Dofollow vs. Nofollow Links

Linking websites is a key strategy for improving SEO, which is crucial for your site's search engine ranking.

With over 1.8 billion websites out there, using links effectively can be the difference between standing out and underperforming.

There are two types of links to consider — dofollow and nofollow. Each type impacts SEO differently. This article will break down the differences and how to make the most of them.

Dofollow links are hyperlinks that allow search engines to follow them, thereby passing on link equity or "link juice" to the linked website.

Link juice is the term used to describe the passing of authority. In other words, a dofollow, link passes the authority of the website on which it is posted to the linked website.

Unless marked otherwise, all links are dofollow by default.

Dofollow links naturally enhance a website's authority and keyword rankings

Google uses these links as SEO signals. More inbound links from diverse websites will boost your site's visibility.

So, if your site has many relevant links, it's more likely to appear higher in search results for related keywords.

A nofollow link is a type of hyperlink that tells search engines not to follow the link or pass on any link equity or "link juice" to the linked website.

Nofollow links are often used to prevent endorsing the destination site or influencing search engine rankings.

If a site links to yours with a nofollow link, your site won't receive an SEO boost.

Google ignores nofollow links, potentially lowering a website's position in search results.

A nofollow link has the following HTML tag:

<a href=”http://www.website.com/” rel=”nofollow”>Link Text</a>

Google Chrome

In Chrome, check if a link is dofollow or nofollow by going to View > Developer > View Source in the navigation bar.

Another way to do it is to right-click on the page and click Inspect Element.

Mozilla Firefox

For Firefox, right-click the page and go to View Page Source.

After, click Edit, then Find, and type in "nofollow" in the search box, so all instances of the nofollow tag will be highlighted.

Nofollow links can still drive referral traffic to your site from clicks on other websites, not just searches.

Even if your website is linked with a nofollow link, your website can generate massive traffic if the link is placed on a relevant blog post or forum, or a popular site.

And since some of the people that visit your site might turn into customers, it makes nofollow links definitely worth it. Also, they are excellent for building a diverse portfolio of backlinks.

As mentioned before, nofollow links do not help SEO directly. However, search engines take other factors into consideration, aside from link juice.

For example, links on social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook have become highly valuable for brand building, despite being nofollow links.

Building your brand boosts your business, so aim for quality links from trusted sites to strengthen your industry standing, whether they're dofollow or nofollow.

To add dofollow links in WordPress, use Gutenberg, the block editor.

First, select the text for the link. Then, click the link icon at the top of Gutenberg or press CTRL + K. Links must be added manually.

After you've done this, copy and paste the URL you want.

To keep visitors on your site when they click a link, click the link settings (three vertical lines) and select "Open in New Window."

Without code(Gutenberg)

Adding nofollow links in Gutenberg is manual, like dofollow links. Simply highlight your text, then click the link icon in the editor.

Next, paste the URL at the top and enable the "Search engines should ignore this link (mark as nofollow)" option.

With code(Classic editor)

Adding a nofollow link using code — Classic Editor— similar to using Gutenberg.

First, highlight the text and add a regular hyperlink.

Then, select the link and choose the Text tab on the Editor bar.

In the HTML, add rel=”nofollow” after the href="examplesite.com" part.

And it's done!

Before we get started, keep in mind that there are “unhealthy” backlinks that can reflect negatively on your site, like paid links.

Paid links are highly forbidden and can lead to penalties from search engines like Google. Now, let’s move on to good backlinks and how you can get them:

Use HARO

HARO (Help a Reporter Out) connects you with journalists needing sources.

By submitting pitches, they may link to your posts in their articles. Use the free plan to start earning quality backlinks from credible sources.

Patience and consistency are key, as building relationships takes time. With over 55,000 users, HARO offers numerous opportunities for exposure.

Write guest posts

Writing for other sites and linking back to yours gains exposure and showcases your unique content.

Guest posting on high-authority, high-traffic sites is an effective way to secure quality backlinks.

This method avoids spammy links, ensuring your backlinks are valuable.

It's popular because 77% of internet users read blogs, offering a wide audience. Plus, sites with blogs have 434% more indexed pages, benefiting your business significantly.

Use broken links

This strategy involves notifying a website's admin about a broken link and suggesting your site as a replacement.

It's effective because you're assisting them, which may encourage them to link back to you.

This also helps them maintain customer satisfaction and reputation, since 88% of customers won’t return after a bad experience.

Ensure the website is relevant to your niche to attract interested visitors.

Show infographics

Infographics visually represent data, making complex information easy to understand and share.

They're effective for drawing visitors to your site. Create engaging visuals with solid research on trending topics and interests.

Focus on delivering high-quality data that benefits your audience.

Use templates that are proven to be successful

Boosting your content into the top 6%—the fraction that gets backlinks—is key since 94% goes unnoticed. Focus on creating content known to attract backlinks.

The most backlinked types include "what" and "why" posts, infographics, and videos.

Prioritize engaging, quality content that readers will value. Though challenging, persistence is key to success.

Create something unique

Craft unique content that reflects your style across all platforms to become easily recognizable and encourage other sites to link to you as the source.

While challenging, with time and experience, inspiration may strike, leading to innovative methods or solutions your audience values.

Being original and relevant makes you a magnet for backlinks.

Strategic link placement is key to SEO success, affecting link value, user engagement, and content visibility. For best SEO results, focus on these specific areas for placing your links:

In high-quality, relevant content

Links embedded in quality content that's relevant to your audience are more likely to be clicked on, shared, and valued by search engines.

Aim for contextual relevance — links should feel like a natural part of the content narrative.

Place links in the first half of the content to ensure visibility.

On high authority sites

Securing backlinks from websites with high domain authority can significantly boost your site's credibility and search ranking.

• Guest blogging is a proven strategy to achieve this.
• Use tools like Moz's Domain Authority Checker to identify potential sites.

Within evergreen content

Evergreen content remains relevant over time, providing sustained traffic and ongoing link equity. Focus on comprehensive guides, how-to articles, and FAQ sections.

In the author bio of guest posts

While the main content might be strictly informational, a well-placed link in your author bio can drive targeted traffic back to your site.

Ensure your bio is compelling and the link adds value to the readers.

Resource pages and directories

Being listed in reputable industry-specific directories or resource pages can drive both traffic and SEO value.

Prioritize directories that are well-curated and respected in your industry.

At the end of articles or posts

Links placed at the end of posts, suggesting further reading, can capitalize on the reader's engagement at the moment. Use a call-to-action to encourage clicks.

In visual content

Embedding links in or around infographics, videos, and other visual content can enhance engagement and shares.

Ensure the linked visual content is hosted on your site to drive traffic.

Social media profiles and posts

While most social media links are nofollow, they can still drive traffic and indirectly impact SEO by increasing visibility and engagement.

Regularly update social media profiles and posts with links back to your website or specific content pieces.

Dofollow links boost SEO by signaling Google to rank you higher.

Nofollow links, while not directly improving SEO, are valuable for driving referral traffic and reaching potential customers.

Both types of links are beneficial and should be used together for optimal results.