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What Are UGC Links?

Google recently announced the introduction of two new link types: Rel="sponsored" and Rel="ugc." These are the first new attributes to be introduced since the nofollow attribute emerged over 15 years ago, making this a significant development for webmasters and link builders. So, what is this update about? What do you need to know? More importantly, how will Google’s link update impact your link-building strategies?

Let’s take a closer look.

Google’s Link Update: Key Insights

If you’re not aware of this update, the two new link types will assist Google in determining how particular links have been acquired.

• Rel=”sponsored”
  This attribute is intended for links that are paid for. If you’ve purchased a link, or if you are compensated for linking to a site, it’s essential to designate that link as sponsored using the Rel="sponsored" attribute.
• Rel=”ugc”
  If your links are generated through user contributions—such as comments, forum postings, or other forms of user-generated content—you’ll need to mark these relevant links with the Rel="ugc" attribute.
• Rel=”nofollow” and Rel=”nofollow sponsored”
  The previous link types, follow and nofollow, remain unchanged. If you want to indicate that a link is both sponsored and should not be followed by search engines, you can use the combined attribute: Rel="nofollow sponsored".

This update is crucial for anyone involved in linking strategies and will help enhance Google’s ability to evaluate links more accurately. Understanding these new attributes and adjusting your link-building practices accordingly will be essential for maintaining and improving your website’s search performance.