What is a Dofollow Link?
A dofollow link is a standard hyperlink that passes PageRank (link equity) from the linking page to the destination page. These links tell search engines to follow the link and count it as a "vote of confidence" for the linked page.
Dofollow is the default state for all links. When you create a link in HTML without any special attributes, it's automatically a dofollow link.
HTML Example:
<!-- Standard dofollow link (no rel attribute needed) -->
<a href="https://example.com">Visit Example</a>
<!-- Explicitly marked as dofollow (optional) -->
<a href="https://example.com" rel="dofollow">Visit Example</a>Why Dofollow Links Matter:
- • Pass PageRank and authority to the linked page
- • Help improve search engine rankings
- • Signal trust and endorsement
- • Contribute to domain authority
What is a Nofollow Link?
A nofollow link contains the rel="nofollow" attribute, which tells search engines not to pass PageRank to the destination page. Originally introduced in 2005 to combat comment spam, nofollow links have evolved in their purpose and treatment.
HTML Example:
<!-- Nofollow link -->
<a href="https://example.com" rel="nofollow">Visit Example</a>Common Uses for Nofollow:
User-Generated Content
Comments, forum posts, user profiles
Paid Links
Advertisements, sponsored content (though 'sponsored' is now preferred)
Untrusted Content
Links to sites you don't want to vouch for
Internal Navigation
Login pages, admin areas, duplicate content
Other Link Attributes (Sponsored & UGC)
In September 2019, Google introduced two new link attributes to provide more context about link relationships: sponsored and ugc.
rel="sponsored"
Used for paid links, advertisements, and sponsored content.
<a href="..." rel="sponsored">
Sponsored Link
</a>rel="ugc"
Used for User Generated Content like comments and forum posts.
<a href="..." rel="ugc">
User Link
</a>💡 Pro Tip: Combining Attributes
You can combine multiple attributes in a single link:
<a href="..." rel="nofollow sponsored">Paid Link</a>How Search Engines Treat Different Link Types
Google's treatment of link attributes has evolved over time. Here's the current understanding:
| Attribute | Passes PageRank? | Crawled? | Treatment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dofollow | Yes ✅ | Yes | Full credit |
| Nofollow | Hint* | Maybe | May be considered |
| Sponsored | Hint* | Maybe | Identified as paid |
| UGC | Hint* | Maybe | Identified as user content |
*Important: As of March 2020, Google treats nofollow, sponsored, and UGC as "hints" rather than directives. This means Google may choose to consider these links for ranking purposes, though they typically don't pass PageRank.
Do Nofollow Links Help SEO?
Yes, nofollow links can help SEO, just not in the traditional PageRank-passing way. Here's how they provide value:
Referral Traffic
Nofollow links from high-traffic sites can drive valuable visitors to your site.
Brand Visibility
Exposure on popular platforms increases brand awareness and recognition.
Natural Link Profile
A mix of dofollow and nofollow links appears more natural to search engines.
Indirect Benefits
Traffic from nofollow links can lead to natural dofollow links from other sites.
Building a Natural Link Profile
A natural link profile includes a healthy mix of different link types. Here's what a typical profile might look like:
Typical Natural Link Profile
⚠️ Warning Signs
Be cautious if your link profile shows:
- • 100% dofollow links (looks unnatural)
- • Sudden spikes in link acquisition
- • All links from the same type of source
- • Exact match anchor text in all dofollow links
When to Use Each Link Type
Use Dofollow When:
- • Linking to trusted, high-quality content
- • Citing sources and references
- • Linking to your own content (internal links)
- • Recommending products/services you genuinely endorse
Use Nofollow When:
- • Linking to untrusted or user-submitted content
- • You don't want to vouch for the destination
- • Linking from widgets or embedded content
- • Uncertain about the quality of the destination
Use Sponsored When:
- • The link is paid for (advertisements)
- • It's part of a sponsorship deal
- • Affiliate links (required by FTC guidelines)
- • Any form of compensation is involved
Use UGC When:
- • Links in blog comments
- • Forum post signatures
- • User profile pages
- • Any content created by site visitors
How to Check Link Attributes
There are several ways to check if a link is dofollow or nofollow:
Method 1: Inspect Element
- 1. Right-click on the link
- 2. Select "Inspect" or "Inspect Element"
- 3. Look for the
relattribute in the HTML - 4. If there's no
relattribute, it's dofollow
Method 2: Browser Extensions
Install extensions that highlight nofollow links:
- • NoFollow (Chrome/Firefox) - Highlights nofollow links in red
- • SEO Minion - Highlights different link types with colors
- • Link Redirect Trace - Shows link attributes and redirects
Method 3: SEO Tools
Use professional SEO tools to analyze entire pages:
- • Ahrefs Site Explorer - Shows all backlinks with attributes
- • SEMrush Backlink Audit - Analyzes link attributes
- • Screaming Frog - Crawls sites and identifies link types
- • LynkDog - Monitors backlink attributes and changes
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I only build dofollow links?
No. A natural link profile includes both dofollow and nofollow links. Focusing only on dofollow links can appear manipulative to search engines. Aim for a natural mix that includes quality links of all types.
Can I convert nofollow links to dofollow?
Only if you control the linking site or have a relationship with the webmaster. You can politely request the change, but many sites have policies requiring nofollow for certain types of links (like comments or sponsored content).
Do internal links need to be dofollow?
Generally yes. Internal links should be dofollow to help distribute PageRank throughout your site. Only use nofollow for internal links if you want to prevent crawling of certain pages (like login pages or duplicate content).
Will Google penalize me for paid dofollow links?
Yes. Google's guidelines require paid links to use the 'sponsored' or 'nofollow' attribute. Paid dofollow links without proper disclosure can result in manual penalties and loss of rankings.