Backlinks are one of the most talked-about ranking factors in SEO. They help search engines understand the credibility and authority of a website. But what happens when those backlinks point to pages marked as “noindex”? Do backlinks to noindex pages count? This is a common question among website owners, marketers, and SEOs trying to fine-tune their strategies. This guide will explore the concept, explain its implications, and provide actionable insights for optimizing your backlink strategy.
What Is a Noindex Page?
A noindex page is a webpage with a special directive in its meta tags or HTTP headers instructing search engines not to include the page in their search index. For example, the following meta tag in a page’s HTML tells search engines to omit the page from search results:
<meta name="robots" content="noindex">This tag is commonly used to:
- Prevent duplicate content issues.
- Hide sensitive or non-public information from search engines.
- Exclude low-value pages, such as thank-you pages or internal admin pages.
While the noindex tag keeps the page out of search results, it’s important to note that it does not block search engines from crawling the page unless combined with a “nofollow” or “disallow” directive.
How Backlinks Work
Backlinks, or inbound links, are links from one website to another. Search engines like Google use backlinks to measure the authority and relevance of a page. Generally, a page with more high-quality backlinks is seen as more credible, which can positively influence its rankings in search results.
However, not all backlinks are treated equally. Search engines consider various factors, including:
- The quality of the linking site.
- The relevance of the linking content.
- Whether the link is “follow” or “nofollow.”
If a page is marked as noindex, do backlinks still hold any value?
Do Backlinks to Noindex Pages Count?
The answer is both yes and no, depending on the context. Let’s break it down:
1. Link Equity (Link Juice)
Backlinks to noindex pages can still pass link equity (sometimes called “link juice”) to the domain as a whole. While the noindex directive prevents the specific page from appearing in search results, it does not automatically negate the value of backlinks pointing to that page. For example:
- If Page A on your site is indexed but has 100 backlinks, the link equity from those backlinks can still flow to other indexed pages through internal linking.
2. Anchor Text Relevance
Backlinks to noindex pages contribute to your website’s overall anchor text profile. If the anchor text of the backlinks aligns with your target keywords, this can positively influence your SEO efforts, even if the specific indexed page is not ranking.
3. Referral Traffic
If a noindex page does not appear in search results, backlinks can drive referral traffic. Users clicking on the backlinks can visit the noindex page and potentially navigate to other parts of your website.
4. Limitations of Noindex Backlinks
While backlinks to noindex pages can provide some benefits, they have limitations:
- No Direct Ranking Boost for the Noindex Page: The noindex tag ensures that the specific page will not rank in search results, regardless of the quality or quantity of backlinks.
- Potential Misallocation of Resources: If your backlink strategy focuses heavily on noindex pages, you may be missing opportunities to boost the rankings of your indexed pages.
Best Practices for Backlinks and Noindex Pages
If you want to maximize the value of backlinks, keep the following best practices in mind:
1. Use Noindex Strategically
Only apply the noindex tag to pages that don’t add value to search results. Examples include:
- Internal admin pages.
- Duplicate or thin content pages.
- Pages meant for specific audiences, such as promotional landing pages.
2. Redirect Backlinks Where Appropriate
If a noindex page has valuable backlinks but no longer serves a purpose, consider redirecting it to a relevant indexed page. This allows you to preserve and pass on the link equity.
3. Leverage Internal Linking
Ensure that noindex pages have strong backlinks to your important indexed pages. This helps distribute the link equity throughout your site.
4. Monitor Your Backlink Profile
Regularly audit your backlink profile to identify links pointing to noindex pages. Tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Google Search Console can help you pinpoint these backlinks and develop an appropriate strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Can a noindex page with backlinks improve my site’s overall SEO?
Yes, backlinks to a noindex page can improve your site’s overall SEO by passing link equity to other parts of your site through internal linking.
Q2: Should I disavow backlinks to noindex pages?
Not necessarily. Only disavow backlinks that are spammy or from low-quality domains, regardless of whether they point to indexed or noindex pages.
Q3: Will search engines crawl noindex pages?
Yes, search engines can still crawl noindex pages unless you explicitly block them using a robots.txt file or a “nofollow” directive.
Conclusion
So, do backlinks to noindex pages count? The answer is nuanced. While such backlinks do not directly help the noindex page rank, they can pass link equity to your overall domain, contribute to anchor text relevance, and drive referral traffic. It’s essential to strategically manage noindex pages and optimize your internal linking structure to make the most of your backlinks. By doing so, you can ensure that every backlink—whether to an indexed or noindex page—works to your advantage.