What Is Dofollow and Nofollow in SEO?

Dofollow vs Nofollow Links: What’s the Difference and Why It Matters for SEO

What Is Dofollow and Nofollow in SEO? If you have been exploring how search engines rank websites, you have probably come across these two terms. Backlinks are one of the strongest ranking signals, but not every backlink has the same effect. Some links pass authority and help you climb the rankings, while others are marked in a way that tells search engines not to count them.

Understanding the difference between dofollow and nofollow backlinks is essential if you want to build a strong link-building strategy. In this guide, we will explain what these link types are, why they exist, and how you can use them to improve your SEO.

What Are Dofollow Links?

A dofollow link is the default type of hyperlink on the internet. It is a link from one website to another that passes authority, sometimes called “link juice” or PageRank. When a site links to your content with a dofollow link, it signals to search engines that your content is trustworthy and valuable.

There is no special tag required to make a link dofollow. If a link is added without any attributes, it is automatically treated as dofollow. For example:

<a href=”https://example.com”>Example Website</a>

This kind of link tells search engines to follow it and consider it when ranking the target site.

What Are Nofollow Links?

A nofollow link is a hyperlink that includes an extra attribute in the HTML code:

<a href=”https://example.com” rel=”nofollow”>Example Website</a>

The rel=”nofollow” tag was introduced by Google in 2005 to combat spam in blog comments and forums. By marking links as nofollow, webmasters could prevent spammers from gaining SEO benefits.

Today, nofollow links are often used in sponsored posts, paid ads, user-generated content, and anywhere the site owner wants to link to a page without endorsing it for SEO purposes.

Dofollow vs Nofollow: The Core Differences

Both dofollow and nofollow links look the same to readers. You can click on them and navigate to the linked site. The difference lies in how search engines treat them.

Dofollow links: Pass link equity, boost SEO authority, and directly affect rankings.
Nofollow links: Do not pass link equity, but can still bring referral traffic and help maintain a natural backlink profile.

In practice, dofollow backlinks are more valuable for SEO rankings, but nofollow backlinks still play an important supporting role.

Why Dofollow Links Are Essential for SEO

Search engines use backlinks as signals of trust. When a reputable website links to yours with a dofollow link, it is like an endorsement. The more high-quality dofollow backlinks you earn, the more likely you are to appear higher in search results.

Dofollow backlinks are one of the most important SEO ranking factors. They can:

Improve domain authority.
Boost organic traffic.
Help your content rank for competitive keywords.

Without dofollow backlinks, it is almost impossible to outrank competitors in competitive industries.

Why Nofollow Links Still Matter

While nofollow links do not directly pass authority, they are not worthless. They can drive referral traffic by sending visitors to your site. A nofollow link from a popular news site or social media platform can send hundreds of people to your page.

Nofollow links also help diversify your backlink profile. If all your backlinks were dofollow, search engines might find your profile suspicious. A healthy mix of both signals natural growth and organic linking.

In addition, nofollow links can lead to dofollow links over time. A journalist or blogger might first discover your content through a nofollow link and later link to it with a dofollow link in their own content.

How to Check If a Link Is Dofollow or Nofollow

You do not need to be a developer to figure out if a link is dofollow or nofollow. There are two easy ways:

Inspect the HTML code: Right-click on the link, choose “Inspect,” and check if the code includes rel=”nofollow”. If it does, the link is nofollow. If it does not, the link is dofollow.
Use SEO tools or browser plugins: Extensions like MozBar, Ahrefs SEO Toolbar, or SEOquake highlight nofollow links automatically, saving you time.

Checking your own backlinks is important to understand how much SEO value they are passing.

Strategies to Build Dofollow Backlinks

Building dofollow backlinks takes time and effort, but it is one of the best investments you can make for SEO. Here are proven strategies that work:

Guest Posting

Contribute high-quality articles to respected sites in your niche. In return, you usually get a dofollow backlink in your author bio or within the article.

Skyscraper Technique

Find content that has earned many backlinks, create a more detailed and updated version, and reach out to the sites linking to the original.

Resource Page Link Building

Pitch your content to websites that maintain resource pages listing helpful tools, guides, or references.

Digital PR

Publish studies, surveys, or newsworthy stories that journalists and bloggers will want to cite. These often lead to dofollow backlinks from high-authority sites.

Competitor Backlink Analysis

Use SEO tools to see where your competitors are getting backlinks. Reach out to the same sources with your own valuable content.

Why Do Some Backlinks Have No Follow?

Not all backlinks are created to pass authority. Some are marked as nofollow intentionally. The most common reasons include:

Preventing spam: Blogs and forums often mark user-submitted links as nofollow to discourage spammers.
Paid or sponsored links: To comply with Google’s guidelines, paid links must be marked as nofollow or sponsored.
User-generated content: Comments, forums, and other community-driven sections of a site usually contain nofollow links by default.
Lack of endorsement: Sometimes a site wants to reference another site but not pass SEO authority, so it marks the link as nofollow.

In short, nofollow is a way for site owners to link responsibly without affecting rankings unfairly.

How Many Types Of Backlinks Are There?

While dofollow and nofollow are the most common types, Google also recognizes other link attributes that matter for SEO.

Dofollow backlinks: The default links that pass authority and improve rankings.
Nofollow backlinks: Links marked with rel=”nofollow” that do not pass SEO equity.
Sponsored backlinks: Links with rel=”sponsored” that identify paid or promotional placements.
UGC backlinks: Links with rel=”ugc” that indicate user-generated content, such as forum posts or blog comments.

Each type plays a role in building a natural backlink profile. The goal is not to focus on one type but to have a healthy balance that looks organic to search engines.

Final Thoughts

Dofollow and nofollow links may look identical to users, but they play very different roles in SEO. Dofollow backlinks pass authority and are essential for improving rankings, while nofollow backlinks help diversify your profile, bring referral traffic, and prevent spam. Both are valuable, but in different ways.

If you want to build a backlink strategy that balances both types and maximizes your SEO, Click Typhoon’s Barrie SEO services can help. Our team specializes in competitor backlink analysis, link building, and strategies that deliver measurable results. Reach out today and take the first step toward a stronger backlink profile.

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