# Dofollow Links: Meaning, HTML and SEO Context
Understand what a dofollow link means, see HTML examples and compare it with nofollow and sponsored links. Learn why a followed link does not guarantee SEO value.
Canonical: https://backlinkgrid.com/glossary/dofollow-link
A **dofollow link** is a standard HTML hyperlink that passes [link equity](/glossary/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:
1. **Follow** the link to discover the target page
2. **Pass ranking signals** (PageRank) to the target
3. **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:
```html
Visit Example
```
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:
```html
Dofollow Link
Nofollow Link
```
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:
```html
Link
Link
```
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](/backlinks/do-follow-vs-no-follow-vs-sponsored-vs-ugc).
### 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)
1. Right-click the link you want to check
2. Select "Inspect" or "Inspect Element"
3. Look at the `` tag in the developer tools
4. 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](/link-building-tactics/guest-posting)
**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](/link-building-tactics/broken-link-building)
**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](/link-building/linkable-assets)
**5. Digital PR**
Earn press coverage through newsworthy stories, expert commentary, or newsjacking.
**Related:** [Digital PR for Link Building](/digital-pr)
### 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:
1. Export their backlink profile from Ahrefs/Semrush
2. Filter for dofollow links only
3. Sort by Domain Rating/Authority
4. Identify sites that:
- Link to multiple competitors (receptive to outreach)
- Are relevant to your industry
- Have reasonable authority
5. Create outreach list for these targets
### Strategic Priority Order
When evaluating link opportunities, prioritize:
1. **Relevance** - Is the site in your industry/niche?
2. **Authority** - Does the site have meaningful traffic and authority?
3. **Quality** - Is it a legitimate site with real editorial standards?
4. **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](/tools/free-backlink-checker) - Check dofollow status for any domain
- [Backlink Audit Checklist](/tools/backlink-analyzer) - Audit your dofollow/nofollow ratio
- [Nofollow Links: When & Why to Use Them](/glossary/nofollow-link)
- [Link Equity: How Ranking Power Flows](/glossary/link-equity)
- [What Is a Backlink?](/backlinks/what-is-a-backlink)
- [White Hat Link Building Strategies](/link-building/white-hat)
- [Guest Posting Strategy Guide](/link-building-tactics/guest-posting)
- [How to Evaluate Backlink Quality](/backlink-quality/evaluating-link-opportunities)