Dofollow Link
A dofollow link is a normal hyperlink that search engines can follow and that may pass link equity to the linked page by default when no nofollow, sponsored, or ugc attribute is present.
Start here
- Check if a link is dofollow by inspecting its HTML for rel attributes.
- Earn dofollow links from relevant, authoritative sites—not just any site.
- Use rel="nofollow", rel="sponsored", or rel="ugc" when required by guidelines.
- Don't obsess over dofollow vs. nofollow; focus on building a natural link profile.
What I'd do first
- Understand the default: Any link you add without a rel attribute is dofollow. That's it. No extra code needed.
- Check your existing links: Use your browser's Inspect tool (right-click → Inspect) to see if a link has rel="nofollow", rel="sponsored", or rel="ugc". If none of those are there, it's dofollow.
- Focus on quality, not just dofollow: A dofollow link from a spammy site won't help. Prioritize links from relevant, authoritative pages.
- Use natural anchor text: Don't stuff keywords into your anchor text. Write for humans first, search engines second.
Plain-English take
Think of a dofollow link as a regular link—the kind you click every day. When you link to another site without adding any special instructions (like "nofollow"), search engines treat it as a signal that the linked page might be worth checking out. It's not a guarantee of a ranking boost, but it's the default way the web connects pages. The term "dofollow" only exists because we needed a word for "not nofollow."
When it actually matters
- Link building: You want dofollow links from reputable sites because they can pass authority. But a mix of nofollow and dofollow looks natural.
- Guest posting: Most guest post links are dofollow unless the host site explicitly sets them to nofollow. Always confirm before publishing.
- Internal linking: Your internal links are dofollow by default. Use them to help search engines discover and understand your site structure.
- Sponsored content: If you're paying for a link, use rel="sponsored" to comply with Google's guidelines. Don't try to pass it off as dofollow.
What I got wrong
- I thought dofollow was a special attribute: Nope. It's the absence of nofollow, sponsored, or ugc. You don't add "dofollow" anywhere.
- I assumed every dofollow link was valuable: A dofollow link from a low-quality directory or a link farm can hurt more than help. Relevance and authority matter.
- I chased dofollow links exclusively: A natural backlink profile includes nofollow links from social media, forums, and comments. Google expects variety.
- I used exact-match anchor text too often: That looks manipulative. Now I write anchor text that fits the sentence naturally.
Next step
Quick answers
What is a dofollow link?
A dofollow link is a standard hyperlink without a nofollow, sponsored, or ugc attribute. Search engines can follow it and may pass link equity to the linked page.
How do I create a dofollow link?
Simply create a standard HTML link without adding rel="nofollow", rel="sponsored", or rel="ugc". Example: <a href="https://example.com">Example</a>.
Do dofollow links always pass link juice?
No. While dofollow links may pass link equity, the actual value depends on the linking page's authority, relevance, placement, and other algorithmic factors.
What is the difference between dofollow and nofollow?
Dofollow links are the default and may pass link equity. Nofollow links include rel="nofollow" and tell search engines not to pass link equity or follow the link for ranking purposes.
Sources
Primary documentation is linked directly. Anything commercial is marked nofollow.
- Google Search Central — Most authoritative source for how Google interprets rel attributes like nofollow, sponsored, and ugc.
- Google Search Central — Explains Google's treatment of rel attributes and how link signals are handled.
- Ahrefs Glossary — Clear SEO-friendly definition and practical explanation of dofollow vs. nofollow.
- Semrush Blog — Useful practitioner explanation of why dofollow links matter for SEO and link equity.
Notes from Callum Bennett.