Understanding the difference between dofollow and nofollow backlinks is crucial for any serious SEO strategy. While these terms get thrown around frequently in digital marketing circles, many professionals still struggle to grasp their true impact on search engine rankings.

This comprehensive guide will demystify both link types, explain Google’s recent policy changes, and provide actionable strategies to optimize your backlink profile for maximum SEO benefit.

What Are Dofollow and Nofollow Links?

Before diving into advanced strategies, let’s establish a clear understanding of these fundamental link types that form the backbone of modern SEO.

Definition of a Dofollow Link

A dofollow link represents the default state of hyperlinks on the web. When you create a standard link without any special attributes, it automatically becomes a dofollow link. These links instruct search engines to crawl the linked page and transfer link authority, commonly referred to as “link juice.”

Dofollow links function as digital endorsements. When an authoritative website links to your content with a dofollow link, they’re essentially vouching for your credibility and relevance to search engines.

The HTML structure of a dofollow link appears as:

<a href="https://example.com">Visit this valuable resource</a>

Notice the absence of any restrictive attributes—this simplicity makes dofollow the web’s default linking behavior.

Definition of a Nofollow Link

A nofollow link incorporates the rel="nofollow" attribute, originally designed to prevent the transfer of SEO authority to the linked destination. Google introduced this concept in 2005 primarily to combat comment spam and provide webmasters with granular control over their outbound link equity.

However, the SEO landscape changed dramatically following Google’s 2019 policy update, which transformed nofollow from a directive into a hint.

The HTML structure of a nofollow link includes:

<a href="https://example.com" rel="nofollow">Check out this site</a>

That crucial rel="nofollow" attribute distinguishes it from its dofollow counterpart.

Visual Comparison

Understanding the fundamental differences helps optimize your link building strategy:

• Dofollow Links: Transfer ranking authority, influence search positions, guide search engine crawling and indexing
• Nofollow Links: Originally blocked authority transfer, but now serve as ranking hints under Google’s updated guidelines
• Default Behavior: All links default to dofollow unless explicitly marked otherwise
• User Experience: Both link types appear identical to website visitors and function normally for navigation
• SEO Impact: Dofollow links provide direct ranking benefits, while nofollow links offer indirect SEO value through traffic and brand signals

Why Backlinks Matter for SEO

Backlinks remain one of Google’s most influential ranking factors, serving as the foundation for determining website authority and search visibility.

How Backlinks Affect Rankings

Search engines have relied on backlinks as quality indicators since Google’s PageRank algorithm revolutionized web search in the late 1990s. The underlying principle remains unchanged: websites earning links from other credible sources likely provide valuable, trustworthy content worthy of higher search rankings.

Google evaluates backlinks based on several critical factors:

• Source Authority: Links from established, high-authority domains like major news outlets carry significantly more weight than links from new or low-authority sites
• Topical Relevance: Links from websites within your industry or niche provide more ranking value than unrelated sources
• Content Context: Links naturally embedded within relevant content outperform those placed in footers, sidebars, or author bio sections
• Anchor Text Optimization: The clickable link text provides search engines with contextual clues about your page’s topic and relevance
• Link Velocity: The rate at which you acquire new backlinks influences how Google perceives your link building efforts

“The best backlinks come from websites that are relevant to your industry and have high authority in Google’s eyes. One high-quality link can be worth more than 100 low-quality ones.” – Neil Patel, NeilPatel.com

What Is Link Juice?

“Link juice” refers to the SEO authority and ranking power transferred from one webpage to another through dofollow links. This concept helps explain how link equity flows throughout the web and influences search engine rankings.

Several factors determine the amount of link juice transferred:

• Source Page Authority: Higher authority pages distribute more valuable link juice to their linked destinations
• Outbound Link Quantity: Pages linking to numerous external sites dilute the link juice passed to each individual destination
• Link Placement: Links positioned prominently within main content areas typically transfer more authority than those in less visible locations
• Contextual Relevance: Topically relevant links often pass more concentrated authority than random or unrelated links
• Link Age: Established links that have existed for extended periods may carry additional authority weight

Google’s Updated Stance on Nofollow (Post-2019)

Google’s September 2019 announcement fundamentally changed how the SEO industry approaches nofollow links, introducing new possibilities and strategies for link builders.

Nofollow as a Hint, Not a Directive

The most significant change involved Google’s decision to treat rel="nofollow" links as hints rather than absolute commands. This shift means Google now reserves the right to consider nofollow links for ranking purposes when they deem it appropriate.

According to Google’s official announcement, they explained: “When nofollow was introduced, Google would not count any link marked this way as a signal to use within our search algorithms. This has now changed.”

This policy update grants Google flexibility to:

• Utilize nofollow links for webpage discovery and crawling purposes
• Consider nofollow links as potential ranking signals in specific circumstances
• Evaluate the context, relevance, and quality of nofollow links
• Apply machine learning algorithms to determine when nofollow links provide value

“Google’s 2019 nofollow update was a game-changer. It means we can no longer ignore nofollow links in our SEO strategies. They might not guarantee rankings, but they’re certainly not worthless anymore.” – Brian Dean, Backlinko

New Link Attributes: Sponsored and UGC

Alongside the nofollow policy change, Google introduced two additional link attributes to provide webmasters with more precise control over their outbound links:

• rel="sponsored": Designed for paid links, sponsored content, affiliate marketing, and any links where compensation influences the linking decision
• rel="ugc": Short for “User Generated Content,” this attribute applies to links within blog comments, forum posts, product reviews, and other user-contributed content
• rel="nofollow": Now reserved specifically for links to untrusted, irrelevant, or potentially harmful destinations

These attributes can be combined when appropriate. For example: rel="nofollow sponsored" for a paid link that you also consider untrusted.

When to Use Dofollow vs Nofollow

Strategic implementation of different link types helps maintain compliance with Google’s guidelines while maximizing SEO benefits.

Best Practices for Dofollow Links

Deploy dofollow links in these scenarios to maximize their SEO impact:

• Authoritative Source Citations: When referencing research studies, industry reports, or credible news sources that enhance your content’s trustworthiness
• Internal Site Navigation: Always use dofollow for internal links unless specific technical reasons require otherwise, ensuring optimal link equity distribution throughout your website
• Editorial Endorsements: When genuinely recommending tools, services, or resources that provide value to your audience without compensation
• Industry Collaboration: For guest posting opportunities, content partnerships, and reciprocal linking arrangements with relevant, high-quality websites
• Resource Page Links: When creating curated lists of helpful resources within your industry or niche

Consider this practical example: If you’re writing a comprehensive guide about content marketing and want to reference HubSpot’s content marketing methodology, a dofollow link would be appropriate because you trust HubSpot as an authority and believe the resource benefits your readers.

Best Practices for Nofollow Links

Implement nofollow (or the newer sponsored/UGC attributes) in these situations:

• Sponsored Content: Any link resulting from paid partnerships, sponsored posts, or advertising arrangements should use rel="sponsored"
• User-Generated Content: Comments sections, forum posts, review platforms, and other areas where you cannot control link quality require rel="ugc"
• Untrusted Destinations: Links to websites you cannot fully vouch for or that may not meet your quality standards
• Affiliate Marketing: Commission-based links should use rel="sponsored" to maintain transparency with search engines
• Competitor References: While not always necessary, some SEOs prefer to nofollow links to direct competitors to avoid transferring link authority

“The key is transparency. Google wants to understand the nature of your links. Use sponsored for paid links, UGC for user content, and nofollow for everything else you don’t want to vouch for.” – Rand Fishkin, SparkToro

Do Nofollow Links Still Help SEO?

The short answer is absolutely yes, and their value has increased significantly since Google’s 2019 policy update.

Yes, Here’s How:

Nofollow links provide multiple SEO benefits that extend beyond traditional ranking signals:

• Direct Traffic Generation: High-quality nofollow links from popular platforms can drive substantial targeted traffic, leading to increased engagement, conversions, and brand awareness
• Natural Link Profile Diversity: A healthy mix of dofollow and nofollow links appears more organic to search engines than profiles consisting entirely of dofollow links
• Indirect Ranking Signals: Traffic and engagement generated by nofollow links send positive user experience signals to Google, potentially influencing rankings indirectly
• Brand Authority Building: Mentions on authoritative platforms, even with nofollow links, establish your brand as a recognized industry player
• Link Discovery Opportunities: Nofollow links can lead to natural dofollow link acquisition when other websites discover your content through these channels
• Enhanced Crawl Frequency: Google may use nofollow links for discovery purposes, potentially leading to faster indexing of new content

Since Google’s 2019 update treating nofollow as hints, these links have gained additional potential for direct ranking influence, making them more valuable than ever before.

How to Check & Manage Your Backlinks

Effective backlink management requires the right tools and systematic analysis to optimize your link profile performance.

Free Tools to Use

Several excellent free tools provide valuable backlink insights without requiring significant investment:

• Google Search Console: The Links report provides comprehensive data about your backlink profile directly from Google, including top linking sites, most linked content, and anchor text distribution
• Ahrefs Backlink Checker: The free version reveals your top 100 backlinks, including dofollow/nofollow status, domain ratings, and referring domains
• Ubersuggest: Neil Patel’s tool offers limited but useful backlink analysis, including competitor backlink research capabilities
• SEOquake Browser Extension: This Chrome extension instantly reveals link attributes when hovering over any link, making it easy to identify dofollow vs nofollow status
• Moz Link Explorer: The free version provides basic backlink data and domain authority metrics for initial analysis

For comprehensive analysis, consider investing in premium tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Majestic, which offer deeper insights and larger data sets for serious link building campaigns.

Checklist to Evaluate Links

Use this systematic approach to assess backlink quality and potential value:

1. 1. Relevance Assessment: Does the linking site operate within your industry or serve your target audience? Topical relevance significantly impacts link value
   2. Authority Verification: Check the site’s domain authority, organic traffic levels, and reputation within the industry using tools like Ahrefs or Moz
   3. Context Analysis: Is your link naturally embedded within relevant content, or artificially placed in footers, sidebars, or unrelated sections?
   4. Link Attribute Check: Use SEOquake or inspect the page source to determine if the link is dofollow, nofollow, sponsored, or UGC
   5. Content Quality Review: Evaluate the overall quality, depth, and value of the content surrounding your link
   6. Link Environment: Assess other outbound links on the page—are they to reputable sources or potential spam sites?
   7. Traffic Potential: Consider whether the link could drive meaningful referral traffic based on the page’s visibility and audience

Red flags that indicate potentially harmful or low-value links include:

1. 1. • Links from sites with no organic traffic or engagement
      • Pages created solely for link placement without genuine content value
      • Links from completely unrelated industries or languages
      • Sites with excessive outbound links or obvious link schemes
      • Links with over-optimized or keyword-stuffed anchor text

Actionable Tips to Optimize Your Backlink Strategy

Implement these proven strategies to build a balanced, high-performing backlink profile that drives sustainable SEO results.

Get More Dofollow Links

Focus these efforts on acquiring high-quality dofollow links that provide maximum ranking impact:

1. 1. • Strategic Guest Posting: Target authoritative blogs within your industry that maintain high editorial standards. Pitch unique, data-driven content ideas that provide genuine value to their audience rather than purely promotional pieces
      • Original Research Publication: Conduct industry surveys, analyze market trends, or compile unique data sets that naturally attract citations from other websites. Research-based content typically earns 3-5x more backlinks than standard blog posts
      • Linkable Asset Creation: Develop comprehensive resources like industry guides, interactive tools, calculators, or infographics that solve real problems for your target audience
      • Broken Link Building: Identify broken links on relevant websites using tools like Ahrefs’ Broken Link Checker, then offer your content as a valuable replacement
      • Resource Page Inclusion: Research industry resource pages and curated lists, then reach out with compelling reasons why your content deserves inclusion
      • Digital PR Campaigns: Create newsworthy content or participate in industry events that naturally attract media coverage and editorial links

“The best link building happens when you’re not actively trying to build links. Create something so valuable that people can’t help but reference it.” – Brian Dean, Backlinko

Use Nofollow Links Strategically

Leverage nofollow opportunities to build brand awareness, drive traffic, and create link discovery opportunities:

1. 1. • Community Engagement: Actively participate in Reddit communities, Quora discussions, and industry forums by providing helpful, detailed answers that naturally incorporate links to your relevant content
      • Value-Added Blog Commenting: Leave thoughtful, substantive comments on influential industry blogs that contribute meaningfully to the discussion and include relevant resource links when appropriate
      • Social Media Optimization: Share your content strategically across social platforms to maximize visibility and potential link discovery by other content creators
      • Industry Forum Participation: Engage consistently in niche forums and communities where your target audience seeks advice and information
      • Podcast Guest Appearances: Appear on relevant podcasts to build authority and earn show note links, even if they’re typically nofollow
      • Expert Roundup Participation: Contribute to expert roundups and industry surveys that often result in branded mentions and nofollow links

Recommended resource allocation for balanced link building:

1. 1. • 60% effort on high-quality dofollow link acquisition
      • 25% effort on strategic nofollow opportunities
      • 15% effort on brand building and relationship development

Frequently Asked Questions

Address the most common questions about dofollow and nofollow links to clarify remaining confusion.

Do nofollow links impact SEO?

Yes, nofollow links can significantly impact SEO, especially following Google’s 2019 policy update. While they may not transfer traditional link authority, nofollow links influence SEO through multiple channels:

1. 1. • Google now treats nofollow as a hint, potentially using these links for ranking purposes
      • They facilitate content discovery and faster indexing
      • They drive referral traffic that generates positive user experience signals
      • They contribute to natural link profile diversity
      • They often lead to organic dofollow link acquisition through content discovery
      • They build brand awareness and authority within your industry

Can I rank higher with only nofollow links?

While theoretically possible, ranking competitively with only nofollow links remains challenging. Dofollow links continue to provide significantly more direct ranking power. However, websites can experience ranking improvements from nofollow links when:

1. 1. • The links generate substantial traffic and positive engagement metrics
      • They come from highly authoritative, relevant sources
      • Google chooses to treat them as ranking hints under the 2019 policy
      • They lead to natural dofollow link acquisition from increased visibility
      • They contribute to strong brand signals and search volume

The most effective approach combines both link types strategically rather than relying exclusively on either.

Are all nofollow links worthless?

Absolutely not. This misconception has led many SEOs to miss valuable opportunities. Nofollow links provide significant value through:

1. 1. • Direct referral traffic that can convert into customers or subscribers
      • Brand exposure to relevant audiences within your target market
      • Content discovery opportunities that lead to natural backlinks
      • Enhanced credibility through association with authoritative platforms
      • Potential ranking influence under Google’s updated nofollow treatment
      • Diversification of your overall link profile for natural appearance

Some of the highest-converting traffic often originates from nofollow links on platforms like Reddit, Quora, and industry forums where users actively seek solutions.

Should I nofollow all my outbound links?

No, this approach would be counterproductive and potentially harmful to your SEO efforts. Use this guidance for outbound link management:

Use dofollow for:

1. 1. • Links to authoritative, relevant sources that enhance your content credibility
      • All internal links within your website to optimize link equity flow
      • Editorial links to resources you genuinely recommend
      • Citations to research, studies, and credible information sources

Use nofollow/sponsored/UGC for:

1. 1. • Any paid or affiliate links where compensation influences the placement
      • Links to sources you cannot fully trust or endorse
      • User-generated content areas like comments and forums
      • Links to direct competitors (optional, based on your strategy)

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

Several methods allow you to quickly identify link attributes:

1. 1. • Browser Extensions: Install SEOquake, MozBar, or similar tools that display link attributes when hovering over links
      • Page Source Inspection: Right-click on any page and select “View Page Source,” then search for the specific link to see its HTML attributes
      • Developer Tools: Right-click on a link and select “Inspect Element” to view its HTML code and attributes
      • SEO Analysis Tools: Use Ahrefs, SEMrush, or similar platforms to analyze backlink profiles and see link attributes in bulk
      • Online Checkers: Various free online tools allow you to input URLs and check link attributes

Remember: if you don’t see any rel attribute, the link is dofollow by default.

How many backlinks do I need to rank well?

No universal number exists—requirements vary dramatically based on industry competition, keyword difficulty, and content quality. Focus on these principles instead:

1. 1. • Quality Over Quantity: Ten high-authority, relevant links often outperform hundreds of low-quality ones
      • Competitive Analysis: Research top-ranking competitors to understand the link quantity and quality in your specific niche
      • Gradual Acquisition: Build links steadily over time rather than acquiring large quantities rapidly
      • Holistic SEO: Remember that links are just one ranking factor—content quality, technical SEO, and user experience matter equally

Understanding dofollow and nofollow links empowers you to build more effective SEO strategies that drive sustainable organic growth. Focus on creating valuable content, building genuine industry relationships, and maintaining a balanced approach to both link types.

The future of link building lies not in manipulating search algorithms, but in establishing authentic authority through helpful resources and meaningful connections within your industry. Whether your links carry the dofollow or nofollow attribute, their true value comes from the genuine relationships and valuable content that earn them naturally.