Outgoing Internal Links Contain Nofollow Attribute

Is an issue often flagged in a site audit within Semrush. The issue appears when links between pages on your own website include a rel="nofollow" attribute.

Internal links help search engines understand site structure and distribute link equity across pages. When those links are marked as nofollow, they may not pass that value.

Fixing this issue usually means removing the nofollow attribute from links that should support your site’s structure.

What is Nofollow Attributes in Internal Links?

Nofollow attributes in internal links refers to links within your own website that include the rel="nofollow" tag.

The nofollow attribute tells search engines not to follow the link or pass link equity through it. This attribute is commonly used for external links that you do not want to endorse.

When applied to internal links, it interrupts how authority flows between your own pages. For example, linking from a homepage to a service page with a nofollow attribute limits how much value that service page receives.

In most cases, internal links should not use nofollow.

Why does Nofollow Attributes in Internal Links affect SEO?

Nofollow on internal links can disrupt how search engines like Google crawl and understand your site.

Internal linking helps search engines discover pages and understand which pages are important. When internal links are nofollowed, that signal becomes weaker or inconsistent.

This does not guarantee ranking loss. However, it can reduce the effectiveness of your internal linking structure and make it harder for search engines to prioritize key pages.

A clean internal linking structure supports better crawlability and clearer site hierarchy.

How do I fix Nofollow Attributes in Internal Links?

Fixing this issue involves reviewing internal links and removing unnecessary nofollow attributes.

Follow these steps.

1. Review flagged links in your audit report.

2. Identify the purpose of each link.
   Confirm whether the link points to a normal page, a login page, or a restricted area.

3. Edit the page containing the link.
   In WordPress, open the page or post editor where the link appears.

4. Remove the nofollow attribute from standard internal links.
   Ensure the link does not include rel="nofollow".

5. Keep nofollow where it is appropriate.
   Leave the attribute on links to login pages, account areas, or restricted content.

6. Save your changes.

7. Re-run the site audit in Semrush to confirm the issue is resolved.