What Are Dofollow Backlinks?
Dofollow backlinks are the default type of hyperlink that passes link equity (also called "link juice" or "ranking power") from the linking website to the linked website. When a site links to you with a dofollow link, they're essentially endorsing your content and telling search engines that your page is worth ranking.
Dofollow links are the gold standard of link building because they directly contribute to your website's authority and search engine rankings. When high-authority websites link to your content with dofollow links, they're passing a portion of their authority to you, which can significantly boost your SEO performance.
How Dofollow Links Work
When Google crawls a webpage and discovers a dofollow link, it follows that link to the destination page and passes a portion of the linking page's authority. This process works like a voting system—the more high-quality votes (dofollow links) your page receives, the more authoritative it appears to search engines.
<a href="https://example.com">Link Text</a>This is a standard dofollow link—no special attributes needed. It's dofollow by default.
Why Dofollow Backlinks Matter for Rankings
Dofollow backlinks remain one of the most important ranking factors in Google's algorithm. Here's why they matter so much:
- Authority Transfer: Dofollow links pass PageRank and domain authority to your site
- Ranking Boost: Pages with more quality dofollow links tend to rank higher in search results
- Faster Indexing: Search engines discover and index your content faster through dofollow links
- Trust Signals: Dofollow links from trusted sites signal that your content is credible
- Competitive Advantage: In competitive niches, dofollow backlinks often determine who ranks #1
Backlinky.io Provides Dofollow Links
All backlinks from Backlinky.io are dofollow by default, ensuring you get maximum SEO value from every link. Our guest posts and niche edits are placed on real, authoritative websites that pass genuine link equity to boost your rankings.
Get Dofollow Backlinks →What Are Nofollow Backlinks?
Nofollow backlinks are links that include a rel="nofollow" HTML attribute, which instructs search engines not to pass link equity or ranking power to the destination page. Google introduced the nofollow attribute in 2005 to combat comment spam and give webmasters more control over their outbound links.
<a href="https://example.com" rel="nofollow">Link Text</a>This link includes the nofollow attribute, telling search engines not to pass ranking power.
The Evolution of Nofollow
In March 2019, Google announced a significant change to how they handle nofollow links. Rather than treating nofollow as a strict directive, they began treating it as a "hint"—meaning Google may choose to count nofollow links for ranking purposes in some cases. This change meant that nofollow links weren't completely ignored, though they still carry less weight than dofollow links.
Google also introduced two new link attributes to provide more granular control:
rel="sponsored"
Use this for links that were created as part of advertisements, sponsorships, or other compensation agreements. This is now the preferred attribute for paid links.
rel="ugc"
Stands for "User Generated Content." Use this for links within user-generated content like comments and forum posts.
Where You'll Find Nofollow Links
Nofollow links are extremely common across the web. Here are the most common sources:
- Social Media Platforms: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram (all profile and post links)
- Major Websites: Wikipedia, Reddit, Quora, Medium, and most large platforms
- Blog Comments: Most blogging platforms automatically add nofollow to comment links
- Forums: Discussion boards and community sites typically use nofollow
- Press Releases: Distributed through PR wires with nofollow attributes
- Paid/Sponsored Content: As required by Google's guidelines
Do Nofollow Links Have Any SEO Value?
Despite not passing direct link equity, nofollow backlinks still provide several SEO benefits:
- Referral Traffic: Nofollow links can drive significant targeted traffic to your site
- Brand Visibility: Mentions on major platforms increase brand awareness
- Indexing Assistance: Search engines may still follow nofollow links for discovery
- Natural Link Profile: A mix of dofollow and nofollow links looks more natural
- Potential Ranking Signals: Since 2019, Google may use nofollow links as hints
- Indirect SEO Benefits: Traffic and visibility can lead to natural dofollow links
Dofollow vs Nofollow: Key Differences Compared
Understanding the practical differences between these link types helps you prioritize your link building efforts and build a balanced backlink profile.
| Factor | Dofollow | Nofollow |
|---|---|---|
| Passes Link Equity | ✓ Yes | ✗ No (hint only) |
| Direct Ranking Impact | High | Low/Indirect |
| Referral Traffic | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| HTML Attribute | None needed (default) | rel="nofollow" |
| Common Sources | Editorial content, guest posts, natural mentions | Social media, comments, forums, paid content |
| SEO Priority | High Priority | Medium Priority |
The Bottom Line
While dofollow links provide direct SEO value through link equity, nofollow links still contribute to your overall online presence. A healthy backlink profile contains both types. Focus on earning high-quality dofollow links while appreciating the traffic and brand benefits of nofollow mentions.
SEO Impact Analysis: How Each Link Type Affects Rankings
Let's dive deeper into how dofollow and nofollow backlinks actually impact your search engine rankings in practice.
The Power of Dofollow Backlinks
Dofollow backlinks are the primary currency of SEO. When authoritative websites link to your content with dofollow links, they're essentially voting for your page to rank higher. Google's algorithm heavily weights these votes when determining search result rankings.
Studies consistently show that pages ranking in the top positions of Google have significantly more dofollow backlinks than lower-ranking pages. A 2025 analysis of over 1 million search results found that the average #1 ranking page has 3.8 times more dofollow referring domains than pages ranking in positions 4-10.
Quality Matters More Than Quantity
Not all dofollow links are created equal. A single dofollow link from a highly authoritative website (DR 80+) can be worth more than hundreds of links from low-quality sites. Key factors that determine a dofollow link's value include:
- Domain Authority: Links from DR 60+ sites carry significantly more weight
- Relevance: Links from sites in your niche are more valuable than random links
- Link Placement: Editorial links in content body outperform footer/sidebar links
- Anchor Text: Natural, contextual anchor text performs best
- Page Authority: Links from pages with their own backlinks are more valuable
The Hidden Value of Nofollow Links
While nofollow links don't pass direct link equity, they contribute to your SEO in subtler ways. Nofollow links from major platforms like Wikipedia, Reddit, and industry publications drive targeted referral traffic that can lead to brand searches, direct visits, and even natural dofollow links from people who discover your content.
Additionally, Google's 2019 shift to treating nofollow as a hint means these links may still influence rankings in some capacity. While they shouldn't be your primary focus, nofollow links from high-traffic, authoritative sources can absolutely contribute to your overall SEO success.
Building a Balanced Link Profile
Search engines expect to see a natural mix of link types. A website with 100% dofollow links looks suspicious and potentially manipulative. Most authoritative websites naturally attract a mix of dofollow and nofollow links from various sources.
Ideal Link Profile Mix
- 60-80% Dofollow links from editorial content, guest posts, and natural mentions
- 20-40% Nofollow links from social media, comments, forums, and user-generated content
- Diverse anchor text distribution (branded, partial match, generic, naked URLs)
- Links from a variety of domain types (blogs, news sites, directories, social platforms)
Understanding Link Attributes: Complete Guide
Modern SEO involves several link attributes beyond just dofollow and nofollow. Understanding when to use each helps you build a compliant, effective link profile.
Complete List of Link Attributes
No Attribute (Default/Dofollow)
<a href="url">Link</a>The default state—passes full link equity. Use for natural, editorial links that you want to endorse and pass ranking power.
rel="nofollow"
<a href="url" rel="nofollow">Link</a>Tells search engines not to pass link equity. Still useful for traffic and brand visibility. Since 2019, treated as a hint rather than a strict directive.
rel="sponsored"
<a href="url" rel="sponsored">Link</a>Identifies paid or sponsored links. Google's preferred attribute for advertisements, sponsored content, and any links involving compensation. Can combine with nofollow: rel="sponsored nofollow".
rel="ugc"
<a href="url" rel="ugc">Link</a>Stands for User Generated Content. Use for links in comments, forum posts, and other user-submitted content. Can combine with nofollow: rel="ugc nofollow".
rel="noopener"
<a href="url" rel="noopener">Link</a>Security attribute that prevents the linked page from accessing the window.opener property. Commonly used with target="_blank". Doesn't affect SEO—remains dofollow unless other attributes are added.
rel="noreferrer"
<a href="url" rel="noreferrer">Link</a>Prevents the browser from sending the Referer header to the linked page. Often combined with noopener. Doesn't affect link equity passing.
Combining Multiple Attributes
You can combine multiple rel attributes in a single link to achieve different goals:
<a href="url" rel="sponsored nofollow">Paid Link</a>
<a href="url" rel="ugc nofollow">Comment Link</a>
<a href="url" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">External Link</a>
<a href="url" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Sponsored External</a>
When to Use Dofollow vs Nofollow Links
Knowing when to use each link type is crucial for both your own outbound links and when evaluating inbound links to your site.
When to Use Dofollow Links
Use dofollow links when:
- Linking to high-quality, trustworthy resources that you genuinely recommend
- Citing authoritative sources in your content
- Linking to partner websites in a non-paid context
- Referencing tools, studies, or data you used in creating your content
- Linking internally between your own pages
- Connecting to relevant content that adds value for your readers
When to Use Nofollow Links
Use nofollow (or sponsored/ugc) links when:
- The link is part of a paid sponsorship, advertisement, or affiliate arrangement
- You're linking to user-generated content like comments or forum posts
- The destination site is untrusted or potentially spammy
- You have too many outbound links and want to conserve link equity
- The link is in a press release or widget/embed code
- You're linking to a competitor and don't want to pass authority
⚠️ Important: Google's Guidelines
Google requires that paid links use the sponsored attribute (or nofollow). Failing to properly mark paid links violates Google's Webmaster Guidelines and can result in manual actions or penalties against your site. Always be transparent about paid relationships.
How to Check if a Link is Dofollow or Nofollow
There are several ways to check whether a backlink to your site (or any link on a webpage) is dofollow or nofollow.
Method 1: Browser Inspect Element
- Right-click on the link you want to check
- Select "Inspect" or "Inspect Element" from the context menu
- Look at the HTML code in the Developer Tools panel
- Check for rel="nofollow", rel="sponsored", or rel="ugc" attributes
- If no rel attribute exists (or only noopener/noreferrer), the link is dofollow
Method 2: SEO Browser Extensions
Several browser extensions can highlight nofollow links automatically:
- MozBar: Highlights nofollow links on any page with a red border
- Ahrefs SEO Toolbar: Shows link attributes and highlights nofollow links
- SEOquake: Provides link analysis including nofollow detection
- NoFollow: Simple extension that outlines all nofollow links
Method 3: Backlink Analysis Tools
Professional SEO tools can analyze your entire backlink profile and identify which links are dofollow vs nofollow:
- Ahrefs: Shows dofollow/nofollow ratio in backlink reports
- SEMrush: Filters backlinks by follow status
- Moz: Analyzes link attributes in Link Explorer
- Majestic: Provides follow vs nofollow breakdowns
Free Tool
Use our free backlink checker to analyze your link profile and see the ratio of dofollow to nofollow links pointing to your website.
Check Your Backlinks →Best Practices for Dofollow and Nofollow Links
Follow these best practices to build a healthy, effective backlink profile that improves your SEO while staying compliant with search engine guidelines.
Best Practices for Earning Dofollow Links
- Create Link-Worthy Content: Publish original research, comprehensive guides, and valuable resources that others naturally want to reference
- Guest Posting: Write high-quality articles for authoritative sites in your niche
- Digital PR: Create newsworthy stories and pitch them to journalists
- Broken Link Building: Find broken links and offer your content as a replacement
- Build Relationships: Network with industry influencers and website owners
- Skyscraper Technique: Create better versions of popular content and reach out to linkers
Best Practices for Managing Nofollow Links
- Don't Ignore Them: Nofollow links from major platforms can drive significant traffic
- Build Brand Awareness: Use nofollow opportunities (social media, forums) to increase visibility
- Natural Profile: Accept that a percentage of your links will be nofollow—this is normal
- Monitor Mentions: Track brand mentions on nofollow platforms for engagement opportunities
- Indirect Benefits: Remember that nofollow visibility can lead to dofollow opportunities
Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Don't Do This
- Obsess over getting only dofollow links
- Buy dofollow links specifically
- Use automated tools to change nofollow to dofollow
- Hide sponsored links without proper attributes
- Build only one type of link
- Ignore the quality of linking sites
✅ Do This Instead
- Focus on link quality over link type
- Build relationships that earn natural links
- Create content worth linking to
- Properly mark all paid/sponsored links
- Maintain a diverse link profile
- Prioritize relevance and authority