A dofollow backlink is a link from another site that does not tell search engines to ignore it. It can pass ranking credit to your page. That is why most link building focuses on dofollow links.
There is no rel="dofollow" attribute. A link is dofollow by default, as long as it has no nofollow, sponsored, or ugc value.
- Dofollow is the default for any link without a rel value
- nofollow, sponsored, and ugc are hints to not pass credit
- Check a link by inspecting its HTML in the browser
- Nofollow links still bring traffic and a natural profile
- Earn dofollow links with content that editors want to cite
Dofollow vs nofollow in HTML
A dofollow link:
<a href="https://yoursite.com">your anchor text</a>A nofollow link:
<a href="https://yoursite.com" rel="nofollow">your anchor text</a>The rel values Google reads
| Value | Meaning | Passes ranking credit |
|---|---|---|
| none | A normal editorial link | Yes |
nofollow | The site does not vouch for the link | Usually no |
sponsored | The link is paid or an ad | Usually no |
ugc | User content, such as comments or forums | Usually no |
Since 2019, Google treats nofollow, sponsored, and ugc as hints, not strict rules. It may still use them to understand the web, but you should not count on ranking credit from them.
How to check if a link is dofollow
- Inspect the link. Right-click the link, choose Inspect, and look for a
relvalue in the<a>tag. - View the page source and search for your URL.
- Use a browser extension that highlights nofollow links.
- Use a backlink tool such as Ahrefs or Semrush, which shows the attribute for each link.
Check again later. Publishers sometimes add nofollow months after publishing. See how to monitor backlinks.
Do nofollow links matter?
Yes, for other reasons:
- Traffic: a nofollow link in a popular article still sends visitors.
- Brand: mentions on well-known sites build trust with readers.
- A natural profile: real sites have a mix of both types. A profile with only dofollow links looks built.
There is no ideal ratio. Aim for good links, and the mix follows.
Where dofollow links usually come from
- Editorial mentions in articles and news stories.
- Guest posts, with the link in the body text.
- Resource pages and curated tool lists.
- Partner and customer pages.
- Link insertions in existing articles. See niche edits.
Links in comments, forums, social profiles, and most directories are usually nofollow or ugc.
How to get dofollow backlinks
- Publish something worth citing: original data, a tool, or the clearest guide on a topic.
- Pitch relevant blogs with a guest post written for their readers. A blogger outreach service can do this for you.
- Fix broken links on relevant pages with your working page.
- Ask for a link when a site mentions your brand without one.
Be careful with lists of "dofollow backlinks" for sale. Sites that sell links to anyone are exactly the ones Google discounts.
Dofollow links from LinkDR
Every LinkDR placement is a contextual link in the body of an article on a site with real traffic. After placement, we check that each link is live and dofollow. If a publisher removes it within 12 months, we replace it at no cost.
