Why dofollow links matter
Google uses links as one of its signals for how important and trustworthy a page is. Editorially given dofollow links from relevant, respected sites can help your pages rank. Links marked nofollow, sponsored or ugc are treated as hints, which Google may or may not use.
How to earn them
- Publish useful resources, data and tools that others want to cite.
- Get listed by partners, suppliers, industry associations and local organizations.
- Offer expert comments to journalists and write for respected publications in your field.
Buying dofollow links, or trading them in bulk, breaks Google’s spam policies. Paid links must be marked with rel="sponsored" or rel="nofollow".
Dofollow link example
A regional newspaper writes about a bakery’s charity bake sale and links to the bakery’s site in the article. The link has no rel attribute, so it is an ordinary, followed link. A directory that sells listings links with rel=”sponsored”, and a forum post link carries rel=”ugc”. The newspaper link is the kind that can pass trust, and it came from doing something worth writing about.
How to check a link’s attributes
- Open the page that links to you and right-click the link, then choose Inspect.
- Look at the rel attribute in the HTML.
- If it contains nofollow, sponsored or ugc, it is not a normal followed link.
- Do not rely only on SEO tool labels, since they can be wrong.
Dofollow backlink mistakes
- Obsessing over the dofollow or nofollow label instead of relevance and quality.
- Ignoring nofollow links, which still bring visitors and brand exposure.
- Buying dofollow links, which breaks Google’s spam policies.
- Building links from irrelevant sites just because they are followed.
Dofollow backlink FAQs
Is a “dofollow” attribute real?
No. Links are followed unless they carry rel=”nofollow”, “sponsored” or “ugc”. See nofollow links.
How many backlinks do I need?
It depends on your competition. Quality and relevance matter more than the number. See backlinks and link profile.