Google’s View Towards Nofollow vs UGC vs Sponsored Link Attributes

nofollow vs ugc vs sponsored link attributes
Share on facebook
Share on google
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin

As it strives towards more flawless and precise scanning, processing, and positioning, Google releases modern upgrades daily. Google made an enormous impact on 10th September 2019 by introducing two additional properties to the pre-existing “nofollow” feature.

This continues to be in situ for pretty much 14 years. This particular will be dealing specially with Nofollow vs UGC vs Sponsored Link Attributes. A nofollow attribute helps in fighting comment spam. Google had rapidly adopted it to suggest strategies for spotting commercials or promoted sites.

Google has recently launched two significant web address properties that give developers more options for exploring the role of code snippets in browsers.

Sponsored and UGC are the two significant web address properties of Google. UGC is often utilized in user-generated data, like opinions and blog posts, for links.

user generated content
User-Generated Content

These launches shook the SEO world and adjusted many approaches of companies towards SEO.

See Also: Common Link Building Myths Explained

Treatment Of Nofollow Attribute

Drawing from the topic Nofollow vs UGC vs Sponsored Link Attributes, Google currently interprets all nofollow properties as “hints” for ranking reasons, suggesting that they’re unlikely to affect positions. Still, Google might like better to overlook the instruction and utilize nofollow URLs instead.

Before March 2020, Google doesn’t change its behavior for crawling and ranking purposes. But after 1st March, it starts treating nofollow attributes as ‘hints.’

Sponsored sites should have either of the two attributes: nofollow or sponsored. It’s possible that just applying “UGC” on supported URLs will end in fines.

nofollow attribute
Nofollow Attribute

Publishers are under no obligation to require any action. Google provides neither a benefit nor a penalty for not adapting.

Producers who use nofollow to limit crawling may need to reassess their approach.

Google’s Gary Illyes is making a conscious effort for this. So there’s some ambiguity surrounding this update, which I feel is thanks to Google’s inability to correctly decide how to use it and implement the modifications it declared as a legislative change.

John Muller’s Reply To The New Updates

“Does Google consider nofollow, UGC, and sponsor rel features separately via ranking standpoint?” The Friday SEO seminar question to Muller.

link attributes update
Link Attributes Update

Muller replied, “We strive to comprehend these and handle them responsibly, so I could visualize in our mechanisms learning to manage them possibly a bit appropriately over time.”

Further, he added, downplaying the difference, “But in general they’re all with the same theme in that you’re telling us these are links that are positioned because of this reason, and Google doesn’t need to take them into account.”

See Also:  Why Backlinks Are Still Important For SEO

Conclusion

Throughout the regulatory period, Google aims to manage the features differently, as people realize how treating them differently will benefit the search company.

But, even still, they all make the same statement: don’t trust or click upon the site. Therefore that was all about Nofollow vs UGC vs Sponsored Link Attributes. Hope it was helpful.

Sign up for our Newsletter

Talk to Digital Expert Now!