When it comes to search engine optimisation, backlinks remain a powerful signal to Google and other search engines. But not all backlinks are created equal. Two main types exist: dofollow backlinks and nofollow backlinks — and knowing how each functions can significantly influence your SEO success.

What are Dofollow Backlinks?

Dofollow backlinks are standard hyperlinks that pass on what’s known as link equity or “link juice” from one website to another. In SEO terms, this equity is a vote of confidence — it signals to search engines that the linked content is trustworthy, relevant, and valuable. The more quality dofollow backlinks your site has, the higher its potential to rank in search engine results.

Key Traits of Dofollow Backlinks:

• Transfer authority (PageRank) from one domain to another

• Directly impact Google rankings

• Recognised by all major search engines

• Crucial for domain authority building

• Often the result of high-quality content, PR, or outreach

A dofollow link in HTML looks like this:

html

CopyEdit

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

 

There’s no need for special attributes because it’s the default behaviour. When another site links to your content using a dofollow backlink, it tells search engines, “I endorse this page.”

This makes them central to any effective SEO strategy.

What are Nofollow Backlinks?

On the other hand, nofollow backlinks carry a specific attribute in their HTML: rel=”nofollow”. This tells search engines not to transfer authority to the linked page. Originally introduced by Google to combat spam in blog comments, nofollow links have evolved in purpose but still essentially limit the SEO benefit passed on.

Here’s what a nofollow link looks like:

html

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

 

Key Traits of Nofollow Backlinks:

• Do not pass PageRank by default

• May not directly influence rankings

• Often used in user-generated content, comments, forums, and paid advertisements

• Help maintain editorial integrity while still referencing external content

In 2019, Google announced that it treats the nofollow attribute more as a hint than a strict directive, which means it may still consider the link as part of a broader signal set — but this is not guaranteed.

Why Does the Difference Matter in SEO?

The distinction between dofollow and nofollow backlinks matters because of how search engines interpret and weigh them.

Dofollow backlinks help increase website authority, boost organic search rankings, and improve your overall backlink profile. They are essential in competitive industries where ranking in the top search results can mean the difference between visibility and obscurity.

Nofollow backlinks, while less impactful in terms of direct SEO value, can still drive referral traffic, enhance brand credibility, and support diversity in link profiles — which is important for appearing natural to search engines.

The SEO Value of Dofollow Backlinks: Why They Matter Most

When we talk about search engine rankings, dofollow backlinks are the heavy lifters. These links are one of the most influential signals Google uses to determine which pages deserve to appear at the top of search results.

Dofollow Backlinks and PageRank

At the heart of Google’s algorithm lies PageRank, a system that evaluates the quality and quantity of links pointing to a webpage. Dofollow backlinks feed directly into this algorithm by transferring part of the linking page’s authority to the linked page. This link equity accumulates, helping your site earn higher rankings over time.

In essence, every high-quality dofollow backlink is like a vote of confidence in your website’s content.

Authority Building with Dofollow Links

Search engines trust websites that have been vouched for by other reputable sites. If your content earns dofollow backlinks from respected domains — such as established media outlets, educational institutions, or leading industry blogs — it signals that your site is a credible source.

This increases your Domain Authority (DA) and Page Authority (PA), both of which are important SEO metrics used to gauge your website’s strength in organic search.

Driving Organic Growth

Sites with a healthy profile of dofollow backlinks tend to:

• Rank higher in competitive keyword searches

• Experience consistent growth in organic traffic

• Attract better crawl rates from search engine bots

• Outperform competitors with weaker backlink strategies

In industries where competition is high and content saturation is real, dofollow backlinks often become the defining factor between a page that floats and one that sinks.

The Network Effect of Quality Dofollow Links

A solid dofollow link from one high-authority site can also lead to more backlinks naturally. Here’s how:

• Increased visibility leads to content being discovered and referenced by others.

• Higher rankings drive more impressions and engagement.

• Improved trustworthiness attracts organic linking from bloggers, journalists, and content curators.

This snowball effect can create exponential SEO growth.

When and Why Nofollow Backlinks Still Matter

While dofollow backlinks hold more direct SEO weight, nofollow backlinks shouldn’t be ignored. They serve unique functions that support visibility, trust, and a natural backlink profile — all essential for long-term SEO success.

Traffic Beyond Rankings

Nofollow links may not pass PageRank directly, but they can still drive targeted referral traffic. For example, if your website is mentioned in a widely-read forum, news article, or community site like Quora or Reddit, users may click through to explore your content. That click-through is valuable — not for rankings, but for visibility, brand exposure, and lead generation.

A backlink’s value doesn’t start and end with search engines. Traffic, especially from engaged audiences, can turn into:

• New subscribers

• Sales or conversions

• Social shares

• Future dofollow backlinks from readers who discover your site

Building Trust and Brand Mentions

Appearing on respected platforms — even with nofollow tags — helps increase brand credibility. Search engines increasingly take brand signals into account. Repeated brand mentions across the web, even without links, contribute to a search engine’s understanding of your site’s relevance and authority in its niche.

This means that being referenced on high-profile sites (even if all links are nofollow) may indirectly improve your SEO through:

• Improved topical authority

• Wider audience reach

• Higher chances of being cited in future dofollow content

A Natural Backlink Profile

Search engines are sophisticated enough to detect manipulation — and one of the biggest red flags is an unnatural backlink profile. If all your backlinks are dofollow, it can look suspicious. Google may interpret this as an attempt to manipulate rankings.

A healthy backlink profile includes a diversity of link types, anchor texts, and link sources. This includes:

• Dofollow and nofollow links

• Branded and keyword-rich anchor texts

• Links from varied domain types and industries

By mixing in nofollow links, especially from relevant, high-traffic websites, you maintain a more organic link portfolio — a critical factor for long-term SEO stability. Ensuring this can also help in ensuring stable local SEO for multiple locations

Trust Signals for Google’s Algorithm

Though nofollow was once treated as a hard directive, Google now considers it a hint. In some cases, it may still factor these links into your site’s trustworthiness and ranking signals — especially if the linking source is well-respected or the content is topically relevant.

In this sense, nofollow backlinks can still:

• Add context to your backlink graph

• Contribute to trust and E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness)

• Encourage search engines to crawl and index your site

How to Earn High-Quality Dofollow Backlinks: Proven Strategies for 2025

Getting random backlinks won’t cut it anymore. Google’s algorithms have evolved to reward relevance, authority, and originality. If you want dofollow backlinks that actually move the SEO needle, you need a strategy focused on value creation and relationship building.

Here are the most effective, sustainable methods to earn dofollow links this year.

1. Create Exceptional, Link-Worthy Content

Still the gold standard in SEO. Content that solves real problems or presents unique insights naturally earns dofollow backlinks over time.

Types of content that attract high-quality links:

• Original research and data

• Comprehensive guides and tutorials

• Thought leadership and opinion pieces

• Industry benchmarks and trend reports

• In-depth comparisons or tool reviews

Content that adds value to the web stands a much better chance of being referenced by others in their own content.

2. Digital PR and Media Outreach

Journalists, bloggers, and media sites are constantly looking for credible sources. If you position your business or expertise strategically, you can earn editorial dofollow backlinks that significantly boost your domain authority.

Steps to take:

• Build a press kit and media page

• Respond to journalist queries on platforms like HARO or Qwoted

• Offer expert commentary on trending topics

• Pitch unique stories, case studies, or data insights

Media outlets often have high Domain Authority, making these dofollow links extremely valuable.

3. Guest Blogging on Authoritative Sites

Guest posting isn’t dead — when done right, it still works. The key is to publish on high-quality, relevant websites and ensure your content provides real insight.

Avoid content mills or link farms. Focus on:

• Industry-specific blogs

• Professional communities

• Niche publications with engaged audiences

Make sure any links back to your site are dofollow and placed contextually within the article, not just in a bio.

4. Build Relationships for Natural Backlinks

Backlink building is as much about people as it is about content. Develop connections with influencers, editors, and webmasters in your space.

Ways to foster genuine relationships:

• Engage with their content regularly (comments, shares, insights)

• Offer something valuable before asking for a link

• Collaborate on webinars, podcasts, or roundups

• Send personalised outreach, not templates

These relationships lead to organic dofollow backlinks, often without you even having to ask.

5. Broken Link Building

A classic SEO tactic that still delivers results.

Here’s how it works:

• Identify pages in your niche with broken outbound links

• Create or identify a page on your site that covers the same topic

• Contact the webmaster, highlight the broken link, and suggest your content as a replacement

This is a win-win. They fix a dead link. You earn a dofollow backlink.

6. Leverage Unlinked Brand Mentions

Sometimes your brand gets mentioned without a hyperlink. Use tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Google Alerts to find these unlinked mentions.

Reach out to the site owner or author and politely ask if they can turn the mention into a clickable dofollow backlink. If the context is right, many will oblige.

7. Update and Improve Existing Content

Webmasters are often willing to link to fresh, updated content — especially if it improves the value of an existing page they’ve linked to before.

Try this:

• Find older articles ranking well in your niche

• Create a better, more comprehensive version

• Contact those who’ve linked to the original and suggest your updated resource

This tactic can lead to high-quality dofollow backlinks from pages already trusted by search engines.

8. Create Shareable Visual Assets

Infographics, charts, and data visualisations remain highly linkable. People love to cite visuals, especially when explaining complex topics.

Best practices:

• Include your branding and original data

• Host the image on your site with embed code

• Share widely on LinkedIn, Pinterest, Twitter, and industry blogs

When others embed your graphic and link back to the source, you earn a dofollow backlink.

Common Backlink Mistakes to Avoid: Protecting Your SEO Investment

While earning dofollow backlinks is crucial for ranking success, building them the wrong way can trigger penalties, dilute your domain authority, or simply waste time and resources. Let’s go through the major pitfalls to avoid.

1. Buying Links in Bulk

The temptation to buy dozens or hundreds of dofollow backlinks for cheap is understandable — especially when you’re under pressure to boost rankings. But bulk link buying from low-quality or irrelevant sites is one of the fastest ways to tank your SEO.

Google’s algorithms are smart enough to spot patterns of unnatural link acquisition. Paid links from spammy directories, fake blogs, or Private Blog Networks (PBNs) can lead to:

• Manual penalties from Google

• Deindexing of your pages

• Long-term trust issues with your domain

If you choose to invest in link placements, ensure they are editorial, relevant, and earned — not part of a shady backlink scheme.

2. Over-Optimising Anchor Text

Anchor text — the clickable text in a hyperlink — plays a role in how search engines understand the context of a backlink. However, overusing exact match keywords in anchor text (e.g., always linking to your page using “best CRM software”) can look manipulative.

A healthy anchor profile should be:

• Natural and varied

• Includes brand names, naked URLs, and generic phrases (“click here”, “learn more”)

• Contextual to the content where the link appears

Too much keyword stuffing in anchor texts can lead to algorithmic devaluation of your backlinks.

3. Ignoring Relevance

A dofollow backlink from an unrelated domain — say, a food blog linking to a construction software site — raises a red flag. Relevance between the linking page and your content is critical for both ranking impact and credibility.

Focus on building links from sites in:

• Your industry

• Related verticals

• Complementary fields

Relevance signals to search engines that the backlink is editorial and earned, not artificial or bought.

4. Relying on One Source or Type of Link

Your backlink profile needs diversity. If all your dofollow backlinks come from a single source — like guest posts or directories — you risk creating a pattern that looks unnatural.

Diversify your sources:

• Editorial mentions

• Industry roundups

• Media coverage

• Forum citations

• Social mentions (though often nofollow, they support your profile indirectly)

A strong dofollow backlink strategy combines multiple sources, platforms, and content types.

5. Not Monitoring Lost Backlinks

Backlinks don’t last forever. Sometimes they’re removed, the linking page is deleted, or the link is changed to nofollow. If you’re not tracking this, you could be losing SEO ground without realising it.

Use tools like:

• Ahrefs (Lost Backlinks report)

• SEMrush (Backlink Audit Tool)

• Google Search Console (Links report)

If you lose a valuable dofollow backlink, consider reaching out to the webmaster, offering updated content, or finding a replacement opportunity.

6. Disregarding Mobile or Page Speed Issues

You might earn high-quality dofollow backlinks, but if your landing page loads slowly or doesn’t work well on mobile, visitors will bounce — and Google takes note.

High bounce rates and poor engagement can devalue the effectiveness of your backlinks. Make sure the pages you’re linking to:

• Load in under 2 seconds

• Are fully mobile responsive

• Contain relevant, useful content that meets user expectations

This ensures you get maximum value from every backlink earned.

Analysing Your Backlink Profile: Tools and Metrics That Matter

Having hundreds of backlinks won’t help if they’re low-quality, irrelevant, or potentially toxic. Regularly auditing your backlink profile is essential to keep your dofollow backlinks clean, effective, and aligned with Google’s evolving standards.

Here’s how to do it with precision.

Why Backlink Analysis Matters

Backlink analysis helps you:

• Identify which dofollow backlinks are helping your rankings

• Spot harmful links that may need to be disavowed

• Find gaps or weaknesses in your link-building strategy

• Benchmark your profile against competitors

• Track the results of your SEO campaigns

It’s not just about quantity — it’s about quality, diversity, and context.

Top Tools for Backlink Audits

Here are the most reliable tools to audit and manage your backlink portfolio:

1. Ahrefs

• Industry-leading backlink index

• “Backlink Profile” and “Referring Domains” reports

• Shows which links are dofollow vs. nofollow

• Lost/New backlink tracking

• Anchor text analysis and spam signal detection

2. SEMrush

• Backlink Audit Tool with toxicity scoring

• Identifies potentially dangerous links

• Suggests links for disavow

• Tracks growth in your dofollow backlinks over time

• Competitor link gap analysis

3. Google Search Console

• Free and official data

• See who links to you and which pages are most linked

• Highlights internal vs. external links

• Less detailed than paid tools but useful for a quick audit

4. Majestic SEO

• Known for Trust Flow and Citation Flow metrics

• Helpful for identifying the authority of linking domains

• Deep historical backlink data

• Focus on topical trust relevance

Metrics That Matter Most

When auditing your backlink profile, these are the core metrics to prioritise:

1. Dofollow vs. Nofollow Ratio

You want a strong percentage of dofollow backlinks, but not 100%. A natural backlink profile usually has a mix. Aim for:

• 70–90% dofollow

• 10–30% nofollow

This ratio can vary by industry, but excessive nofollow links may limit your SEO momentum, while an all-dofollow profile could trigger red flags.

2. Referring Domains

Multiple backlinks from the same domain are less valuable than a diverse spread. It’s better to have 100 dofollow backlinks from 100 unique domains than 1,000 from 3 domains.

Look for:

• Growth in new referring domains

• Authority of those domains

• Relevance to your niche

3. Anchor Text Distribution

A diverse anchor text profile protects you from algorithm penalties. Overuse of exact-match keywords should be avoided. Your profile should include:

• Brand mentions

• Natural language phrases

• Topic-related variants

• Limited exact-match anchors

4. Domain Rating / Authority (DR/DA)

This metric shows how strong a linking domain is overall. Higher DR means more weight behind the backlink.

• Prioritise dofollow backlinks from DR 50+ sites

• Mix in DR 20–49 for breadth and balance

• Avoid links from DR < 10 unless highly relevant

5. Traffic Value of Referring Pages

A dofollow link from a high-traffic page usually means more than one from a dead or inactive one. Check how many visitors those referring pages get monthly — it often correlates with trust and indexing frequency.

Dofollow vs. Nofollow Backlinks in 2025: What’s Changing?

SEO never stands still. What worked in 2020 isn’t guaranteed to work today. Google’s algorithm has grown more sophisticated, and its approach to dofollow backlinks and nofollow backlinks has shifted in subtle but important ways.

Understanding these changes will help you stay ahead of penalties, competitors, and wasted effort.

The Nofollow “Hint” Evolution

Since 2019, Google has treated the rel=”nofollow” tag as a hint, not a strict directive. By 2025, that policy has matured. Google may now partially consider nofollow backlinks in ranking decisions if:

• The linking source is authoritative

• The content is topically relevant

• The anchor text or context supports E-E-A-T signals

In short: nofollow links now carry more SEO influence than before, but unpredictably. You still can’t rely on them for direct ranking benefits — but they do contribute to visibility, trust, and discovery.

AI-Powered Link Evaluation

Google’s machine learning systems now look beyond link attributes. They evaluate:

• Page content surrounding the link

• Semantic relevance between linking and linked pages

• The intent of the link (editorial, user-generated, manipulative, etc.)

• Engagement signals from users clicking the link

This means a contextually relevant dofollow backlink from a niche site may outweigh a generic dofollow from a major media outlet. Relevance and value have overtaken raw metrics.

Quality Over Quantity, More Than Ever

In 2025, Google’s ability to detect spammy or manipulative link-building is near real-time. Mass-scale guest posting, link swaps, or PBNs are being devalued faster.

What works:

• Links earned through thought leadership

• Mentions from topically-aligned domains

• High-authority editorial dofollow backlinks earned through content, PR, or research

You can’t out-link-build your competitors anymore. You need to out-authority and out-value them.

Brand Signals Are Overtaking Anchor Text

Historically, anchor text was king. But as spam and over-optimisation increased, Google shifted focus. Now, branded mentions — even if not hyperlinked — play a growing role in SEO.

A branded dofollow backlink from a niche podcast, SaaS review site, or LinkedIn article can carry far more weight than a keyword-rich link from a low-quality blog.

The algorithm is getting smarter at understanding:

• Who is being referenced

• Why the link exists

• How users engage with it

User Behaviour is a Ranking Signal

Google is watching what happens after the click.

When a user follows a dofollow backlink and:

• Stays on your site

• Visits multiple pages

• Spends time reading

• Converts or takes action

…that engagement data signals quality. The backlink’s value is reinforced not just by its existence, but by its performance. Thin landing pages or irrelevant links don’t hold up anymore — even if they’re technically dofollow.

Structured Data and Backlinks

With the rise of semantic SEO and structured data in 2025, Google can interpret context better than ever. Structured data around authorship, organisations, mentions, and citations can strengthen the impact of a dofollow backlink.

For example:

• A backlink in an article that has schema markup for an expert author

• A citation linked to a recognised organisation’s profile

• Backlinks from content using FAQ or HowTo schema that aligns with Google’s AI snapshots

All of these enhance credibility, relevance, and visibility — making each dofollow backlink more powerful.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are dofollow backlinks and why are they important for SEO?

Dofollow backlinks are standard links that pass SEO authority — also known as link equity or PageRank — from one website to another. These links signal to search engines that the content being linked to is trustworthy and relevant. Dofollow backlinks are crucial because they help improve a website’s domain authority, visibility, and ranking in search engine results pages (SERPs).

How can I check if a backlink is dofollow or nofollow?

To verify if a link is a dofollow backlink, you can inspect the page’s source code or use SEO tools such as Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Moz. If the link does not contain the rel=”nofollow” or rel=”sponsored” attribute, it is a dofollow backlink by default. These tools can also generate backlink reports that clearly label which links are dofollow.

Are dofollow backlinks more valuable than nofollow backlinks?

Yes, dofollow backlinks are generally more valuable than nofollow backlinks for SEO because they directly influence your site’s authority and search engine rankings. However, nofollow backlinks still contribute to brand visibility, referral traffic, and a natural backlink profile. A healthy SEO strategy includes both, but dofollow links should be prioritised for ranking impact.

How many dofollow backlinks do I need to rank on Google?

There is no fixed number of dofollow backlinks required to rank, as it depends on your niche, competition, content quality, and existing domain authority. However, acquiring consistent, high-quality dofollow backlinks from relevant, authoritative sources is more effective than chasing a specific quantity. Quality, context, and diversity matter more than volume.

What makes a dofollow backlink high quality?

A high-quality dofollow backlink typically comes from a reputable, high-authority website that is topically relevant to your own. Other quality indicators include:

• Natural placement within the content

• Contextual relevance to the linked page

• Use of diverse, non-spammy anchor text

• Presence on pages that themselves rank or get organic traffic

Dofollow backlinks from trusted sources in your industry carry significantly more weight.

Can I get penalised for having too many dofollow backlinks?

Not for having too many per se, but if your dofollow backlinks come from spammy, irrelevant, or paid link farms, Google may consider them manipulative and issue a manual or algorithmic penalty. The key is maintaining a natural, balanced link profile with a mix of dofollow and nofollow backlinks from diverse, credible sources.

Are internal links considered dofollow backlinks?

Yes, by default, internal links within your own website are dofollow backlinks unless marked otherwise. While they don’t pass external domain authority, they distribute PageRank across your site, help search engines crawl content, and enhance topical authority. Strategic internal linking improves SEO and should complement your external backlink strategy.

Do social media links count as dofollow backlinks?

Most social media platforms (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn) automatically add a rel=”nofollow” tag to outbound links, meaning they do not count as dofollow backlinks. However, they still drive referral traffic and can indirectly lead to dofollow backlinks from third-party sites that discover your content through social sharing.

How do guest posts help earn dofollow backlinks?

Guest posting allows you to contribute valuable content to external websites in exchange for a dofollow backlink to your own site. When published on high-authority, relevant blogs, these backlinks boost your SEO by transferring trust and visibility. Always ensure the links are placed naturally and editorially approved, not forced or manipulative.

Should I disavow low-quality dofollow backlinks?

If you’ve acquired spammy or irrelevant dofollow backlinks that violate Google’s guidelines — and you can’t remove them through outreach — it may be wise to use Google’s Disavow Tool. This tells Google to ignore those backlinks when evaluating your site. However, use this tool cautiously and only when links are genuinely harmful.

Can nofollow backlinks turn into dofollow backlinks?

Yes, in some cases. If a website owner updates the link attributes or content, a nofollow backlink can be converted into a dofollow backlink. Building relationships with site owners and consistently providing value may lead them to update or upgrade their links to pass SEO benefit.

How long does it take for dofollow backlinks to improve rankings?

The impact of dofollow backlinks on rankings isn’t instant. It typically takes 4 to 12 weeks to see measurable improvements, depending on:

• Domain authority of the linking site

• How frequently Google crawls the linking and linked pages

• Your site’s existing authority and competition in SERPs

Consistent link acquisition, paired with content quality and technical SEO, accelerates the effect.

Ready to Strengthen Your SEO with Powerful Dofollow Backlinks?

If you’re serious about increasing your search visibility, boosting domain authority, and outperforming competitors, it’s time to prioritise a strategic, ethical backlink plan. Smart Digitants can help you identify high-impact opportunities, build quality dofollow backlinks, and maintain a natural, search-engine-approved profile.

Let’s build your authority — one powerful link at a time.

👉 Contact us today for a personalised backlink audit and strategy session.