# Add nofollow or sponsored

Check the Nofollow switch, mark partner links sponsored, and see the rel value each link gets.
Page: https://docs.linkmanagerpro.com/tutorials/nofollow-links
Use when someone asks: add nofollow to links wordpress; add sponsored attribute affiliate links; nofollow external links automatically; rel sponsored wordpress
Intent: How-to

To add nofollow to links in WordPress with Link Manager Pro, check the **Nofollow** switch under Link Manager › Settings › Redirection. It's on by default, so the links Link Manager Pro adds to your posts already get `nofollow` when they go to other sites. For `sponsored`, you list your partner domains, tick it on each affiliate, or turn it on as you insert a link.

`nofollow` and `sponsored` are values of a link's `rel` attribute: a part of the link's HTML that tells search engines how to treat the link ([Glossary](https://docs.linkmanagerpro.com/glossary)). They don't change where the link goes.

## Before you start

- The site-wide switches are on a Settings tab, and only administrators see Settings.
- Affiliates and short links need access to Link Manager Pro. Administrators always have it, and editors only when an administrator allows it ([Access for editors](https://docs.linkmanagerpro.com/guides/access)). The editor's **Short link** box works for anyone who can edit the post.
- Have your partner domains at hand, written bare, like `outdoor.example.com`.

## Which links get nofollow or sponsored?

Link Manager Pro sets `rel` only on links it adds to your posts or rewrites there, and each kind takes it from its own place. Find the row for your links below; the steps for each place follow.

| How the link got into your post | Where its `rel` comes from |
|---|---|
| Masked: a full link to another site that became a short link when you saved the post, or with **Scan posts** | The site-wide switches. On an [affiliate's](https://docs.linkmanagerpro.com/guides/affiliates) domain, the affiliate's **Link attributes** replace them when any box is ticked |
| An auto-link made from a short link's keywords | The site-wide switches, plus the short link's own **Link attributes** |
| An auto-link made from an affiliate's keywords | The affiliate's **Link attributes**. The site-wide switches only when none is ticked |
| An old plugin's shortcode, replaced with a short link | The site-wide switches, the short link's **Link attributes** and the shortcode's own `rel` ([Replace old shortcodes](https://docs.linkmanagerpro.com/migration/replace-shortcodes)) |
| Inserted with the editor's **Short link** or **Insert short link** button | Only the ticks in that box |
| Your short link, inserted with WordPress's own link tool | Only what you set there. The block editor's link box offers **Mark as nofollow**; neither editor offers sponsored |
| Inserted with the [AI Link Assistant](https://docs.linkmanagerpro.com/features/ai-link-assistant) | **AI Link** on selected words: its own ticks, which start like the editor box. A suggestion's **Insert link** (**Insert** in the classic editor): no `rel` at all. **Create & insert** for a plain link: the `rel` the link already had, nothing added |

- A link to your own site never gets `nofollow` or `sponsored` from masking, auto-links or replaced shortcodes. It can still get `noopener` and `noreferrer`.
- When Link Manager Pro masks a link, it adds its values to any `rel` you wrote and keeps yours.
- A plain link to another site gets nothing from Link Manager Pro unless it's masked. Masking on save works only while **Mask links when saving posts** is on (the default); **Scan posts** works either way. Both cover published, scheduled and private posts and pages, never drafts, pending posts or other content types.

All the cases side by side: [Where the rel settings apply](https://docs.linkmanagerpro.com/guides/settings/redirection#where-the-rel-settings-apply).

## Add nofollow to external links automatically

On a new site, there's nothing to set up: **Nofollow** is on, shown as **All links**. Links that Link Manager Pro masks or auto-links to other sites get `nofollow noopener`, unless an affiliate's own ticks decide for its domain. Check the switch once, then let masking add it as you save posts.

Link Manager › Settings › Redirection

1. Find the **Nofollow** row. It should say **All links**, with the domain list below it grayed out.
2. If it says **Selected domains only**, turn its switch on.
3. Select **Save changes**. The button stays grayed out while nothing has changed.

From now on, saving a published, scheduled or private post or page masks its links to other sites ([which ones](https://docs.linkmanagerpro.com/features/link-masking#which-links-masking-changes-and-which-it-leaves-alone)), with `nofollow`. Links masked before keep the `rel` they got: a later change on this tab doesn't update them, even when you save the post again. Auto-links follow your current settings each time a post is shown.

::: warning
For the posts you already have, **Scan my site** on the Dashboard opens **Scan posts**, which masks them all at once. That changes your saved posts, and no button in the admin undoes it: the WP-CLI command `unlink` does, and so does restoring a backup of **Posts and pages**. Back up first, and read [Short links in your posts](https://docs.linkmanagerpro.com/features/link-masking) before you run it.
:::

## Add the sponsored attribute to affiliate links

Mark partner links `sponsored` in two places: list each partner's domain under **Sponsored**, and tick `sponsored` on that partner's affiliate. The list covers masked links, a short link's keyword links and replaced shortcodes. On an affiliate's domain, the affiliate's ticks replace the list for masked links and the affiliate's own keywords, so tick it there too.

First, the domain list:

Link Manager › Settings › Redirection

1. Leave **Sponsored** off, so it reads **Selected domains only** (1).
2. In its domain list (2), enter each partner domain on its own line, like `outdoor.example.com`. Write just the domain. Letter case, `https://`, `www.` and a path on an entry are ignored when matching.
3. Select **Save changes**.

[Screenshot: The Sponsored row in Link Manager Pro's Redirection settings with the switch off, marked: 1 Selected domains only, 2 the domain list with outdoor.example.com and books.example.net on their own lines]

`outdoor.example.com` also covers `www.outdoor.example.com`. Another subdomain, like `shop.outdoor.example.com`, needs its own line.

Then, for each partner you added under **Affiliates**:

1. Go to Link Manager › Affiliates and select **Edit** (the pencil) on the partner's row.
2. Open **Link attributes** and tick `sponsored`. A new affiliate starts with `nofollow` and `noopener` ticked; leave them on.
3. Select **Save changes**.

The affiliate's keywords show the change the next time a post is shown. Links masked before keep their old `rel`.

When you insert a partner link yourself with the editor's **Short link** button, turn on **Sponsored** before you select **Apply**. **Nofollow** is already on there ([Editor tools](https://docs.linkmanagerpro.com/features/editor-tools)).

To mark every link to another site `sponsored` instead, turn **Sponsored** on (**All links**). That includes sources you cite and aren't paid for. It still doesn't reach an affiliate's domain when the affiliate has any box ticked: masked links and its keywords take the affiliate's ticks, so tick `sponsored` on each affiliate too. Turn the switch off to go back to your list, which stays saved.

## Set nofollow or sponsored on one short link

A short link's own **Link attributes** add `rel` values to two kinds of links: the ones its keywords make, and old shortcodes replaced with it. They don't change masked links or links you inserted with the editor box.

Link Manager › Short Links

1. Select **Edit** (the pencil) on the link's row. **Edit short link** opens.
2. Turn on **Link attributes**, and tick `sponsored`. Tick `nofollow` too if your **Nofollow** switch is on **Selected domains only** and this link's domain isn't listed.
3. Select **Save changes**.

These ticks add to the site-wide switches; they can't take a value away. With **Nofollow** on **All links**, unticking `nofollow` here leaves it on the link. Turning the **Link attributes** switch off only hides the boxes; ticked ones still apply.

A short link's keywords show only while its **Replace keywords automatically** is on ([Auto-linking keywords](https://docs.linkmanagerpro.com/features/auto-linking)).

## How do you check a link's rel?

Open the published post and look at the link's HTML. The `rel` value is in the link's tag, for example `<a href="https://yoursite.com/link/tent-deal?pid=140" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">`. That's what visitors and search engines get.

1. Open the post on your site in a private browser window, so you see the page your visitors get.
2. Right-click the link and inspect it in your browser's developer tools. Or open the page source and search for the link's address.
3. Read the `rel="..."` part of the `<a>` tag.

- The `?pid=140` at the end is the post's ID. Link Manager Pro adds it to short links on your pages, so reports can tell which post sent a click. It isn't part of `rel`.
- Is an auto-link missing a change you just made? Clear your page cache. Saving a short link or an affiliate clears the cache of supported cache plugins while **Clear page cache when links change** is on ([Integrations settings](https://docs.linkmanagerpro.com/guides/settings/integrations#clear-page-cache-when-links-change)). Saving the Redirection tab doesn't.
- Is a masked link or replaced shortcode missing it? Those keep the `rel` they got when they were written. Change that link's `rel` in the post's HTML, or insert the link again with the editor box.

## How do you undo or change nofollow and sponsored later?

Change the switch or list on the same tab and select **Save changes**: auto-links follow it the next time a post is shown. Links masked or replaced earlier keep the `rel` they got, so edit those in the post's HTML.

- To remove a value from a short link's keyword links, untick it under that link's **Link attributes**. A value your site-wide switch gives stays.
- To remove a value from an affiliate's keyword links and masked links, untick it under the affiliate's **Link attributes**. Unticking every box hands the domain back to the site-wide switches.
- To take back masking on posts, use the WP-CLI command `unlink`. It leaves the `rel` masking added; `--strip-rel` removes the whole `rel`, including values you wrote.

## What do nofollow and sponsored tell search engines?

`nofollow` asks search engines not to pass ranking credit through a link. `sponsored` marks the link as paid or affiliate. Both are hints in your page's HTML. Each search engine decides how it uses them, and neither Link Manager Pro nor these docs can promise a ranking effect.

- They don't change the redirect. A visitor's click works and is counted the same way, with or without them.
- They can go together: `rel="nofollow sponsored"`.
- For what a search engine does with them, read that search engine's own guidelines.
- A post with a `sponsored` link counts for the [affiliate disclosure](https://docs.linkmanagerpro.com/features/disclosure), once you turn it on. So does a post that links to an affiliate's domain, directly or through a short link. A link marked only `nofollow` doesn't count.
- There's no switch for `ugc`, the value for user-generated links. Write it into the link yourself; masking keeps it. WordPress itself adds `ugc` to links in comments, and `nofollow` as well when they point to another site.

## Details

| Setting | Default | What it adds |
|---|---|---|
| **Nofollow** | On (**All links**) | `nofollow`: don't pass ranking credit |
| **Noopener** | On (**All links**) | `noopener`: the opened page can't control yours when a link opens in a new tab |
| **Noreferrer** | Off (**Selected domains only**, empty list) | `noreferrer`: your page address isn't sent to the destination |
| **Sponsored** | Off (**Selected domains only**, empty list) | `sponsored`: a paid or affiliate link |

| Where else | Starts with |
|---|---|
| A new affiliate's **Link attributes** | `nofollow` and `noopener` ticked |
| A new short link's **Link attributes** | Nothing ticked |
| The editor's **Short link** and **Insert short link** boxes | **Nofollow** on, **Sponsored** and **Open in new tab** off. **Open in new tab** adds `noopener` |

- A switch that's on (**All links**) gives the value to masked links, auto-links and replaced shortcodes that go to other sites, and its domain list is grayed out and ignored. On an affiliate's domain with any box ticked, masked links and the affiliate's keywords take the affiliate's ticks instead, whatever the switch says.
- A domain list matches the destination's domain, not your short link's address. Each line is one domain. A leading `www.` on the destination is ignored, and the listed lines are cleaned up the same way (case, scheme, path, port, `www.`).
- An affiliate's ticks apply when the destination's domain is exactly the affiliate's domain (`www.` aside).
- Every row of the Redirection tab is explained on [Redirection settings](https://docs.linkmanagerpro.com/guides/settings/redirection#nofollow-and-sponsored-settings).

## Get more out of it

- Keep followed links to the sources you cite. Turn **Nofollow** off, so it reads **Selected domains only**, and list your partner domains under both **Nofollow** and **Sponsored**. From then on, masked links and auto-links to other sites get only `noopener`, while links to listed partners get `nofollow sponsored` too. For a partner under **Affiliates**, tick `nofollow` and `sponsored` on the affiliate as well: its ticks win for masked links and its keywords. Links masked earlier keep their `nofollow`.
- Set the switches before you run **Scan posts** or replace old shortcodes, along with your affiliates' ticks (for **Scan posts**) and your short links' ticks (for shortcodes). Those links are written once, with the `rel` of that moment.
- Turn **Nofollow** off in the editor box for a short link to one of your own pages. The box adds what you tick, even for your own site.
- Start the editor box with **Sponsored** on for everyone who edits posts. A developer can do that with the `link_manager_pro_picker_toolbar_defaults` filter ([the code](https://docs.linkmanagerpro.com/tutorials/cloak-affiliate-links#get-more-out-of-it)).
- Pair partner links with the affiliate disclosure. Once it's on, it shows on every post that links to one of your affiliates or has a `sponsored` link. A `nofollow` link alone doesn't bring it ([Add an affiliate disclosure](https://docs.linkmanagerpro.com/tutorials/ftc-affiliate-disclosure)).

## If something goes wrong

- If you can't type in a domain list, then its switch is on (**All links**). Turn it off to use the list, and on again to undo.
- If links to a listed domain don't get the value, then check the entry for `https://`, `www.`, capitals or a path, and give each subdomain its own line. If the domain belongs to an affiliate, tick the value in the affiliate's **Link attributes** too.
- If a link still has `nofollow` after you unticked it on the short link, then either your **Nofollow** switch is on **All links** (a link's ticks only add values), or the link went in with the editor box, **AI Link** or masking, which the short link's ticks never reach. Edit that link's `rel` in the post.
- If a link to your own page has `nofollow`, then it came, for example, from the editor box or **AI Link** with **Nofollow** on, from WordPress's **Mark as nofollow**, or from HTML you or an old plugin wrote. Edit the link in the post.
- If the page doesn't show your change, then clear your page cache. Masked links and replaced shortcodes from before the change keep their old `rel`: edit those in the post.

More fixes are on [Troubleshooting](https://docs.linkmanagerpro.com/troubleshooting).

## Related

- [Cloak an affiliate link](https://docs.linkmanagerpro.com/tutorials/cloak-affiliate-links)
- [Redirection settings](https://docs.linkmanagerpro.com/guides/settings/redirection)
- [Affiliates](https://docs.linkmanagerpro.com/guides/affiliates)
- [Affiliate disclosure](https://docs.linkmanagerpro.com/features/disclosure)
- [Troubleshooting](https://docs.linkmanagerpro.com/troubleshooting)