The usage of outbound connections can be incredibly beneficial to a website or blog. They lend legitimacy to your material by directing readers to the sources of any facts, data, or information you present. They can play an important role in link building, significantly improving your search engine optimization (SEO) efforts.
However, while adding outbound links to a website, you must consider security and privacy considerations. If you study the HTML on multiple websites, you will see that the link code might vary greatly from one to the next. Some will use the words rel=”noopener noreferrer”. This code may also be included in your outbound links if you create your site content using a platform such as WordPress.
In this blog post, we’ll look at what this code means, how it can be used, why it’s automatically added to outbound links in WordPress and other platforms, the potential security and privacy benefits of using rel=”noopener noreferrer” links, and the SEO implications.
Understanding rel=”noopener noreferrer”
- The rel attribute in HTML defines the relationship between the current document and the linked document. The noopener and noreferrer values have special uses:
- noopener: This number improves security and performance when opening links in a new tab. By blocking the new page from accessing the window. The opener attribute reduces the risk of certain sorts of intrusions, such as phishing.
- noreferrer: This value prevents the browser from sending the Referer header to the linked document. Consequently, the destination site does not know where the visitor came from.
Security and Performance Benefits
- Preventing Tabnabbing: When a user clicks on a link with target=”_blank”, a new tab opens. Without noopener, the newly opened page can potentially manipulate the original page via the window.opener property. This manipulation, known as tabnabbing, can lead to phishing attacks. Using rel=”noopener” ensures that the original page remains secure.
- Improved Performance: The noopener attribute also boosts performance by preventing the new page from accessing and controlling the original page. This isolation leads to better resource allocation and reduced memory usage, making the browsing experience smoother.
Privacy Considerations
By adding rel=”noreferrer”, webmasters can enhance user privacy. The linked document does not receive the Referer header, meaning the destination site cannot track the origin of the visitor. This can be particularly useful for sites that prioritize user anonymity and data protection.
SEO Implications
Now that we understand the security, performance, and privacy benefits, let’s explore how rel=”noopener noreferrer” impacts SEO.
- Impact on Link Juice: One common concern is whether using rel=”noopener noreferrer” affects the passing of link equity or “link juice.” The good news is that these attributes do not impact SEO directly. They do not instruct search engines to ignore the link, so the link equity is still passed to the linked page.
- User Experience (UX): Enhancing security and performance with rel=”noopener noreferrer” can indirectly benefit SEO by improving UX. A secure and fast website leads to higher user satisfaction, reduced bounce rates, and potentially longer dwell times—all of which are positive signals for search engines.
- Referral Data: While rel=”noreferrer” hides referral data from the destination site, it does not impact your own site’s analytics. You can still track outbound clicks and user interactions on your site. However, the lack of referral data may affect how destination sites view traffic sources, which could influence backlink partnerships.
- Best Practices: Implementing rel=”noopener noreferrer” aligns with best practices recommended by major browsers and security experts. Adopting such practices can contribute to the overall credibility and trustworthiness of your website, which are valuable assets in the eyes of search engines.
When to Use rel=”noopener noreferrer”
- External Links: When linking to external sites, especially those that open in a new tab (target=”_blank”), it is advisable to use rel=”noopener noreferrer” to safeguard against tabnabbing and enhance security.
- Internal Links: For internal links, the need for rel=”noopener noreferrer” is less critical since the risks are lower. However, using noopener can still improve performance.
Implementing rel=”noopener noreferrer”
Adding rel=”noopener noreferrer” to your links is straightforward. Here’s an example:
<a href=”https://example.com” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>Visit Example</a>
This simple addition to your HTML code ensures enhanced security, performance, and privacy without compromising your SEO efforts.
Best Practices for Incorporating rel=”noopener noreferrer”
While implementing rel=”noopener noreferrer” is relatively simple, following best practices can maximize its benefits:
- Consistent Usage: Ensure that all external links with target=”_blank” include the rel=”noopener noreferrer” attribute. Consistency is key to maintaining security and performance across your website.
- Regular Audits: Periodically review your site’s links to ensure the rel=”noopener noreferrer” attribute is correctly applied. Use tools or plugins that can automate this process and identify any missing attributes.
- Education and Training: Educate your content creators and web developers about the importance of using rel=”noopener noreferrer”. Provide guidelines and training to ensure everyone involved in your website’s maintenance understands its significance.
- Monitor Performance: Track your website’s performance and user experience metrics to observe any improvements after implementing rel=”noopener noreferrer”. Look for changes in bounce rates, page load times, and overall user engagement.
- Stay Updated: SEO and web security best practices evolve over time. Stay informed about the latest recommendations from search engines, browser developers, and the SEO community to ensure your site remains secure and optimized.
Conclusion
Including rel=”noopener noreferrer” in your linking strategy is a sensible step for modern webmasters. While it has no direct impact on SEO results, the benefits it offers in terms of security, performance, and user experience can have a favorable indirect effect. By following best practices and creating a safe surfing environment, you help to build a more solid and trustworthy web presence, which is ultimately useful to your SEO strategy.
Keep in mind that SEO is a multidimensional discipline in which even minor improvements count. Integrating rel=”noopener noreferrer” is a tiny but crucial step that can improve your website’s overall performance and user satisfaction. Implementing this characteristic not only protects your website and its users, but it also conforms with the ethical principles promoted by search engines and the larger web community. This ensures the long-term profitability and integrity of your internet presence.
