What Is A Dofollow Link And Why It Matters For SEO
Dofollow links are the standard type of hyperlink that tells search engines to follow a link and pass "link juice" — the ranking value that helps search engines assess a page’s authority. Understanding how dofollow links work, how they transfer SEO value, and why they matter for building credibility and improving your website’s search engine rankings is essential for any effective link-building strategy.
Dofollow Link
A dofollow link is a hyperlink that passes search engine authority (link equity) from the linking page to the linked page, allowing the linked page to benefit in search rankings. It does not include a rel="nofollow", rel="sponsored", or rel="ugc" attribute and is treated by search engines as a vote of confidence.
What is a Dofollow Link?
Definition
A dofollow link is a standard HTML hyperlink that allows search engines to follow the URL and pass link equity (ranking value) from the linking page to the destination. It omits the rel="nofollow", rel="sponsored", or rel="ugc" attributes, so search engines treat it as an endorsement that can help the destination page gain authority and improve rankings.
Key attributes
- Passes link equity (“link juice”) to the target page.
- Crawled and indexed by search engines as a valued inbound link.
- Influences authority and relevance signals for both domain and page.
- Commonly created by editorial links, guest posts, resource pages, and trusted directories.
How Dofollow Links Work in SEO
A dofollow link is a hyperlink that passes search engine authority (link equity) from the linking page to the linked page, allowing the linked page to benefit in search rankings. It does not include a rel="nofollow", rel="sponsored", or rel="ugc" attribute and is treated by search engines as a vote of confidence.
How it works: Dofollow links signal that the linking page endorses the destination, enabling the transfer of link equity. When a crawler discovers a dofollow link, it follows the URL and evaluates the linked page’s authority, relevance, and context, which influences how that page ranks for relevant queries.
Crawling and indexing
Search engine bots follow dofollow links to discover and index new pages. More high‑quality dofollow links pointing to a page can lead to more frequent crawls and a higher likelihood that the page is indexed and refreshed in search results.
Link equity distribution
Each page has a finite amount of authority to pass. Dofollow links distribute a portion of that authority to target pages. Internal links distribute authority within a site; external dofollow backlinks transfer authority across domains. The amount passed depends on the linking page’s own authority, the number of outbound links on that page, and link prominence.
Relevance and topical context
Search engines assess the topical relevance between the linking and linked pages. A dofollow link from a closely related, authoritative site carries more weight than one from an unrelated or low‑quality source. Anchor text and surrounding content signal the linked page’s subject matter.
Anchor text and trust signals
Descriptive, natural anchor text helps search engines understand the linked page’s focus. Over‑optimized or manipulative anchor text can trigger penalties or reduce value. Other trust signals—such as site age, traffic, editorial placement, and user engagement—affect how much authority a dofollow link conveys.
Nofollow vs dofollow effects
rel="nofollow", rel="sponsored", and rel="ugc" instruct crawlers not to pass traditional link equity (though search engines may treat them as hints). Dofollow links explicitly allow equity transfer; mixed link profiles are normal and healthy.
Link dilution and placement
Authority passed is diluted across all outbound links on a page. Links in body content and editorial placements typically pass more value than links in footers, sidebars, or comment sections. Links behind redirects can still pass equity if implemented correctly, but multiple redirects may reduce value.
Timeframe and compounding effects
The SEO benefit from dofollow links can be gradual. One high‑quality link can boost discovery and rankings, but consistent acquisition of relevant dofollow links compounds authority over time, improving visibility and resilience in search results.
Practical implications
- Prioritize earning dofollow links from authoritative, topically relevant sites.
- Use natural anchor text that matches user intent.
- Optimize page content so it is link‑worthy.
- Maintain a balanced internal linking structure to distribute authority where it matters most.
What Is A Dofollow Link And Why It Matters For SEO
When Should You Use Dofollow Links?
- Link to authoritative, relevant external sites you trust to add value for users, such as industry resources, official data, and reputable publications.
- Use dofollow for strategic backlinks from high-authority domains—guest posts, editorials, and partnerships—to pass link equity and improve rankings.
- Apply dofollow to internal links to distribute PageRank and improve crawlability across important pages, such as service pages and pillar content.
- Use dofollow on citations, case studies, and original research references that reinforce your content’s credibility.
- Use dofollow when linking to partners, customers, or suppliers if the link is editorially placed and mutually beneficial.
- Do not use dofollow for untrusted, low-quality, or spammy sites; use rel="nofollow" or rel="sponsored" instead.
- Mark paid placements, ads, affiliate links, and most user-generated content as rel="sponsored" or rel="nofollow" in line with Google’s guidelines.
- Avoid excessive outbound dofollow links on a single page; maintain a natural, diversified anchor-text profile.
- Prioritize relevance and quality over quantity.
- Vary anchor text and combine dofollow with nofollow or sponsored where appropriate.
- Track backlinks and referral traffic to determine which dofollow links drive SEO and conversions.
- Need help building a high-quality dofollow link strategy? Contact us.
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