When building a successful SEO strategy or blog content plan, understanding how DoFollow and NoFollow links work is crucial. These link types directly influence how search engines interact with your website — and how much authority (or “SEO value”) your links can transfer.
✅ What is a DoFollow Link?
🔍 Definition:
A DoFollow link is the default type of hyperlink that tells search engines:
“You can follow this link, index the destination page, and consider it a vote of trust.”
🧠 Why It Matters:
DoFollow links are SEO gold — they pass link equity, also known as “link juice,” from your site to the site you’re linking to. When a high-authority website links to you with a DoFollow link, it signals to Google that your content is trustworthy and relevant.
💡 Example (HTML):
This is a normal link — search engines treat it as DoFollow unless otherwise specified.
📈 Benefits:
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Boosts domain authority and page rank.
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Improves visibility in search engine results.
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Supports organic backlink growth.
✅ When to Use:
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Linking to reputable sources (e.g., news media, research).
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From guest post contributions with editorial oversight.
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For internal linking between your own blog posts or service pages.
🚫 What is a NoFollow Link?
🔍 Definition:
A NoFollow link includes a special HTML attribute that tells search engines:
“Do not follow this link or pass any ranking credit to the target page.”
💡 Example (HTML):
Here, the rel="nofollow" attribute blocks link juice from passing.
📉 What It Means for SEO:
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Google doesn’t consider NoFollow links when ranking the linked page.
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These links don’t improve domain authority or ranking scores.
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Still useful for traffic, visibility, and credibility.
⚠️ When to Use:
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Blog comments and user-generated content (to prevent spam abuse).
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Affiliate links, ads, or paid/sponsored posts (to comply with Google’s rules).
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External sites you don’t fully trust or endorse.
🧾 Summary Comparison Table
| Feature | DoFollow Link | NoFollow Link |
|---|---|---|
| Search engine follows? | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Passes link juice? | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Does it help SEO ranking? | ✅ Yes | 🚫 No (or limited) |
| Visible/clickable to users? | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Use for trusted sources? | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Use for paid content? | ❌ No | ✅ Yes (or rel="sponsored") |
🌍 Real-World Use Cases
| Scenario | Recommended Link Type |
|---|---|
| Linking to research articles or news sources | DoFollow |
| Guest blog contributions by reputable authors | DoFollow |
| Comments on blog posts or forums | NoFollow |
| Affiliate or sponsored links | NoFollow / Sponsored |
| Linking to an unfamiliar or untrusted website | NoFollow |
| Linking between your blog’s internal posts | DoFollow |
🔧 Pro Tip: Other Link Attributes to Know
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rel=”sponsored” – Used for paid links or sponsorships.
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rel=”ugc” – Used for user-generated content, like comments or forum posts.
Google treats these like NoFollow links, but they provide more context about the link’s purpose.
🧠 Final Thoughts
Choosing the right link type isn’t just about technical SEO — it’s also about trust, intent, and user experience.
👉 Use DoFollow when you vouch for the linked content.
👉 Use NoFollow or Sponsored when you’re uncertain, linking to paid content, or trying to prevent manipulation.