What Is Dofollow Link? How Do Dofollow Backlinks Affect Site Rankings?

Your backlink profile tells search engine algorithms how to perceive website connections. They use dofollow links to traverse between domains and bypass nofollow links.

You may have seen different tags while adding a link to HTML. But what about the links with no tag? That is the SEO dofollow link.

All the backlinks are by default dofollow and have a direct impact on search results.

More you get links from websites with high authority, your website generates more traffic.

So, want to know how dofollow link building boosts your site rankings? 

Before that, learn what is dofollow link from the SEO expert in Kolkata.

What Is Dofollow Link?

A dofollow link is a regular hyperlink that allows search engine crawlers to follow the link and pass link equity (or "link juice") to the destination page. By default, any link you add to a webpage is dofollow unless you manually add a nofollow tag.

For example:

<a href="https://www.example.com">Check out this awesome site!</a>

For dofollow link building, you have to do nothing. 

If you get links from website without a nofollow tag, search engines will automatically arrive at your page. Thus, your organic ranking will be increased.

By default, all new links on your website are dofollow.

So, how to do dofollow SEO properly to higher your SERP ranks? 

Recommended: Detailed SEO Explanation- Everything You Need to Know for SEO Strategy!

Why Are Dofollow Links Important in SEO?

Dofollow backlinks are the backbone of any successful SEO strategy. They:

• Pass on link juice
• Transfer link equity to your website
• Improve domain authority
• Help you rank higher in SERPs
• Drive referral traffic

Every time a credible website links to your content, it's like a vote of confidence in the eyes of Google.

Think of it like this: dofollow backlinks can help establish your website as a trusted and valuable source of information, while nofollow links offer less direct SEO value.

How Do Dofollow Links Affect Site Rankings?

SEO Dofollow link is used by search engines to traverse the web and record who is connecting to who. It transfers domain authority as "link juice" from one website to another.

When a high-ranking site connects to you, search engines will consider you more trustworthy. Also, you get lots of referral traffic.

It potentially increases your PageRank and pushes you to the top of SERP. That’s what the dofollow link does!

So, understand why dofollow links are still vital in SEO today?  

Getting a "backlink" from a credible site helps companies stand out and raise site rankings dramatically. 

Must Read: Top Benefits of SEO for Small Businesses

The Difference Between Dofollow and Nofollow Links

Let’s break down the difference between dofollow and nofollow links.

A nofollow link includes a tag like this:

<a href="https://www.example.com" rel="nofollow">Sponsored Product</a>

This tag tells search engines not to follow the link or pass any link equity.

While nofollow and dofollow links both have their place in a well-rounded SEO strategy, dofollow links offer more direct SEO value.

Is It Appropriate To Dofollow An External Link?

Now you know what is dofollow, the next question is, should you dofollow every external link? 

Dofollow links ideally guide search engines to material that is current, relevant, and correct. Also, share both the external site and your website "link juice."

Whereas, reciprocal dofollow links increase traffic when the external site has a comparable rating to your own. 

To keep your backlink profile healthy, use a mix of nofollow and dofollow links on your website.

Tip: Use nofollow tags on sponsored, UGC and spam links to look natural and avoid Google penalties.

What Is The Best Nofollow To Dofollow Link Proportion?

For links leading to your site, there is no "optimal" ratio. Some people recommend a 50/50 split or 30/70 nofollow/dofollow links. 

Based on top websites, 75% dofollow and 25% nofollow ratio seems natural and effective.

Too many nofollow backlinks may indicate a lack of trusted sites linking to your domain, while an all-dofollow profile may appear spammy to Google. 

How To Check Dofollow Links?

Are you unsure if a link is dofollow or nofollow? You can look at the HTML code of your website to find nofollow tags. But what if the link is from another external site? 

Want to check if a link is dofollow or nofollow? It’s simple:

1. Right-click on the link and select "Inspect" to view the HTML code.
2. If you see rel="nofollow" in the link attribute, it’s a nofollow link.
3. If there is no rel attribute, it's a dofollow link by default.

We, provide the best SEO services in Kolkata, and also suggest employing dofollow link checker tools like Dofollow Link Checker, Link Analyzer, etc.

So, that’s all for what is dofollow link and why they are important. Plan your link building strategies properly to get the most out of it!

Do You Always Need to Dofollow External Links?

Not always. While dofollow links help the linked site, you should be selective.

Use dofollow only when:

• Linking to a trusted, high-authority site
• Sharing content that adds SEO value to your visitors
• Building partnerships or reciprocal links with sites of similar domain authority

Use nofollow for:

• Sponsored or affiliate links
• UGC (blog comments, forum posts)
• Low-quality or unverified sites

Maintaining a diverse link profile is important. That means using both dofollow and nofollow links on your site to appear natural to search engines.

How to Create Dofollow Links to Your Website

Looking to create dofollow links that actually help? Here are some SEO best practices:

• Guest blogging on high-authority sites with a dofollow link to your content
• Broken link building – find dead links and suggest your relevant content as a replacement
• Content marketing – publish original, useful content that others will want to link back to
• Resource link building – create ultimate guides, tools, or lists that become linkable assets

In every case, make sure the backlinks to your website are contextual, natural, and relevant.

SEO Benefits of Dofollow Backlinks

In terms of SEO, here’s what dofollow backlinks can do:

• Enhance crawling and indexing of your site
• Transfer domain authority
• Increase referral and organic traffic
• Improve your chances of ranking for competitive keywords
• Build credibility in your niche

These links are crucial to gain visibility in the grand scheme of SEO.

Common Mistakes to Avoid With Dofollow and Nofollow Backlinks

When building backlinks:

• Don’t buy links or participate in shady link schemes
• Avoid spamming forums or blog comments for backlinks
• Don’t over-optimize anchor text
• Don’t ignore nofollow links altogether (they still have value!)

A natural-looking backlink profile that includes different types of links (nofollow and dofollow backlinks) from varied sources is key to long-term SEO success.

Final Thoughts: Build the Right Links

Whether a link is dofollow or nofollow, each one plays a role in how your site is perceived by search engines. However, dofollow backlinks pass link juice, help boost rankings, and are crucial for SEO performance.

So:

• Understand when to use a nofollow link
• Create valuable content to earn dofollow backlinks
• Monitor your link profile regularly
• Always focus on quality over quantity

Want to grow your rankings and gain powerful backlinks? Let our SEO agency in Kolkata help you with expert dofollow link-building strategies tailored to your website.