow

<a href="/internal-page" rel="nofollow">Internal Page</a>

✅ Correct: Internal links without attributes

<a href="/internal-page">Internal Page</a>

2. Forgotten Security Attributes

❌ Wrong: External links without security

<a href="https://external.com" target="_blank">External Link</a>

✅ Correct: External links with security

<a href="https://external.com" rel="noopener" target="_blank">External Link</a>

3. Inconsistent Application

❌ Wrong: Mixed attribution

<a href="/page1">Link 1</a>
<a href="/page2" rel="nofollow">Link 2</a>

✅ Correct: Consistent application

<a href="/page1">Link 1</a>
<a href="/page2">Link 2</a>

Tools for Link Attribute Management

1. Screaming Frog SEO Spider

  • Automatic detection of link attributes
  • Bulk analysis of websites
  • Export functions for audits

2. Ahrefs Site Audit

  • Comprehensive link attribute analysis
  • Problem identification
  • Optimization recommendations

3. Google Search Console

  • Monitoring of internal and external links
  • Detection of attribute problems
  • Performance tracking

Future of Link Attributes

1. Advanced Attribution

  • Machine Learning: Automatic attribute detection
  • Context-Aware: Intelligent attribute assignment
  • Dynamic Attributes: Context-dependent attributes

2. New Standards

  • Web Standards: Further development of HTML specification
  • Search Engine Guidelines: Adaptation of search engine guidelines
  • Privacy Regulations: Privacy-compliant attribution

Checklist for Link Attribute Optimization

Technical Implementation

  • [ ] All external links have noopener
  • [ ] Paid links are marked as sponsored
  • [ ] User-Generated Content is marked as ugc
  • [ ] Internal links are dofollow (no attributes)
  • [ ] Consistent application across the entire website

Content Strategy

  • [ ] Editorial guidelines for link attribution
  • [ ] Team training on best practices
  • [ ] Regular audits and reviews
  • [ ] Documentation of attribution strategy

Monitoring and Analysis

  • [ ] Tracking link attribute performance
  • [ ] Monitoring backlink attributes
  • [ ] Analysis of SEO impact
  • [ ] Strategy adjustment based on data

Conclusion

Link attributes are an essential component of modern SEO strategies. They enable search engines to receive precise information about the type and quality of links. Through the correct application of nofollow, sponsored, ugc, and security attributes, website operators can optimize their SEO performance while ensuring transparency and security.

The future of link attribution lies in intelligent automation and context-dependent application. Companies that invest early in robust link attribute strategies will benefit long-term from better rankings and higher link quality.

Related Topics

Last Update: