What Are Dofollow Backlinks?

Dofollow backlinks are ordinary links that do not ask search engines to ignore them. The name comes from the contrast with nofollow links. If you have been told that you need dofollow links to rank, this guide explains what that really means, how the different link attributes work and how much they matter.

The simple definition

A link in HTML looks like an anchor tag with an href. If that tag has no rel attribute telling search engines to treat it differently, it is a normal link. People call it dofollow, although that is not an official attribute. Dofollow links allow search engines to follow the link and may pass ranking signals to the target. For background on how links work, see what backlinks are in SEO.

What nofollow, sponsored and ugc mean

Publishers can add attributes that describe the nature of a link:

• rel=”nofollow”. A general hint that the publisher does not endorse the destination or does not want to pass credit.
• rel=”sponsored”. For paid or advertising links.
• rel=”ugc”. For user-generated content such as comments and forum posts.

The history of the first of these is covered in the Wikipedia article on nofollow. Google explains how it expects publishers to use them in its page on qualifying outbound links. Since 2019, Google has treated these attributes as hints, not strict commands, which means a nofollow link may still be used for discovery and sometimes as a ranking signal.

Why dofollow links are valued

Dofollow links are valued because they are the most direct way for a trusted page to pass credit to another page. Many professionals therefore look for high quality dofollow backlinks from relevant, reputable sites. When a news site or respected blog links to you in its article text, that link typically has no restrictive attribute and is more likely to count as a clear endorsement.

Why they are not the whole story

A natural profile includes nofollow

Most real websites attract a mix of link types. If a site has only dofollow links, it can look unnatural. Social platforms, forums, comment sections and many news sites use nofollow or similar attributes by default, and links from those places are normal.

Nofollow links still have value

A nofollow link from a major publication may send many visitors, raise brand awareness and lead to other sites picking up your story. Those follow-on links might be dofollow. So the immediate attribute does not tell the whole story.

Relevance can outweigh attribute

A link from a relevant, well-read site with a nofollow attribute can be worth more to your business than a dofollow link from an unrelated site. Do not let a technical detail override common sense.

Paid links and disclosure

If a link is paid for, Google’s guidance is that it should be marked with sponsored or nofollow. Buying or selling links that pass ranking credit without proper marking breaks Google’s spam policies. That does not make all paid placements bad. Many publishers sell sponsored articles and mark them correctly, and the exposure can still help your brand. It does mean you should be honest about what you are buying. Providers that promise that every paid link will be dofollow are promising something that may conflict with Google’s rules. This is why we tell buyers that each publisher sets its own link attributes and explain this before you approve a site on our guest posting services page.

How to tell if a link is dofollow

Check the page source or use a browser extension that highlights nofollow links. We show the steps in how to find dofollow backlinks. Remember that attributes can change if a publisher updates its policy.

How much should you care?

• If you are earning links naturally, do not worry much. Focus on relevance and quality.
• If you are buying or placing links, ask what attribute will be used, and understand the policy of the site. Do not try to force a publisher to hide a sponsored placement.
• If you are comparing providers, be cautious of anyone who sells “dofollow” as the main benefit. Ask about relevance, traffic and editorial standards too.

Common myths

Myth: Only dofollow links count. Search engines may use nofollow links as hints, and they bring traffic and exposure.

Myth: More dofollow links is always better. Quality, relevance and a natural pattern matter more than counting.

Myth: Dofollow means safe. A dofollow link from a spammy site can harm you, and Google may ignore it or treat it as a link scheme.

Myth: You can control the attribute. Usually the publisher controls it, not you.

Practical advice

1. Aim for a mix of links from relevant, trusted sites.
2. Do not obsess over the attribute on any single link.
3. Check links after they go live and record the attribute.
4. Be transparent with publishers about the nature of any paid placement.
5. Watch how referral traffic and rankings respond over time.

You can also see our approach to quality on the niche edit page, where we explain how we choose existing articles for link insertions.

A simple example

Imagine two links to the same page. The first sits inside a blog article that discusses your topic and carries no rel attribute. The second sits in a comment on a news article and is tagged ugc. The first is a clean, editorial dofollow link that a search engine can follow and may weigh as an endorsement. The second is a hint that the link came from user content. Both exist in a normal profile, and the first is usually more helpful for rankings. Neither is wrong.

How publishers decide

Publishers choose attributes based on their policies. Some mark every outbound link in sponsored posts as sponsored. Some use plain links for editorial mentions and nofollow for everything paid. Some automatically add nofollow to all links in user content. Understanding these habits helps you set expectations. If a site has a clear “sponsored” policy, you should not expect a plain link from a paid placement, and that is a sign of a publisher that follows guidelines.

A balanced view

It is natural to want the strongest possible links, but it is wise to treat attributes as one factor among many. If a placement is relevant, useful to readers and comes from a respected site, it is probably worth having whatever the attribute. If it is irrelevant, the attribute will not rescue it.

Key takeaways

• A dofollow backlink is a normal link without a nofollow, sponsored or ugc attribute.
• Dofollow links are valuable but not the only links that matter.
• A natural profile contains a variety of link types.
• Follow Google’s guidance on paid links and be honest with publishers.
• Prioritise relevance, traffic and editorial quality over attributes alone.