A dofollow link is a standard HTML hyperlink that passes link equity (ranking power) from the source page to the linked page. It's the default link type—every link is dofollow unless the website owner specifically adds a nofollow, sponsored, or ugc attribute to block link equity transfer.
When search engines crawl a dofollow link, they:
- Follow the link to discover the target page
- Pass ranking signals (PageRank) to the target
- Consider the link as a vote of confidence for the target page
This is why dofollow links from quality, relevant websites are valuable for SEO—each one transfers some authority to your page.
How Dofollow Links Work (With Code Examples)#
The Default Link State#
In HTML, a standard link is automatically dofollow:
<!-- This link passes link equity to example.com -->
<a href="https://example.com">Visit Example</a>
No special attribute is required. The absence of any rel modifier means search engines will follow the link and pass ranking signals.
Dofollow vs Nofollow in HTML#
Compare these two links:
<!-- DOFOLLOW: Passes link equity -->
<a href="https://example.com">Dofollow Link</a>
<!-- NOFOLLOW: Traditionally blocks equity transfer -->
<a href="https://example.com" rel="nofollow">Nofollow Link</a>
The only difference is the rel="nofollow" attribute. Without it, search engines treat the link as an endorsement.
Multiple Rel Attributes#
Links can have multiple relationship attributes:
<!-- Nofollow + opens in new tab -->
<a href="https://example.com" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Link</a>
<!-- Dofollow + opens in new tab (noopener doesn't affect SEO) -->
<a href="https://example.com" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link</a>
Only nofollow, sponsored, and ugc affect link equity. Other rel values like noopener or external don't impact SEO.
Dofollow vs Nofollow: Complete Comparison#
Direct Comparison#
| Attribute | Dofollow | Nofollow | Sponsored | UGC | |-----------|----------|----------|-----------|-----| | HTML | No rel needed | rel="nofollow" | rel="sponsored" | rel="ugc" | | Passes link equity | Yes | Hint (maybe) | No | Hint (maybe) | | Signals endorsement | Yes | No | Paid placement | User content | | Search engines follow | Always | As hint | As hint | As hint | | Link building target | Primary | Secondary | Avoid | Secondary |
The 2019 Nofollow Change#
Google's September 2019 update changed how nofollow works:
Before 2019:
- Nofollow = complete block of link equity
- Binary: either passed value or didn't
After 2019:
- Nofollow = "hint" not directive
- Google may choose to follow/count nofollow links
- Sponsored and UGC attributes introduced
This means nofollow links might pass some value, but dofollow links remain the clearer signal. For a deeper breakdown of all four link types, read our dofollow vs nofollow vs sponsored vs UGC comparison.
Link Type Distribution in Natural Profiles#
A healthy, natural backlink profile typically contains:
| Link Type | Typical Percentage | Notes | |-----------|-------------------|-------| | Dofollow | 60-85% | Main value drivers | | Nofollow | 15-35% | Comments, forums, some editorial | | Sponsored | 0-5% | Paid placements (if any) | | UGC | 0-10% | User-generated content |
Warning sign: An almost entirely dofollow profile (95%+) may look manipulated and could trigger scrutiny.
How to Identify Dofollow Links#
Method 1: Browser Inspection (Most Accurate)#
- Right-click the link you want to check
- Select "Inspect" or "Inspect Element"
- Look at the
<a>tag in the developer tools - Check for rel attributes:
- No rel attribute = dofollow
- rel="nofollow" = nofollow
- rel="sponsored" = sponsored link
- rel="ugc" = user-generated content
Method 2: Browser Extensions#
MozBar (Chrome/Firefox)
- Shows Page Authority and link attributes
- Highlights nofollow links on page
- Free version available
NoFollow Extension (Chrome)
- Outlines nofollow links with red dashed border
- Quick visual identification
- Completely free
SEOquake (Chrome/Firefox)
- Comprehensive SEO toolbar
- Shows link attributes in overlay
- Free version available
Method 3: SEO Tools#
For checking your own backlinks:
- Ahrefs: Filter by "dofollow" in Site Explorer
- Semrush: Backlink Analytics shows link type column
- Moz Link Explorer: Indicates follow status
For bulk link audits:
- Screaming Frog: Crawls pages and exports all link attributes
- Sitebulb: Visual audit of internal/external link attributes
Where to Find Dofollow Links#
Sources That Commonly Provide Dofollow Links#
Editorial Content
- Guest posts (author bio and/or contextual links)
- Expert roundups and interviews
- Resource pages linking to helpful tools/guides
- News articles citing sources
Business & Industry Sites
- Industry association member directories
- Local chamber of commerce listings
- Business partnerships and sponsorships
- Supplier/vendor relationships
Content-Based Opportunities
- Infographic embed credits
- Original research citations
- Tool/resource links
- Testimonials on vendor sites
Sources That Typically Use Nofollow#
User-Generated Content
- Blog comments
- Forum posts and signatures
- Social media profiles and posts
- Q&A sites (Quora, Reddit)
- Wiki contributions (Wikipedia is always nofollow)
Paid/Sponsored Placements
- Sponsored posts and advertorials
- Banner ad links
- Affiliate links (should be sponsored/nofollow)
- Press release distribution links
Dofollow Link Value Factors#
Not All Dofollow Links Are Equal#
A dofollow link's SEO value depends on multiple factors:
| Factor | High Value | Low Value | |--------|-----------|-----------| | Source authority | DA 60+ site | DA 10 site | | Relevance | Same industry/topic | Unrelated niche | | Placement | In-content, contextual | Footer, sidebar, profile | | Anchor text | Natural, descriptive | Exact match keyword spam | | Page traffic | Actively visited page | Zero-traffic page | | Link neighborhood | Few outbound links | 100+ outbound links |
The Link Value Hierarchy#
Most Valuable
↓
1. Dofollow + High authority + Relevant + In-content + Low outbound
2. Dofollow + High authority + Relevant + Bio/resource section
3. Dofollow + Medium authority + Relevant + In-content
4. Nofollow + High authority + Relevant + In-content
5. Dofollow + Low authority + Relevant
6. Dofollow + Any authority + Irrelevant
↓
Least Valuable
A relevant nofollow from Forbes often beats an irrelevant dofollow from an unknown blog.
How to Build Dofollow Links#
Ethical Dofollow Link Building Strategies#
1. Guest Posting Write quality articles for relevant publications. Many allow dofollow links in author bios; some allow contextual links within content.
Related: Guest Posting Strategy Guide
2. Broken Link Building Find broken links on relevant sites, create replacement content, and reach out to suggest your working resource.
Related: Broken Link Building Guide
3. Original Research & Data Create statistics, surveys, or studies that others want to cite. Citations are typically dofollow.
4. Linkable Assets Build tools, calculators, templates, or comprehensive guides that attract natural links.
Related: Creating Linkable Assets
5. Digital PR Earn press coverage through newsworthy stories, expert commentary, or newsjacking.
Related: Digital PR for Link Building
What NOT to Do#
Buying dofollow links
- Violates Google guidelines
- Risk of manual penalty
- Often from low-quality sources
Link exchanges
- "I'll link to you if you link to me"
- Easily detected as manipulation
- Violates guidelines at scale
PBN (Private Blog Network) links
- Network of sites created solely for links
- High penalty risk
- Usually low quality
Demanding dofollow from outreach targets
- Damages relationships
- Makes you look spammy
- Accept what's offered
Dofollow Links in Your SEO Strategy#
Monitoring Your Dofollow Ratio#
Track your backlink profile's follow status regularly:
Healthy indicators:
- 60-85% dofollow ratio
- Dofollow links from diverse, relevant sources
- Mix of link types and sources
- Gradual, natural growth pattern
Warning signs:
- 95%+ dofollow (looks manipulated)
- Sudden spikes in dofollow links
- Dofollow links primarily from irrelevant sites
- Dofollow links from known link schemes
Competitor Dofollow Analysis#
Analyze competitor backlinks to find opportunities:
- Export their backlink profile from Ahrefs/Semrush
- Filter for dofollow links only
- Sort by Domain Rating/Authority
- Identify sites that:
- Link to multiple competitors (receptive to outreach)
- Are relevant to your industry
- Have reasonable authority
- Create outreach list for these targets
Strategic Priority Order#
When evaluating link opportunities, prioritize:
- Relevance - Is the site in your industry/niche?
- Authority - Does the site have meaningful traffic and authority?
- Quality - Is it a legitimate site with real editorial standards?
- Follow status - Is the link likely to be dofollow?
A relevant, authoritative nofollow link often provides more value than an irrelevant dofollow from a questionable source.
Common Dofollow Link Myths#
Myth 1: "Only dofollow links matter"#
Reality: Nofollow links can still:
- Drive referral traffic
- Build brand awareness
- Lead to dofollow links (people discover you via nofollow, then link naturally)
- Potentially pass some value (post-2019 hint system)
Myth 2: "More dofollow links = better rankings"#
Reality: Quality trumps quantity. Ten dofollow links from relevant, authoritative sites typically outperform 100 dofollow links from low-quality, irrelevant sources.
Myth 3: "I should only accept dofollow links"#
Reality: Natural profiles include nofollow. Rejecting valuable content opportunities because they're nofollow is counterproductive. Take the high-quality nofollow; the traffic and exposure have value.
Myth 4: "Dofollow means safe"#
Reality: A dofollow link from a spammy, penalized, or irrelevant site can harm your rankings. Follow status doesn't equal link quality.
Summary#
Dofollow links are standard hyperlinks that pass ranking signals to the target page:
Key points:
- All links are dofollow by default (no special attribute needed)
- Dofollow links transfer link equity/PageRank
- They're the primary target in ethical link building
- Quality and relevance matter more than follow status alone
Best practices:
- Build dofollow links from relevant, authoritative sources
- Accept quality nofollow opportunities—they have value
- Maintain a natural mix (60-85% dofollow)
- Never buy or exchange links for dofollow status
- Focus on earning links through valuable content
The bottom line: Chase quality links from relevant sources, and the dofollow status will largely take care of itself. A natural link building approach earns both dofollow and nofollow links from legitimate sources.
Related Resources#
- Free Backlink Checker - Check dofollow status for any domain
- Backlink Audit Checklist - Audit your dofollow/nofollow ratio
- Nofollow Links: When & Why to Use Them
- Link Equity: How Ranking Power Flows
- What Is a Backlink?
- White Hat Link Building Strategies
- Guest Posting Strategy Guide
- How to Evaluate Backlink Quality