Backlinks remain one of the most influential factors in search engine rankings, but not all links are treated the same way. You may have heard SEO professionals talk about "dofollow" and "nofollow" links and wondered what the difference is and why it matters. These terms describe whether a link is intended to pass ranking signals from one page to another. Understanding them is essential for building a healthy link profile, managing outbound links on your own website, and staying within search engine guidelines. This article explains dofollow and nofollow links in clear, practical terms.
How AAMAX.CO Can Help Build a Healthy Link Profile
Earning the right links, and managing them correctly, requires expertise and ethical practices. AAMAX.CO is a full-service digital marketing company offering web development, digital marketing, and SEO services worldwide. Their team conducts backlink audits, develops outreach and digital PR campaigns, and ensures outbound links are tagged correctly. Through their SEO services, businesses can strengthen authority with natural, high-quality links that support long-term rankings.
What Is a Dofollow Link?
A "dofollow" link is simply a standard HTML link without any special attribute that restricts it. Technically, there is no "dofollow" attribute in HTML; the term is used to describe normal links. When a reputable website links to yours with a standard link, it can pass ranking signals, often called link equity or "link juice." Search engines treat these links as votes of confidence, which can help your pages rank higher.
A standard link looks like this in HTML: an anchor tag with an href attribute pointing to the destination URL and no rel attribute limiting it.
What Is a Nofollow Link?
A nofollow link includes the attribute rel="nofollow" in its HTML. Google introduced it in 2005 to combat comment spam. It signals that the linking site does not want to vouch for or pass ranking credit to the destination page.
In 2019, Google changed how it treats nofollow. Instead of being a strict directive, nofollow is now treated as a hint. Google may choose to use nofollow links for crawling, indexing, or ranking purposes in some cases, though they generally pass far less value than standard links.
Other Link Attributes: Sponsored and UGC
Alongside the nofollow update, Google introduced two more specific attributes:
- rel="sponsored": Used for paid links, advertisements, affiliate links, and sponsorships.
- rel="ugc": Used for links in user-generated content, such as blog comments and forum posts.
These attributes give search engines more context about the nature of a link. You can also combine attributes, such as rel="nofollow sponsored," if appropriate.
When to Use Nofollow, Sponsored, or UGC
- Paid or sponsored links: Google requires that paid links be qualified with rel="sponsored" or rel="nofollow." Failing to do so can violate spam policies and lead to penalties.
- Affiliate links: Use rel="sponsored" to disclose the commercial relationship.
- User comments and forums: Use rel="ugc" to prevent spammers from exploiting your site.
- Untrusted content: If you link to a source you do not want to endorse, nofollow is appropriate.
Do Nofollow Links Have SEO Value?
Although nofollow links typically pass little direct ranking value, they still offer important benefits:
- Referral traffic: A nofollow link from a popular website can send many visitors to your site.
- Brand visibility: Mentions on high-profile sites build awareness and credibility.
- Natural link profile: A mix of dofollow and nofollow links looks more natural to search engines.
- Indirect link opportunities: Visibility from nofollow links can lead others to discover and link to your content with standard links.
- Possible ranking hints: Since nofollow is now a hint, some may still contribute signals.
Building a Natural Link Profile
A healthy backlink profile includes a natural mix of link types, anchor text variations, and referring domains. Focus on earning links through valuable content, original research, digital PR, guest contributions to relevant publications, partnerships, and community involvement. Avoid buying links that pass ranking credit or participating in link schemes, as these practices can trigger manual actions.
How to Check Whether a Link Is Dofollow or Nofollow
To check a link, right-click it in your browser and select "Inspect" to view the HTML. Look for a rel attribute containing nofollow, sponsored, or ugc. Browser extensions and SEO tools like Ahrefs, Semrush, and Moz can also highlight nofollow links on a page and categorize your backlinks by type.
Managing Outbound Links on Your Site
Linking to authoritative, relevant sources with standard links is a good practice that helps users and demonstrates credibility. Do not nofollow every outbound link out of fear of losing link equity; this is unnecessary and can appear unnatural. Reserve nofollow, sponsored, and ugc attributes for the specific situations where they apply.
Conclusion
Dofollow links are standard links that can pass ranking signals, while nofollow links include an attribute that asks search engines not to pass credit. With the addition of sponsored and ugc attributes, site owners can describe links more precisely. Both link types have value, and a natural mix supports a healthy SEO profile. Focus on earning high-quality links through great content and relationships, and use link attributes correctly to stay aligned with search engine guidelines.
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