# How to Add Nofollow Links in WordPress

You add `nofollow` to links in WordPress with Link Manager Pro in two places: **global defaults** under **Settings → Link Attributes**, and **per-link toggles** when you create or edit a masked link. You can also set **domain-level defaults** for each **Affiliate** partner so every hop to that merchant inherits the same `rel` values. The plugin exposes **nofollow**, **noopener**, **noreferrer**, and **sponsored** in the UI. For **`ugc`**, Google’s label for user-generated links, you follow the same policy choice in HTML or blocks where you control raw attributes—pair it with **nofollow** on community-sourced destinations. You revisit **Settings** whenever your legal or SEO policy changes site-wide.

## The problem

WordPress’s classic editor and many blocks default to “follow” links. Affiliate and paid placements should signal **nofollow** and **sponsored** consistently. Doing that by hand across hundreds of posts fails quickly, and partner-specific rules are easy to get wrong.

## What these attributes mean

- **`nofollow`** — Tells search engines not to pass PageRank-style signals to the destination.
- **`noopener`** — Stops the new page from accessing `window.opener` when the link opens in a new tab (security against reverse tabnapping).
- **`noreferrer`** — Omits your URL as the referrer on the request (privacy).
- **`sponsored`** — Marks paid or affiliate relationships for search quality and disclosure alignment.
- **`ugc`** — Marks user-generated content links (comments, forums). Link Manager Pro focuses the four toggles above; add **`ugc`** in HTML or compatible blocks when you need the explicit UGC hint.

## Set attributes in Link Manager Pro

### 1. Global defaults

1. Open **Link Manager Pro → Settings → Link Attributes**.
2. Toggle **nofollow**, **noopener**, **noreferrer**, and **sponsored** to match your site-wide policy for **new** managed links and auto-linked output.
3. Save. Existing links keep their saved values until you edit them.

### 2. Per-link override

1. Go to **Link Manager Pro → Links** and open any link (or **Add New**).
2. Use the **Link Attributes** checkboxes to override globals for that redirect only.
3. Save.

### 3. Affiliate domain overrides

1. Open **Link Manager Pro → Affiliates**.
2. Edit a partner (or create one).
3. Set **Attributes** for that domain—common choice: **nofollow** + **sponsored** + **noopener** for paid partners.
4. Save. Auto-linked keywords and matching redirects inherit those values.

## Best practices

- **Affiliate / paid links:** Enable **nofollow** and **sponsored**; add **noopener** when links open in a new tab.
- **Editorial external links you trust:** Leave follow behavior (no `nofollow`) if you intentionally vouch for the target.
- **User-submitted links:** Use **nofollow** in Link Manager Pro for managed hops; add **`ugc`** in the HTML layer when the link truly is user-generated.
- **New tabs:** Always pair **noopener** (and usually **noreferrer** if you want stricter privacy) on `target="_blank"` flows.

### How overrides stack

**Global defaults** apply first when you create a new managed link or when auto-linking inserts HTML. A **per-link** edit wins over globals for that redirect’s outbound `rel` string. An **affiliate** profile applies when the destination domain matches the partner—handy when every Amazon hop should look identical without you touching each slug. When rules conflict in your head, edit the specific link and read the resulting `rel` in the preview or front-end source.

### When you still touch the block editor

Some native blocks strip custom `rel` values. If a block ignores your policy, switch to a custom HTML block for that paragraph or manage the hop through Link Manager Pro’s masked URL so the plugin injects attributes during render. The goal is one consistent policy: paid links disclose and do not pass equity; trusted editorial links stay clean.

## Related

- [Settings](https://docs.linkmanagerpro.com/user-guide/settings)
- [Creating links](https://docs.linkmanagerpro.com/user-guide/creating-links)
- [Managing affiliates](https://docs.linkmanagerpro.com/user-guide/affiliates)