If you’ve read anything about backlinks, you’ve probably seen the word “dofollow links” tossed around like everyone already knows what it means. For beginners, that’s not always the case, and the concept is genuinely simple once it’s explained properly.
A dofollow link is essentially the default type of hyperlink, one that tells search engines to follow it and pass along ranking value to the linked page. Understanding this small technical detail actually has real implications for how you evaluate backlinks and build your own link building strategy.
What Is a DoFollow Link?
A dofollow link is a standard hyperlink that doesn’t include any special attribute telling search engines to ignore it. By default, when a website links to another page without adding a “nofollow” tag, that link is automatically dofollow.
In simple terms: dofollow links tell search engines, “This link is worth following, and it’s worth passing some authority to the page it points to.” This is the type of backlink most valuable for SEO purposes.
How DoFollow Links Work Technically
Every hyperlink on the web is written in HTML code. A basic, standard link looks like this:
html
<a href="https://example.com">Anchor Text</a>Because there’s no additional rel attribute specifying otherwise, this link is dofollow by default. Search engine crawlers follow it, index the linked page through it, and factor it into their assessment of that page’s authority and relevance.
Compare that to a nofollow link, which includes an added attribute:
html
<a href="https://example.com" rel="nofollow">Anchor Text</a>That small addition changes how search engines treat the link entirely.
Why DoFollow Links Matter for SEO
Dofollow links carry real weight in how search engines evaluate a page’s authority, largely because they were the original mechanism behind Google’s PageRank system. When a dofollow link points to your site from a relevant, authoritative source, it signals trust and can meaningfully contribute to improved rankings.
This is why dofollow backlinks are generally considered more valuable, and often more difficult to earn, than nofollow ones. Sites are more selective about which pages they’re willing to vouch for through a dofollow link.
How to Check If a Link Is DoFollow
You don’t need advanced tools to check this. A few simple methods work:
- Right-click and “Inspect” the link on the page (in Chrome, Firefox, or Edge) to view its HTML and check for a
rel="nofollow"attribute - Use a free browser extension, several are specifically built to visually highlight dofollow versus nofollow links on any page
- Use an SEO tool like Ahrefs or Semrush, which typically label each backlink in your profile as dofollow or nofollow automatically
DoFollow Links vs. Nofollow Links: Quick Comparison
| Factor | DoFollow Link | Nofollow Link |
|---|---|---|
| Passes SEO authority | Yes | No (though this has evolved slightly) |
| Default link type | Yes | No, requires added attribute |
| Common sources | Editorial mentions, guest posts | Comments, social media, paid content |
| SEO value | Higher | Lower, but still offers visibility/traffic |
Worth noting: Google has clarified that nofollow is treated as a “hint” rather than an absolute rule since 2020, meaning it may still factor nofollow links into ranking systems in limited contexts. Still, dofollow remains the more reliable, valuable link type for SEO purposes.
Where DoFollow Links Typically Come From
- Editorial mentions — when a writer naturally references and links to your content
- Guest posts — links included within contributed articles on other sites
- Niche edits — links inserted into existing published content
- Resource page listings — links included in curated lists of helpful tools or reading
- Digital PR coverage — links from journalists citing your content or data
Not every placement in these categories will automatically be dofollow, some publications apply nofollow tags to all outbound links as a general policy, particularly larger news sites protecting against link scheme accusations.
Should Every Backlink in My Profile Be DoFollow?
Actually, no. A backlink profile made up entirely of dofollow links can look unnatural to search engines. Real, organic link profiles typically include a mix of both dofollow and nofollow links, since natural linking behavior across the web includes both types.
Chasing dofollow links exclusively, especially through manipulative or purchased placements, can actually raise red flags rather than help your SEO.
Key Takeaways
- A dofollow link is the default hyperlink type that passes SEO authority to the linked page.
- Dofollow links generally carry more direct SEO value than nofollow links.
- You can check a link’s status using browser inspection tools, extensions, or SEO platforms like Ahrefs.
- Google treats nofollow as a hint rather than an absolute rule, though dofollow remains more reliable for SEO purposes.
- A natural backlink profile includes a healthy mix of both dofollow and nofollow links, not exclusively one type.
Conclusion
Understanding dofollow links comes down to one core idea: they’re the links that tell search engines to pass along trust and authority to the page they point to. That small technical distinction has real implications for which backlinks actually move the needle on your rankings.
Knowing how to check for dofollow status, and understanding that a healthy link profile needs both types, helps you evaluate your own backlinks and outreach results more accurately.
The Outreach Orbit factors dofollow and nofollow balance into every campaign’s link profile strategy, prioritizing dofollow placements on relevant, authoritative sites while still maintaining the kind of natural mix that keeps a backlink profile looking organic to search engines. That balance is often overlooked by providers chasing dofollow links exclusively, which can end up working against a client rather than for them.
