A dofollow backlink is a link from one website to another that passes "link equity" (also called "link juice") to the destination site. When a website links to yours with a dofollow attribute, search engines like Google follow that link and count it as a vote of confidence for your site.
Dofollow vs Nofollow
There are two main types of backlinks:
- Dofollow links — Pass SEO value. Search engines follow these links and use them as ranking signals. These are the links that directly help improve your domain authority.
- Nofollow links — Do not pass SEO value directly. They have a
rel="nofollow"attribute that tells search engines not to follow the link. Still useful for traffic, but not for SEO.
Why Dofollow Links Matter
Google's algorithm uses backlinks as a key ranking factor. When high-quality websites link to yours with dofollow links, it signals to Google that your content is trustworthy and valuable. This can lead to:
- Higher rankings in search results
- Increased organic traffic
- Faster indexing of new content
- Greater domain authority over time (see how long backlinks take to work)
Key takeaway: Not all backlinks are equal. Dofollow links from established, relevant websites provide the most SEO value.
Where to Get Dofollow Backlinks
Many link-building services exist, but quality varies widely. Services like FatJoe and The HOTH offer guest-post-based links, but pricing can add up quickly. Our network includes sites like NicheTools (DR 50) that provide permanent dofollow backlinks with genuine editorial placement.