Do Follow vs. No Follow Backlinks (Difference & Comparison)
Introduction
Backlinks are a key factor in SEO (Search Engine Optimization) that significantly impacts the ranking of websites on search engines like Google. However, not all backlinks are the same. There are two primary types of backlinks—Do Follow and No Follow. Understanding the difference between these two types is crucial for building a strong backlink strategy and improving your website’s visibility.
In this article, we will explore the definitions, key differences, and uses of Do Follow and No Follow backlinks, and how they affect your website’s SEO performance.
What Are Backlinks?
Backlinks, also known as inbound links or incoming links, are links from one website to another. They serve as a vote of confidence from one site to another, signaling to search engines that the linked website is valuable and trustworthy.
There are two types of backlinks:
- Do Follow Backlinks
- No Follow Backlinks
Each type has its specific role in SEO, and understanding when to use each can help optimize your website’s ranking.
What Is a Do Follow Backlink?
Do Follow backlinks are the standard type of backlink that allows search engines to follow and count them as a ranking factor. When a website links to your site with a Do Follow link, it passes link equity (also called “link juice”) from their site to yours, helping improve your website’s authority and search engine ranking.
- Example: When a high-authority website links to your blog post with a Do Follow link, Google recognizes this as a signal that your content is trustworthy and valuable.
Key Benefits of Do Follow Backlinks:
- Boosts SEO: Passes link equity to your site, which helps improve your domain authority and rankings.
- Increases Organic Traffic: As your ranking improves, more users are likely to find your website through search engines.
- Enhances Website Reputation: High-quality Do Follow links from authoritative sites improve your website’s credibility.
What Is a No Follow Backlink?
Unlike Do Follow links, No Follow backlinks include a special HTML tag (rel="nofollow") that tells search engines not to follow the link. As a result, No Follow links do not pass link equity to your site and do not directly impact your search engine rankings.
- Example: If a website adds a No Follow link to your blog post, search engines will acknowledge the link but won’t give it the same value as a Do Follow link.
Key Benefits of No Follow Backlinks:
- Diversifies Link Profile: A natural backlink profile contains both Do Follow and No Follow links, which appears more organic to search engines.
- Prevents Link Spam: No Follow links are often used in comment sections, forums, or ads to prevent spammy websites from gaining undeserved SEO benefits.
- Drives Referral Traffic: Even though they don’t directly improve SEO, No Follow links can still bring traffic to your site from users clicking on the link.
Key Differences Between Do Follow and No Follow Backlinks
| Feature | Do Follow Backlinks | No Follow Backlinks |
|---|---|---|
| Pass Link Equity | Yes, passes link juice and helps with SEO ranking | No, does not pass link equity or improve rankings |
| SEO Impact | Positively affects your search engine rankings | No direct impact on rankings |
| Usage | Used for editorial links, natural content recommendations | Common in comment sections, sponsored links, or ads |
| Search Engine Signal | Tells search engines to follow and index the link | Tells search engines not to follow or index the link |
| Traffic Benefits | Can bring organic traffic and improve authority | Can still bring referral traffic despite no SEO benefit |
How Do Follow and No Follow Backlinks Impact SEO
1. Do Follow Backlinks for SEO
Do Follow backlinks are essential for building your website’s authority and improving its search engine ranking. When you receive Do Follow backlinks from high-authority websites, it signals to search engines that your content is credible, relevant, and valuable.
Tip: Focus on obtaining high-quality Do Follow backlinks through guest posting, content marketing, and building relationships with industry leaders.
2. No Follow Backlinks for SEO
While No Follow backlinks don’t pass link equity, they still have indirect SEO benefits. Having a balanced mix of Do Follow and No Follow backlinks creates a natural link profile, which is favored by search engines. Additionally, No Follow links can drive referral traffic to your site, which can improve user engagement.
Tip: Don’t overlook No Follow backlinks—they are useful for increasing brand awareness and bringing in traffic from reputable websites.
When to Use Do Follow vs. No Follow Backlinks
When to Use Do Follow:
- For natural editorial links that recommend content.
- When linking to valuable resources or authoritative websites.
- In guest posts, blog articles, and other high-quality content.
When to Use No Follow:
- In sponsored content or paid advertising.
- When linking in blog comments or forums to prevent spam.
- For user-generated content where the trustworthiness of the linked site is unknown.
How to Check If a Link is Do Follow or No Follow
To identify whether a backlink is Do Follow or No Follow, you can inspect the link’s HTML code. Here’s how:
- Right-click on the link and select Inspect.
- Look for the
relattribute in the HTML code.- If it says
rel="nofollow", the link is No Follow. - If there is no
relattribute, it’s a Do Follow link by default.
- If it says
You can also use SEO tools like Ahrefs or Moz to analyze the types of backlinks your site has.
Conclusion
Understanding the difference between Do Follow and No Follow backlinks is critical for crafting a successful backlink strategy. While Do Follow links are essential for improving SEO rankings, No Follow links are equally important for diversifying your link profile and driving referral traffic. A balanced combination of both will help you build a natural and effective backlink strategy in 2024 and beyond.
