In the ever-evolving landscape of search engine optimization (SEO), backlinks are among the most critical factors determining a website’s credibility and ranking. Whether you’re a seasoned marketer or just starting your digital journey, understanding the difference between dofollow and nofollow backlinks is key to optimizing your SEO efforts.
But what is dofollow and nofollow in SEO? How do these two types of backlinks affect your site’s performance? In this blog, we’ll dive deep into the definitions, importance, and strategic use of dofollow and nofollow backlinks, equipping you with actionable insights to enhance your backlink profile.
What Are Dofollow and Nofollow Backlinks?
Backlinks—links from one website to another—serve as endorsements or recommendations in the eyes of search engines. However, not all backlinks function the same way. They are categorised into dofollow and nofollow backlinks, each serving unique purposes in your SEO strategy.
Dofollow Backlinks
Dofollow backlinks are the default type of link that allows search engines to “follow” the link and pass on link equity (or “link juice”) from the referring site to the linked site. These links directly contribute to a website’s authority and ranking potential.
Example:
If a high-authority blog like HubSpot links to your site using a dofollow link, it passes credibility to your site, improving your search rankings.
Nofollow Backlinks
Nofollow backlinks, on the other hand, include an HTML tag (rel="nofollow") that instructs search engines not to pass link equity to the linked site. These links are often used when the linking site wants to provide a reference without endorsing the content.
Example:
Links in user-generated content, like blog comments or forum posts, are typically nofollow to prevent spam and maintain the credibility of the linking site.
Why Are Backlinks Important in SEO?
Backlinks are a cornerstone of a successful SEO strategy. They act as signals to search engines, telling them that your content is valuable and trustworthy. High-quality backlinks can significantly improve your search engine rankings, driving more organic traffic to your site. The difference between dofollow and nofollow backlinks lies in how they affect your site's SEO and how they should be strategically used.
Both types of backlinks play crucial roles in your website’s SEO journey. Dofollow backlinks directly impact rankings by enhancing your domain authority, while nofollow backlinks are essential in driving traffic and protecting your site's integrity. A healthy mix of both in your backlink strategy is critical for long-term SEO success.
How to Check If a Backlink is Dofollow or Nofollow?
Knowing the type of backlinks pointing to your site is essential for crafting an effective strategy. Here’s how you can identify them:
- Inspect HTML Codesome text
- Right-click on the link and choose "Inspect" or "View Page Source."
- Look for the rel="nofollow" attribute. If it’s present, the link is nofollow; if absent, it’s do-follow.
- SEO Toolssome text
- Tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, and Moz provide detailed backlink analysis, identifying link types and their sources.
- Browser Extensionssome text
- Use extensions like “NoFollow” (Chrome) to highlight nofollow links directly on webpages, simplifying the process.
When to Use Dofollow and Nofollow Backlinks?
Both dofollow and nofollow backlinks serve essential roles in an SEO strategy. Choosing the correct type of backlink at the right time is crucial for achieving balanced SEO results. Below is a comprehensive breakdown of when and how to use each type:
When to Use Dofollow Backlinks:
- To Enhance Authority: Dofollow backlinks are ideal for passing link equity to your site. If a high-authority website (e.g., a popular blog, news outlet, or industry expert) links to your page with a dofollow link, it transfers its authority to your website, enhancing your page’s ranking potential and domain authority.
- For Internal Linking: Internal dofollow links help distribute link equity across your website. This allows search engines to crawl your content more efficiently and improves the ranking potential of internal pages.
- Linking to Trustworthy Resources: When referencing credible and relevant external content, use dofollow links to help signal trustworthiness and relevance to search engines.
When to Use Nofollow Backlinks:
- To Avoid Spam and Low-Quality Associations: Nofollow links are essential for paid advertisements, sponsored content, or affiliate links. They prevent search engines from associating your site with spammy or low-quality sources, maintaining credibility.
- User-Generated Content (UGC): Nofollow helps prevent spam in blog comments, forum posts, or user-generated content while allowing engagement and traffic.
- Social Media or Paid Campaigns: Links within social media posts or paid advertising (such as Google Ads or sponsored content) are typically nofollow to ensure compliance with search engine guidelines and avoid passing link equity to non-credible sources.
How to Increase Dofollow Backlinks?
Building a strong profile of dofollow backlinks is critical for improving your domain authority and rankings. Here’s how you can do it:
- Guest Blogging
Contribute high-quality articles to reputable websites in your niche. Adding do-follow backlinks to your content boosts your site’s authority and reaches a broader audience. To maximize the impact, create valuable content that aligns with the host site's readership.
- Create Link-Worthy Content
Publish original, valuable content like infographics, research reports, or in-depth tutorials that attract natural backlinks. This type of content offers value and encourages other sites to link back to you, improving your SEO in the process.
- Outreach Campaigns
Identify influencers or bloggers in your industry and reach out with a personalized pitch about your content. By forming connections and offering valuable content, you can earn dofollow backlinks from high-authority sites, which enhance your website's credibility.
- Directory Submissions
Submit your site to trusted, niche-specific directories that offer dofollow backlinks. While this tactic requires careful selection of quality directories, improving your backlink profile and website visibility remains an effective way.
Do Dofollow and Nofollow Backlinks Work Together?
A healthy backlink profile contains a mix of both dofollow and nofollow backlinks. Search engines prefer diverse profiles, as they appear more organic and credible.
- Dofollow Links: Build authority and improve rankings.
- Nofollow Links: Drive traffic, enhance visibility, and protect against spam penalties.
Tip: Focus on earning quality dofollow backlinks while using nofollow links strategically to maintain credibility.
Conclusion
Backlinks are the foundation of SEO, and vital in enhancing your website's authority and rankings. Dofollow backlinks contribute to SEO by passing link equity, boosting your site's credibility and visibility. On the other hand, nofollow backlinks, while not influencing rankings directly, drive valuable traffic and help maintain your site's credibility by preventing spam. Understanding the difference between dofollow and nofollow in SEO enables you to create a balanced backlink strategy, combining both types to fuel organic growth and build a strong, sustainable online presence.
