Dofollow Link
A dofollow link is a type of hyperlink that allows search engine crawlers to follow it and pass along SEO value, often referred to as “link juice,” to the linked page. In SEO terms, a dofollow link is a vote of confidence that can help improve the search rankings of the destination page.
Technically, all standard HTML links are dofollow by default unless otherwise specified with a rel="nofollow" attribute. That means if you create a link using regular HTML, it is treated as a dofollow link by search engines.
Example of a dofollow link
Here’s what a basic dofollow link looks like:
<a href="https://example.com">Visit Example</a>
Since there’s no rel="nofollow" attribute, this link is automatically considered dofollow and will pass link equity.
Why dofollow links are important for SEO
Dofollow links are a critical part of off-page SEO because they:
- Pass authority and ranking power from one page to another
- Improve the visibility of linked pages in search engine results
- Help search engines discover new content by following the links
- Signal trust and credibility when coming from reputable websites
Search engines like Google use backlinks (especially dofollow ones) as a way to measure the popularity, relevance, and authority of a web page. The more high-quality dofollow backlinks a page earns, the more likely it is to rank well.
Dofollow vs. Nofollow
| Feature | Dofollow Link | Nofollow Link |
|---|---|---|
| SEO value | Passes link equity (“link juice”) | Does not pass SEO value |
| Search engine bots | Follows the link and indexes the page | May ignore the link or not follow it |
| Use case | Trusted, editorially placed backlinks | Paid links, sponsored content, forums |
Where dofollow links come from
You can earn or create dofollow links from various sources:
- Guest blogging (on reputable sites that allow dofollow links)
- Editorial mentions (natural links from content creators)
- Internal linking (linking your own pages to each other)
- Directory listings (on trusted business directories)
- Partnerships or collaborations (like case studies or tools)
Best practices for dofollow links
- Focus on earning dofollow links from high-authority, relevant websites
- Avoid spammy link-building tactics — they can result in penalties
- Use natural, relevant anchor text in your hyperlinks
- Maintain a healthy balance of dofollow and nofollow links in your backlink profile
In summary, a dofollow link is a standard hyperlink that search engines can follow to pass SEO authority to another page. Gaining high-quality dofollow links is one of the most effective strategies for improving your search engine rankings and growing your website’s visibility.