Link Types and Attributes
Sponsored Links
Dennis Akkerman
CEO & Link Building Expert
Expert
Definition
Links marked with rel="sponsored" label paid or sponsored links. Google introduced this attribute to give site owners more granular control over link attribution and to identify commercial relationships.
Why It Matters for SEO
Properly labeling sponsored links is required by Google's guidelines. Failure to do so can result in manual penalties for attempting to manipulate rankings.
Best Practices
- Always use rel="sponsored" on paid links
- Disclose commercial relationships transparently
- Don't try to hide sponsored links to pass PageRank
- Combine with nofollow if needed for extra safety
Related Terms
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