When managing outbound links on your website, you may come across the HTML attribute noreferrer in link code. Often combined with noopener, this attribute is used to enhance security and privacy. While it serves an important purpose, many website owners and SEO professionals wonder: Is using noreferrer bad for SEO? we’ll examine what the noreferrer attribute does, explore its impact on SEO and referral traffic, and determine whether it should be a part of your link strategy.
1. What is noreferrer?
The noreferrer attribute is an HTML link attribute that, when added to an outbound link, prevents the browser from sending a referrer header to the linked site. This referrer header typically carries information about the source page (the page where the link was clicked), allowing the destination site to see where traffic is coming from. For example, if you click on a link from example.com, the destination page would receive a referrer header indicating that the visit came from example.com.
By adding noreferrer to a link, this information is not passed along, ensuring that the destination site cannot see which page the visitor came from. Here’s an example of how noreferrer might appear in a link:
<a rel="noreferrer noopener">Example Link</a>
The noopener attribute, which is often combined with noreferrer, prevents the linked page from accessing the original page’s window object, enhancing security for the linking site.
2. Why Use noreferrer? The Pros and Cons
The primary reason to use noreferrer is security. When a link opens in a new tab, adding noreferrer (and often noopener) helps prevent any potentially malicious behavior from the linked site, especially if the link leads to an untrusted source. However, there are pros and cons to consider.
- Pros of Using noreferrer:Enhanced Security: Prevents the linked site from accessing the referring page’s details, reducing potential security vulnerabilities.Privacy for Users: By removing the referrer header, users’ browsing paths remain private, which can be beneficial on sites focused on privacy.
- Cons of Using noreferrer:Loss of Referral Data: The linked site loses information about where the traffic came from, which can impact traffic analytics.Impact on Link Equity: While noreferrer is not the same as nofollow, there’s debate about whether it may affect link equity transfer in certain cases, potentially impacting SEO.
3. Does noreferrer Affect SEO?
When it comes to SEO, there are a few considerations regarding the use of noreferrer:
- Impact on Link Equity: Google typically passes link equity (or “link juice”) through regular links. However, attributes like nofollow can prevent this transfer. Since noreferrer is not directly related to nofollow, it should, in theory, still pass link equity. Most SEO experts believe that noreferrer alone does not block link equity from flowing between sites. Google’s own documentation suggests that only nofollow, ugc, and sponsored explicitly prevent link equity flow.
- Effect on Referral Traffic Data: While noreferrer doesn’t directly affect search rankings, it does impact referral traffic data. For websites that rely on understanding referral sources for their analytics and performance tracking, using noreferrer on all outbound links could obscure valuable insights. When links lack referral data, the traffic may appear as “direct” traffic in analytics tools, making it difficult to assess the effectiveness of certain pages and sources.
- SEO Practices and Linking Best Practices: Linking to high-quality, authoritative sites can positively impact SEO, as search engines recognize that you’re connecting your content with valuable resources. noreferrer doesn’t inherently affect this aspect; however, when link analysis becomes challenging due to lack of referral information, understanding the impact of linking strategies can be more difficult.
4. When Should You Use noreferrer?
The decision to use noreferrer largely depends on the security needs of your website, the type of content you’re linking to, and your priorities for tracking traffic.
- Use noreferrer for External Links to Untrusted Sites: If you’re linking to external sites that you don’t fully trust, using noreferrer can protect your site and users by blocking potential security threats.
- Consider noreferrer for Privacy-Focused Websites: For websites that prioritize user privacy, using noreferrer ensures that external sites cannot track users’ browsing paths.
- Avoid noreferrer on Important, Trusted Links: For links to authoritative sites where referral data is valuable (such as partnerships or affiliates), it may be best to avoid noreferrer so that you can track the impact of these links in analytics.
5. Best Practices for Using noreferrer in SEO
For most websites, a balanced approach is ideal. Here are some best practices to consider:
- Limit noreferrer to Necessary Links: Rather than applying noreferrer to every outbound link, limit its use to cases where security or privacy is a top priority. For example, use it on untrusted or lesser-known websites rather than on reputable, high-authority domains.
- Combine with Other SEO Attributes When Needed: For paid links or affiliate links, consider using a combination of nofollow and noreferrer to prevent potential ranking manipulation while still protecting user privacy. If you are concerned about link equity, be cautious about applying noreferrer on its own without clear guidance from SEO testing or consultation.
- Monitor Analytics for Referral Traffic Changes: If you notice unexplained drops in referral traffic, evaluate whether noreferrer usage could be obscuring valuable referral sources. This can help you adjust your approach to ensure you’re tracking the right metrics.
6. The Verdict: Is noreferrer Bad for SEO?
In summary, noreferrer is not inherently bad for SEO, but it does come with some trade-offs:
- Link Equity: There’s no direct evidence that noreferrer alone impacts link equity. Google’s link-building guidelines don’t classify it as an attribute that blocks link equity flow. However, if link equity is a major concern, using noreferrer selectively can mitigate potential risks.
- Referral Data: The most significant impact of noreferrer is on referral data. For websites that rely heavily on tracking referral sources, applying noreferrer to all links could obscure valuable insights. Consider the importance of referral analytics when deciding which links to attribute with noreferrer.
- Balancing SEO and Security: noreferrer is best used in cases where security and user privacy are a priority. By selectively applying it, you can protect your website without compromising SEO efforts.
7. Conclusion
While noreferrer has a specific role in enhancing online security and privacy, it should be used thoughtfully to avoid unintended effects on SEO and referral tracking. If you manage a website that prioritizes user privacy or links to untrusted sources, noreferrer can be a valuable attribute. However, a balanced approach is ideal for most SEO-driven websites: use noreferrer selectively to ensure you maintain visibility on referral data while enhancing site security where needed.
In the end, the decision to use noreferrer depends on the unique needs and priorities of your site. By considering the pros and cons and using best practices, you can make informed choices that align with your SEO and security goals.
