Dofollow and nofollow backlinks are two types of links that are used on websites to link to other websites. Dofollow links are the default type of link. They pass along “link juice,” or ranking power, to the linked-to website. This can help improve the linked-to website’s search engine ranking.
On the other hand, nofollow links do not pass along any link juice. They are used to signify that the website linking to the other website does not endorse it. They can also signal that the website owner does not want to pass along any link juice.
Dofollow links pass along link juice to the linked-to website, while nofollow links do not. This means that dofollow links can help improve the linked-to website’s search engine ranking, while nofollow links do not.
Additionally, dofollow links are the default type of link. So, if a link does not have any special code or attributes, it is a dofollow link. Nofollow links, on the other hand, must be specifically coded as such in the HTML code for the link. Example below.
Dofollow Backlinks and how they Work?
Dofollow backlinks are links from one website to another that passes along ranking power, to the linked-to website. This can help improve the linked-to website’s search engine ranking. In most cases, links to other websites are dofollow by default unless they are specifically coded as nofollow.
When a website links to another website, it’s like giving a vote of confidence to the linked-to website. This is called a “backlink,” because it’s a link from one website back to your own.
When a website links to another website using a dofollow link, it’s telling Google that it endorses the linked-to website. It also says that it should be considered when determining the ranking of the linked-to website in search engine results.
Dofollow and nofollow links can be super confusing. However, the example of the vote of confidence is the easiest way to understand it.
Example of a Dofollow Backlink
An example of a dofollow backlink would be:
If a website about gardening linked to a website about gardening tools using a regular, un-coded link. This would pass along link juice to the gardening tools website and could help improve its search engine ranking.
Here’s an example of what a dofollow link might look like in HTML code:
<a href=”https://www.gardeningtools.com”>Gardening Tools</a>
This link would be dofollow by default, unless it was specifically coded as a nofollow link like this:
<a href=”https://www.gardeningtools.com” rel=”nofollow”>Gardening Tools</a>
The “rel” attribute in the code above specifies that the link is a nofollow link. This means it doesn’t pass along any link juice. It also includes the nofollow attribute which is the easiest way to tell it’s a nofollow link.
Links without the nofollow attribute are considered do follow. This is the key difference when understanding inbound, outbound, and internal links.
Why Dofollow Backlinks Matter
Dofollow backlinks are important because they can help improve a website’s search engine ranking. A website can get a lot of high-quality backlinks from other websites. This way it tells search engines that the website is popular and relevant.
In the SEO world, the more links and authority a website has is referred to as domain authority. The domain authority can range from 0-99. This can be increased through a variety of methods but mainly earning high-quality dofollow backlinks. The higher your domain authority the faster and higher you can show up in search rankings.
What Are Nofollow Backlinks, and How Do They Work?
Nofollow backlinks are links from one website to another that do not pass along any link juice or ranking power. These links are used to signify that the website linking to the other website does not endorse it. It could also mean that the website owner does not want to pass along any link juice.
Nofollow links are often used when linking to low-quality or untrustworthy websites. They may be used when website owner cannot vouch for the linked-to website. Google and search engines can look at who is providing that link and who is receiving it.
Adding links to your content is showing Google that you trust the website and you have the confidence in it.
When a nofollow link is used it still allows the user to navigate to another website. It tells Google not only do we not trust it we don’t want to get judged by providing that link.
Typically high quality links are dofollow links, but affiliate links may have source code with nofollow links inside.
Example of a Nofollow Backlink
An example of a nofollow backlink would be a website about gardening linked to a website about gardening tools. This would prevent the gardening tools website from getting any link juice from the gardening website.
Here’s an example of what a nofollow link might look like in HTML code:
<a href=”https://www.gardeningtools.com” rel=”nofollow”>Gardening Tools</a>
The “rel” attribute in the code above specifies that the link is a nofollow link. This means it doesn’t pass along any link juice. It is different from a regular dofollow link. Dofollow link would pass along link juice by default, unless it was specifically coded as a nofollow link.
This would be an outbound link to another source. For instance a blog post containing nofollow attribute signaling to Google there is no link juice being passed along.
The key is to look at the source code. You can also use a tool to see what kind of attributes the link has. Without tools or looking at the code, a reader would never know the link attribute.
Are Nofollow Links Bad?
No, not necessarily.
Nofollow links can be useful in certain situations. Such as when linking to low-quality or untrustworthy websites, or when a website owner cannot vouch for the linked-to website.
In these cases, using a nofollow link prevents search engines from giving the linked-to website any unnecessary link juice. It could potentially be damaging to the website’s search engine ranking. However, it’s generally better to have a mix of dofollow and nofollow links pointing to your website. This can help improve its overall search engine ranking.
There are an estimated 1.2 billion websites online and less than 200 million of them are active. Many of them have information that would be beneficial to a reader but are either not being used or are old and outdated.
When link building it’s important to look at a website and see if it looks trustworthy and will be around for years to come. If not, it may be better to send a nofollow link to it.
How to Use Dofollow and Nofollow When Appropriate
To use dofollow and nofollow links appropriately, you should first understand the differences between the two types of links and when it’s appropriate to use each one.
Dofollow links are the default type of link, and they pass along link juice to the linked-to website. You use these links when linking to high-quality and trustworthy websites you want to endorse and give a boost to in search engine rankings.
On the other hand, nofollow links help to signify that the website linking to the other website does not endorse it, or that the website owner does not want to pass along any link juice.
These links are often used when linking to low-quality or untrustworthy websites, or when a website owner is not able to vouch for the linked-to website.
To use dofollow and nofollow links appropriately, you should carefully consider the quality and trustworthiness of the website you’re linking to. If you’re linking to a high-quality and trustworthy website, you should use a dofollow link to pass along link juice and help improve the linked-to website’s search engine ranking.
When linking to a low-quality or untrustworthy website, use a nofollow link to prevent search engines from giving the website any unnecessary link juice. Do the same if you’re unable to vouch for the linked-to website,
In general, it’s a good idea to have a mix of both dofollow and nofollow links pointing to your website, as this can help improve its overall search engine ranking. This will show search engines that your website has a diverse range of high-quality and trustworthy links, which can help boost its ranking in search results.
Another idea to consider is to try to get dofollow and nofollow links to blog posts on your website. While inbound links from other websites to your home page are good, a solid SEO strategy is to spread them throughout your website. Blog posts, informational pages, case studies, and other pages are great places to receive relevant links.
How to Tell if a Link Is a Dofollow Backlink?
To tell if a link is a dofollow link, you can look at the HTML code for the link. Dofollow links do not have any special code or attributes, so if a link does not have the “nofollow” attribute, it is a dofollow link.
Here’s an example of what a dofollow link might look like in HTML code:
<a href=”https://www.example.com”>Example Website</a>
As you can see, this link does not have any special attributes, so it is a dofollow link by default. If you want to confirm that a link is a dofollow link, you can right-click on the link and select “Inspect” from the menu. This will open up the HTML code for the page, and you can search for the link to see if it has the “nofollow” attribute. If it doesn’t, then it is a dofollow link.
In the wise words of Brian Dean “Nofollow links are links with a rel=”nofollow” HTML tag applied to them. The nofollow tag tells search engines to ignore that link. Because nofollow links do not pass Page Rank they likely don’t impact search engine rankings.” Source
Getting Dofollow Backlinks in an Easy to Follow Process
Here are some tips for getting dofollow backlinks:
Reach out to other websites and ask them to link to your content. Be polite and professional, and make it easy for them to link to your content by providing them with the HTML code for the link. This is a popular backlinking strategy that can help earn relevant links to your content.
Participate in relevant online communities and forums, and provide valuable contributions and insights. If other community members find your content valuable, they may link to your website in their own posts. Social posts can help show Google how important the content is but is not a key factor when ranking. Please don’t go around spamming your links and begging for backlinks. It doesn’t work and will hurt your website more than help.
Collaborate with other websites and create content together. This can be a great way to get high-quality backlinks, and it can also help improve your website’s search engine ranking. This is a long-term strategy but can help you target keywords you want to earn links with. This can increase link equity and prove to be a strong link-building effort. It’s also a way to produce amazing content as we all know two minds are greater than one.
Offer to guest post on other websites. Include a link to your own website in your bio or at the end of the post. This can help you get high-quality backlinks and also introduce your website to a new audience. This is another strategy to help build a natural backlink profile and high-quality link equity. Many websites will accept guest blog posts if they are original content and can be valuable to their audience.
By following these tips, you can increase the number of dofollow backlinks pointing to your website. This can improve its search engine ranking and drive more traffic to your website.
What to Consider When Inserting External Links on Website or Blog?
When inserting external links on your website or blog, there are a few things you should consider to maximize their effectiveness. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
Make sure the linked-to website is high-quality and relevant to your content. This will improve the credibility of your website and provide a better experience for your readers. Also try to find original content that has been written by the website.
Use dofollow backlinks when linking to high-quality and trustworthy websites. Also use nofollow backlinks when linking to low-quality or untrustworthy websites. This will help ensure that search engines are able to accurately assess the quality of the links on your website.
Use descriptive anchor text when linking to other websites. This will help readers understand the context of the link and why they should click on it.
Avoid linking to websites that are malicious or harmful to your readers. This could damage your website’s reputation and put your readers at risk. Take into consideration is this popular website or does this look like a website that will continue to be around for the next few years.
Regularly check the links on your website. Make sure they are still working and pointing to the correct destination. Broken or outdated links can frustrate your readers and harm your website’s search engine ranking. A great idea is to include a contact option at the bottom of your blog posts so readers can leave feedback. This helps tremendously and can catch broken links earlier than you find them.
Use plugins to spot-check broken links. Depending on your website’s platform, there are also plugins and programs to help you identify broken links on your website. If it does break swap it out with a relevant link to help your readers.
By following these tips, you can insert external links on your website or blog in a way that is effective and safe for your readers.
What to Consider When Having Links Published on Other Sites and Blogs?
When having your links published on other sites and blogs, there are a few things you should consider to maximize the effectiveness of your links.
Be aware in many cases, you won’t be able to choose what links are pointing to your website. When you actively reach out there are opportunities to choose but in most cases, it’s rare to choose who links to you and from what page.
Here are some tips to keep in mind:
Make sure the website or blog you publish your links on is high-quality and relevant to your content. This will help improve the credibility of your links and ensure that they are seen by the right audience. Additionally, choose links that will benefit the reader instead of links that may help you more.
Use dofollow links when having your links published on high-quality and trustworthy websites. Alternatively, use nofollow links when having your links published on low-quality or untrustworthy websites. This will help ensure that search engines are able to accurately assess the quality of the links and give them the appropriate amount of link juice.
Use descriptive anchor text when having your links published on other websites. This will help readers understand the context of the link and why they should click on it. This is also a signal to Google what your page is about and can help you rank higher and earn more organic traffic.
Avoid publishing your links on websites that could be malicious or harmful to your readers. This could damage your website’s reputation and put your readers at risk. Google doesn’t like this and will lower your rankings severely if they see this is a reoccurring issue.
Regularly check the links published on other websites to ensure they are still working and pointing to the correct destination. Broken or outdated links can frustrate your readers and harm your website’s search engine ranking.
If you worry about getting bad backlinks or want to check to see if you have bad backlinks our friends at The Media Captain has a great blog on how to identify bad backlinks.
Dofollow and Nofollow Backlinks Summary
You can’t control all the links your website is going to earn, but you can help get more high-quality dofollow backlinks by posting original content on your website. This can be a tedious process that isn’t fast, but it’s a solid SEO strategy that can boot the performance of your website on search engines.
What not to do:
If you feel like what you’re about to do is to easy then it’s probably not good. There are many negative uses of backlinks. For instance, blog comment spam, paying shady websites for backlinks, and not understanding the original source of content.
Every link is a vote of trust, and Google understands that they are important and can be hard to earn. Brian Dean from Backlinko believes that backlinks are one of the number one ranking factors of Google. High-quality dofollow backlinks are not easy to earn. They can be a recipe for higher search ranking when paired with original content.
The best easy way to earn high-quality links is to write original high-quality content. This is the best way to increase organic traffic and show other websites they should send a link website.
If you’re struggling with building backlinks, please reach out to us here at Growth Generators. We have helped companies build tremendous amounts of traffic and pass their competitors online.
Get in touch with a Wix Partner today to discuss your project details.
Comments