Dofollow Backlinks: What They Are and When They Matter

"Dofollow backlinks" is one of the most searched phrases in link building, and one of the most misunderstood. Sellers advertise "100% dofollow", buyers treat nofollow links as worthless, and neither is quite right. Here's what dofollow backlinks actually are, how they differ from nofollow, sponsored and UGC links, how to check them, and how much they really matter.

What Is a Dofollow Backlink?

A dofollow backlink is a normal link from another website to yours with no attribute telling search engines to treat it differently. Technically, there is no rel="dofollow" attribute. "Dofollow" is just SEO shorthand for a link without nofollow, sponsored or ugc.

A standard (dofollow) link looks like this:

<a href="https://superseoplus.com/">SuperSEOPlus</a>

A nofollow link looks like this:

<a href="https://superseoplus.com/" rel="nofollow">SuperSEOPlus</a>

Dofollow vs Nofollow vs Sponsored vs UGC

Since 2019, Google has treated nofollow, sponsored and ugc as hints rather than strict instructions. Its documentation on qualifying outbound links explains when each should be used.

Do Dofollow Backlinks Matter for SEO?

Yes. Followed links from relevant, trusted sites are the ones most likely to pass ranking signals. But "dofollow" alone tells you very little about a link's value. A dofollow link from an irrelevant link farm is worth nothing, or worse. Relevance, placement and site quality matter far more than the attribute. We explain those factors in SEO backlinks explained.

Are Nofollow Links Worthless?

No. Nofollow links can still:

• send real referral traffic and customers;
• build brand awareness, which leads to branded searches and later editorial links;
• help Google discover your pages;
• make your link profile look natural. Real websites have a mix of both.

A mention in a major newspaper with a nofollow link is usually worth far more to a business than a dofollow link on an anonymous blog.

How to Check if a Link Is Dofollow

1. Inspect the link: right-click the link, choose "Inspect", and check whether the <a> tag includes a rel attribute.
2. Browser extensions: free nofollow-highlighter extensions mark nofollow links on the page.
3. SEO tools: backlink reports in tools such as Ubersuggest, Semrush or Ahrefs show the attribute of each link.

Red Flags in "Dofollow Backlink" Packages

• "100% dofollow, guaranteed" usually means links from sites built purely to sell links.
• Huge quantities for tiny prices almost always means automated spam.
• No list of live URLs means you can't verify what you paid for.
• Unrelated sites mean no relevance, and therefore little value.

Google's link spam policies specifically mention buying or selling links that pass ranking credit. If you're considering paying for links, read 10 things to know before you buy backlinks first.

What's a Healthy Dofollow-to-Nofollow Ratio?

There's no official ratio. Natural link profiles vary widely by industry. Rather than chasing a percentage, focus on earning relevant links. The mix will look natural because it is natural.

How to Earn Dofollow Backlinks Naturally

• Publish original data, guides and tools others want to cite.
• Contribute expert quotes to journalists.
• Write genuinely useful guest articles for respected industry sites.
• Get listed on partner, supplier and association pages.

Full walkthrough: how to build backlinks: 12 manual methods.

Frequently Asked Questions

Want Relevant Dofollow Links Without the Risk?

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