Dofollow Link
Quick Definition
A dofollow link is a standard hyperlink that passes link equity (ranking power) from the linking page to the linked page. By default, all links are dofollow unless a nofollow, sponsored, or UGC attribute is added.
Why It Matters
Dofollow links are the backbone of link-based SEO because they are the only link type that passes full ranking power (link equity) from one page to another. When you earn a dofollow backlink from a high-authority site, that site is essentially voting for your content. Understanding the dofollow vs nofollow distinction is essential for evaluating backlink quality.
Real-World Example
A tech blog writes a review of your SaaS tool and includes a standard HTML link: <a href="https://yourtool.com">best project management tool</a>. Since no rel attribute is specified, this is a dofollow link by default. It passes link equity from the blog to your site, helping your page rank higher for "project management tool" related queries.
Signal Connection
Trust -- dofollow links are direct trust signals. Each dofollow link from a reputable site tells Google "we trust this page enough to pass our authority to it." The more quality dofollow links you earn, the more Google trusts your domain.
Pro Tip
Use a backlink checker like Ahrefs or Moz to audit whether your earned backlinks are actually dofollow. Some sites automatically add nofollow to all external links. If you discover a high-value link is nofollowed, politely ask the webmaster if they can remove the nofollow attribute.
Common Mistake
Obsessing over getting only dofollow links and ignoring nofollow links entirely. A natural backlink profile has a mix of both. If every single link pointing to your site is dofollow, it can look manipulated. Nofollow links from reputable sites still send traffic and brand awareness even if they do not pass link equity directly.
Test Your Knowledge
What happens by default when you create a standard HTML link without any rel attribute?
Show Answer
Answer: B. The link is dofollow and passes link equity
By default, all HTML links are dofollow unless you specifically add a rel="nofollow", rel="sponsored", or rel="ugc" attribute. A standard link passes link equity from the linking page to the destination page.