DoFollow vs NoFollow Backlinks: What Actually Matters for Your Link Building Strategy

Introduction

Most people building links online are chasing the wrong thing.

They hear "get more backlinks" and go all in without ever stopping to ask whether those links are actually doing anything. Here's what nobody tells beginners: a backlink is not just a backlink. The type matters. A lot.

DoFollow and NoFollow backlinks behave very differently in how search engines read them. One passes authority. One doesn't, at least not directly. And if you've been treating them as interchangeable, that's likely hurting your strategy.

This article breaks down exactly what each link type does, why the difference matters for link building, and how to stop obsessing over one while ignoring the other.

What Is a DoFollow Backlink?

A DoFollow backlink is a standard hyperlink with no special attribute attached. When one website links to another without any restrictions, search engines follow that link and pass what's called "link equity" commonly known as PageRank, or "link juice" to the destination page.

Why DoFollow Links Are Valuable

DoFollow links are the backbone of SEO link building. They tell Google, "this page is worth something." When authoritative sites link to you with DoFollow links, your domain authority climbs. Your pages become more competitive in search results.

Think of it this way: every DoFollow link is a vote. The more votes from credible sources, the more Google trusts your site.

Key things DoFollow links do:

• Transfer link equity to the target page
• Boost the linked page's authority and ranking potential
• Signal to search engines that the content is trustworthy
• Directly support your SEO performance over time

Key Takeaway: DoFollow links are your primary SEO asset. They pass authority, influence rankings, and should be the focus of most serious link-building campaigns.

Suggested visual: A simple diagram showing link equity flowing from Site A → DoFollow Link → Site B, with a Google bot icon following the arrow.

What Is a NoFollow Backlink?

A NoFollow backlink includes a rel="nofollow" attribute in the HTML. When Google sees this tag, it originally treated it as an instruction not to follow the link or pass any authority.

<a href="https://example.com" rel="nofollow">Anchor text</a>

Google introduced this attribute back in 2005, specifically to fight comment spam. The idea was simple: bloggers were getting hammered with fake comments just to drop links, so NoFollow gave webmasters a way to link out without rewarding bad behavior.

Where You'll Find NoFollow Links

NoFollow links show up in predictable places. Forum profiles, blog comments, most social media platforms, Wikipedia, press releases, and paid ad placements nearly all of these use NoFollow by default.

Key Takeaway: NoFollow links don't pass authority directly, but they're everywhere online. Understanding where they appear helps you set realistic expectations for your link-building efforts.

Suggested visual: A screenshot of HTML source code showing the rel="nofollow" attribute, with an annotation explaining what it does.

The Real SEO Difference Between Them

Here's where things get interesting and where a lot of SEO advice gets oversimplified.

The common line is: "DoFollow = good, NoFollow = useless." That's not quite right.

In 2019, Google updated its stance on NoFollow links. Instead of treating the attribute as a hard directive, Google started treating it as a hint. That means Google may sometimes crawl and evaluate NoFollow links. It just retains the right to ignore them for ranking purposes.

What This Means in Practice

DoFollow links still carry far more direct SEO weight. There's no debate there. But NoFollow links are no longer a complete dead end.

DoFollow links pass link equity, get followed by Google, and directly impact your rankings. Their most common sources are editorial mentions and guest posts, the kind of links you actively earn through outreach and content.

NoFollow links are a different story. They rarely pass link equity, Google may or may not follow them, and their ranking impact, if any, is indirect. You'll find them mostly on forums, social platforms, and blog comment sections.

The core difference comes down to certainty. With DoFollow, you know what you're getting. With NoFollow, you're in a gray zone not fully counted, but not fully ignored either.

Key Takeaway: DoFollow links are the priority, but Google's 2019 update means NoFollow links aren't completely irrelevant. They exist in a gray zone now, not fully counted, but not fully ignored either.

Suggested visual: A side-by-side comparison graphic showing the key attributes of each link type.

When NoFollow Links Still Matter

Even before Google's update, experienced SEOs knew that NoFollow links had value just not the kind you can directly measure in rankings.

Traffic Is Real, Regardless of Link Type

A NoFollow link on a high-traffic site still sends real visitors to your page. If Reddit or a major news site links to your content with a NoFollow tag, you can still get thousands of clicks. That traffic is real. Those are potential customers, subscribers, and shares.

Natural Link Profiles Include Both Types

A backlink profile made up entirely of DoFollow links looks unnatural. Google has said as much. Real websites attract a mix of both. If your profile is too clean, it can actually raise red flags.

Brand Mentions and Indirect Authority

A brand mentioned on an authoritative site even with a NoFollow link, still builds credibility. It contributes to brand awareness, it can lead to earned DoFollow links down the road, and it shows up in brand searches.

Key Takeaway: NoFollow links build traffic, brand visibility, and a natural-looking link profile. Don't write them off just because they don't pass direct authority.

Suggested visual: A Google Analytics screenshot showing referral traffic from a NoFollow source like Reddit or Quora.

UGC and Sponsored: Two More Link Types You Should Know

In 2019, Google didn't just update its NoFollow policy it also introduced two new link attributes.

rel="ugc" stands for User Generated Content. It's meant for links inside comments, forum posts, or anywhere users can contribute links themselves.

rel="sponsored" is for paid links, affiliate links, and any commercial arrangement.

Both work similarly to NoFollow in that they signal to Google not to count these as editorial endorsements. If you're running paid partnerships or affiliate campaigns, using rel="sponsored" is the right call. It keeps you compliant and avoids manual penalties.

Key Takeaway: Don't ignore UGC and sponsored attributes. Getting these wrong, especially with paid links, can lead to a Google penalty.

Suggested visual: Three HTML code snippets showing nofollow, ugc, and sponsored attributes side by side.

How to Build a Balanced Backlink Profile

Smart link building isn't just about stacking up DoFollow links. It's about building something that looks real because the best link profiles are real.

Prioritize DoFollow From Authoritative Sources

Guest posting on relevant, reputable blogs. Getting cited in industry roundups. Earning editorial mentions. These should be your main focus. The higher the domain authority of the linking site, the more weight the DoFollow link carries.

Don't Reject NoFollow Opportunities

A NoFollow link from Forbes is still a link from Forbes. The brand association and the referral traffic alone can justify the effort. And there's always a chance Google treats it as a soft ranking signal anyway.

Audit Your Existing Profile

Use tools like Ahrefs, Semrush, or Moz to see your current DoFollow vs NoFollow ratio. Most healthy sites sit somewhere between 60–80% DoFollow. If you're way outside that range in either direction, it's worth investigating.

Key Takeaway: Aim for a natural mix, but keep the majority of your link-building effort pointed at DoFollow links from authoritative, relevant sites.

Suggested visual: A pie chart showing a healthy example backlink profile split between DoFollow, NoFollow, and other types.

Mistakes to Avoid

A few things that hurt more than they help:

• Buying DoFollow links in bulk. Google's spam team is good at detecting link schemes. The short-term gain rarely survives the next algorithm update.
• Ignoring NoFollow links completely. Diversity matters. A profile with zero NoFollow links is unusual and suspicious.
• Not using sponsored or UGC tags on paid partnerships. This is a compliance issue, not just a strategy one.
• Obsessing over link quantity instead of quality. Ten DoFollow links from strong, relevant sites outperform a hundred from low-quality directories.

Why We Cover This Topic

Link building is one of the most misunderstood parts of SEO and one of the most abused. We've spent years helping businesses build sustainable backlink profiles that don't collapse when Google rolls out a new update. The DoFollow vs NoFollow question comes up constantly, and the answer keeps evolving. We cover it because the stakes are real.

Wrapping Up

DoFollow and NoFollow backlinks serve different purposes, but both belong in a well-rounded link-building strategy.

DoFollow links are your ranking engine. They pass authority, build trust with Google, and directly influence where your pages show up in search. That's where most of your energy should go.

NoFollow links aren't a consolation prize. They drive real traffic, build brand recognition, and keep your profile looking natural. Google may even factor them in just not consistently or transparently.

The mistake most people make is treating this as binary. It's not. The real goal is a link profile that reflects how trustworthy, interesting sites actually get linked to online a mix of editorial DoFollow links, organic NoFollow mentions, and the occasional sponsored tag where it belongs.

Build for quality, build for diversity, and stop chasing volume.