Do Backlinks to Noindex Pages Count?
Introduction
Backlinks are one of the strongest ranking factors in SEO. But what happens when these backlinks point to a noindex page? Do they still carry weight? Understanding the relationship between backlinks and noindex pages is crucial for optimizing your website’s search performance.
Understanding Backlinks and Their SEO Value
A backlink is a link from one website to another. Search engines use backlinks as indicators of a site’s authority and credibility. The more high-quality backlinks a page has, the better it typically ranks in search results.
What Are Noindex Pages?
A noindex page is one that search engines are instructed not to include in their search results. This is done using the “noindex” meta tag or HTTP header. Common examples of noindex pages include login pages, thank-you pages, and certain admin areas.
How Search Engines Treat Noindex Pages
When a page is noindexed, search engines may still crawl it, but they won’t display it in search results. Over time, if a page remains noindexed, search engines may reduce their crawling frequency or stop crawling it altogether.
Do Backlinks to Noindex Pages Pass Link Equity?
Google has confirmed that while noindex prevents a page from appearing in search results, backlinks to that page may still pass link equity. However, if a noindex page remains unindexed for too long, Google may eventually ignore its backlinks.
Noindex vs. Nofollow: What’s the Difference?
- Noindex: Prevents a page from being displayed in search results.
- Nofollow: Tells search engines not to pass link equity through a link.
A noindex page with dofollow backlinks can still contribute to a site’s overall authority, but its impact may be limited.
Situations Where Backlinks to Noindex Pages Matter
Backlinks to noindex pages can be beneficial in some cases:
- Internal linking helps distribute authority across a site.
- Redirecting a noindex page can preserve link equity.
- Noindex pages in a content hub may still provide user engagement.
Do Noindex Pages Affect Domain Authority?
While noindex pages don’t appear in search results, their backlinks can still impact domain authority. Google may use them to understand a site’s overall credibility.
Can Noindex Pages Be Indexed Indirectly?
In rare cases, Google may still show a noindex page if:
- It has strong backlinks.
- Other pages reference it frequently.
- Google considers the page relevant despite the noindex directive.
How to Handle Backlinks to Noindex Pages
If your noindex page has valuable backlinks, consider:
- Removing the noindex tag if the page is important.
- Redirecting the page to another relevant page.
- Allowing crawlers to follow links within the noindex page.
Common Myths About Noindex Pages and Backlinks
- Myth: Noindex pages never pass link juice.
- Truth: They can, but their impact may decrease over time.
- Myth: Noindex pages harm SEO.
- Truth: They help manage crawl budget and prevent low-value pages from indexing.
Conclusion
Backlinks to noindex pages can pass link equity, but their effectiveness depends on Google’s handling of the page over time. If a noindex page has strong backlinks, it may be worth reconsidering its status or redirecting it to a more valuable page.
FAQs
- Do backlinks to noindex pages improve SEO?
Yes, but the impact may be limited as Google may eventually devalue them. - Should I add noindex to pages with low-quality backlinks?
Not necessarily. Instead, disavow low-quality backlinks or improve page quality. - Can a noindex page rank for keywords?
No, noindex prevents the page from appearing in search results. - How do I make a noindex page pass link juice?
Use dofollow links and consider internal linking strategies. - Does Google crawl noindex pages at all?
Yes, but over time, Google may reduce its crawling frequency.