Noindex pages create a lot of confusion in local SEO. Technically, links on a noindex, follow page can still pass value. But that does not mean filling a site with noindexed pages is a smart strategy. For local rankings, crawl efficiency and clear site structure matter more than squeezing link equity out of thin pages. In this post, we break down how noindex really works, when it makes sense, and why site efficiency usually beats clever internal link tricks.
Table of Contents
How noindex and follow work
Meta robots directives control two things: whether a page is indexed and whether it is crawled or followed. The main combinations are:
- index, follow — Google can crawl the page and index it.
- noindex, follow — Google can crawl the page and follow links, but it should not include the page in search results.
- noindex, nofollow — Google is told not to index the page and not to follow the links on it.
If a page is set to noindex but follow, Google will still crawl it and may credit the links on the page. That is why people sometimes think noindexed pages can be used purely for internal linking. Technically it can work, but there are hidden costs.
Why we avoid noindex pages on the main site
The big issue is site efficiency. Every page we leave on the main site that Google crawls uses part of our crawl budget. If many of those pages are set to noindex but follow, we are telling Google not to index them but still asking Google to spend time crawling them.
That creates crawl resistance. Google has to spend resources on pages that we do not want indexed. That can slow down how often Google crawls the pages we do want indexed. For local SEO, this is a real problem because being easy for Google to crawl and understand matters a lot.
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When noindex pages are okay
There are times when noindexing a page is a good choice:
- Pages used only for email campaigns, paid ads, or social links and not meant to appear in search results.
- Landing pages that receive traffic from external sources and serve a specific purpose off search.
- Private or temporary pages that should not be indexed at all.
If a noindexed page is getting real traffic from outside or it gets clicks from users who land on other parts of the site, we can leave it. It serves a purpose. If the page exists only as a way to put internal links on the site and nothing else, we should not keep it indexed this way.
Better options than noindexing for internal link value
If the goal is to publish blog posts or content that links to main site pages, here are better choices:
- Publish the content indexable on a subdomain — This keeps the content searchable and does not tie up the main site's crawl budget.
- Use an external branded blog — Publishing on another domain or a blog keeps the post indexable and still sends link value to the main site.
- Make the content indexable on the main site — If the content should naturally rank, let it be indexed. That often helps from both traffic and link value perspectives.
These options let us get the link value without weakening the main site's crawl efficiency.
Practical steps to reduce crawl resistance
We can improve site efficiency by cleaning up technical issues that waste crawl resources. Start with these actions:
- Find and fix unnecessary redirects, especially chains and loops.
- Remove or rework internal redirect links so links point to final URLs.
- Audit pages set to noindex and decide which ones should actually be removed, indexed, or moved to another domain or subdomain.
- Use robots directives wisely. If you truly do not want Google to crawl a page, consider blocking it with robots.txt or using noindex, nofollow when appropriate. But remember that noindex, nofollow prevents link crawling.
- Fix other technical SEO errors like 4xx/5xx pages, sitemap issues, and duplicate content.
Making the site easier to crawl helps Google find and index the pages we care about. That improves how search engines understand the site and can boost local rankings.
Quick rule of thumb
If a page exists only to manipulate link signals and has no organic or campaign traffic, do not leave it on the main site as noindex. Instead publish that content where it can be indexed or host it on a subdomain or separate blog. If the page serves real visitors from email, ads, or internal clicks, keep it but monitor how it affects crawl resources.
What about “toxic” links from noindexed pages?
Some people worry that links from deindexed or noindexed pages are toxic. In practice we have tested and seen that links from deindexed sources can still pass benefit. That does not mean every noindexed link is helpful. The key is whether the page is legitimate and whether it has real user value or traffic. Artificial pages created just to push links are not good long-term strategy.
Summary
Links from noindexed pages can still pass value, but using noindex on many site pages harms site efficiency. For local SEO we must keep our sites clean and easy to crawl. If content needs to exist but should not be in the main site's index, put it on a subdomain or external blog so it can be indexed and still link to the main site. Reserve noindex for pages that serve real visitor needs or for content you truly do not want in search results.
FAQ
Do internal links on noindexed pages pass link value?
Yes. If the page is set to noindex but follow, Google can crawl it and may credit the links. That said, relying on this as a tactic can waste crawl budget and hurt site efficiency.
What happens if I use noindex, nofollow?
Noindex, nofollow tells Google not to index the page and not to follow links on it. That prevents link value from being passed and stops Google from crawling the links.
Should we publish blogs on subdomains instead of noindexing on the main site?
Often yes. Publishing on a subdomain or external blog keeps the content indexable without using the main site's crawl budget. The posts can still link to main site pages and be found in search.
When is it okay to have noindexed pages on the main site?
Keep noindexed pages if they receive meaningful traffic from emails, ads, social, or internal clicks and serve a purpose. If they exist only to host internal links, move them elsewhere or make them indexable.
How do we make the site more efficient for Google?
Fix technical SEO errors, remove unnecessary redirects, reduce duplicate content, and clear out pages that waste crawl resources. Aim to make the crawl path clear so Google focuses on the pages that matter.