Dofollow Link: Meaning & SEO Basics

Search engine optimization (SEO) has many terms for links. Dofollow links are a term for normal links that allow web crawlers to follow them. The term often arises concerning link equity and backlinks. This guide covers what you need to know.

What is a Dofollow Link?

A dofollow link is the default type of hyperlink that can be followed by web crawlers so search engines can scan, interpret, and analyze web pages.

Regarding SEO, there are two types of links: dofollow (default) and nofollow. By default, all links are dofollow unless modified to be nofollow.

Dofollow links are valuable for SEO, as they pass on link equity, positively contributing to the linked site’s search engine quality signals.

The Importance of Dofollow Links

Standard links are vital for several reasons:

1. Passing on Link Equity: Dofollow links pass equity from one website to another, thereby helping improve the linked site’s quality signals, which can help it perform better in search engines like Google.
2. Crawling and Indexing: Search engine bots like Googlebot follow dofollow links, which aids in the crawling and indexing of web pages. This helps search engines understand the content and context of pages, contributing to SEO effectiveness.
3. Building Website Authority: High-quality backlinks (links from one site to another) can enhance your site’s perceived authority and credibility in the eyes of search engines.

Creating DoFollow Links

This is straightforward because all links are automatically dofollow unless specified otherwise. Here’s how to create a simple link in HTML:

<a href="https://www.example.com">Visit Example</a>

In this code, the href attribute specifies the link destination, and “Visit Example” is the clickable text known as anchor text.

Although you don’t need to add any specific attribute to create a link, you should still be mindful of where you’re linking. Linking to high-quality, relevant sites can help your SEO, while linking to low-quality or spammy sites can have negative effects.

Best Practices

Here are some important practices to keep in mind when managing links:

1. Use Descriptive Anchor Text: Anchor text should be relevant and accurately describe the linked page’s content. This helps search engines understand the context and can improve your SEO.
2. Link to High-Quality Sites: Aim to link to high-authority, credible sites like reputable newspaper publishers and industry experts whenever possible. This can benefit your SEO and provide value to your users.
3. Balance in Backlink Profile: When it comes to backlinks, a natural mix of dofollow and nofollow links is completely normal. Don’t worry about getting the right ratio of each to your site, as your SEO efforts would best be used elsewhere.
4. Regularly Check Your Links: Ensure your links always work correctly, leading to relevant pages. Broken links can harm user experience and your SEO efforts.

Bottom Line

Dofollow links are an integral part of SEO, playing a significant role in passing link equity, aiding in page indexing, and building website authority. As with all SEO practices, remember that consistency, quality, and focusing on providing user value are the most reliable strategies. ?