What Is The Difference Between Dofollow And Nofollow Links?
So you’re curious about the difference between dofollow and nofollow links, huh? Well, you’ve come to the right place! In the vast world of website optimization and search engine rankings, these two types of links play a crucial role in determining the credibility and authority of a website. But what exactly sets them apart? Let me break it down for you in the simplest terms possible. With dofollow links, search engines like Google recognize and follow these links, passing on the valuable “link juice” from one webpage to another. On the other hand, nofollow links are specifically designed to tell search engines not to follow or give any weight to that particular link. In this article, we’ll explore the significance of both types of links and how they can impact your website’s visibility and ranking. So sit tight, and let’s unravel the mystery behind dofollow and nofollow links together!
Learn moreabout how to build links for your business..
Definition of Dofollow and Nofollow Links
Dofollow Links
Dofollow links are hyperlinks that are coded in a way that allows search engine crawlers to follow them and pass on link authority or “link juice” to the website being linked to. These links have an HTML attribute of “rel” that is set to “dofollow,” indicating to search engines that they should crawl and index the linked pages. Dofollow links are the default type of link, and unless specified otherwise, all links on a webpage are considered dofollow.
Nofollow Links
Nofollow links, on the other hand, are hyperlinks that contain an HTML attribute of “rel” set to “nofollow.” This attribute tells search engine crawlers not to crawl or pass on any link authority to the linked website. Nofollow links were introduced by search engines to combat spam, reduce the influence of paid links, and prevent the manipulation of search engine rankings. While nofollow links still allow users to click on the link and visit the linked page, they do not contribute to the link authority or SEO rankings of the linked website.
Attributing Link Juice
Dofollow Links
As mentioned earlier, dofollow links pass on link juice to the linked website. When a search engine crawler follows a dofollow link, it treats it as a signal of endorsement or recommendation from the referring website. The link juice from these dofollow links influences the search engine’s perception of the linked website’s authority and relevance, contributing to its overall search engine rankings.
Nofollow Links
In contrast to dofollow links, nofollow links do not pass on link juice. Search engine crawlers do not consider these links as signals of endorsement or recommendation. Therefore, nofollow links do not directly impact the linked website’s search engine rankings. However, it’s worth noting that even though nofollow links do not contribute to SEO rankings, they can still be valuable for driving traffic and generating awareness for a website.
Search Engine Crawlers and Indexing
Dofollow Links
Search engine crawlers, also known as bots or spiders, are responsible for navigating the internet and discovering webpages. When a crawler encounters a dofollow link, it follows the link, visits the linked webpage, and indexes its content. Dofollow links play a crucial role in ensuring that search engines can effectively crawl and index websites, allowing them to appear in search engine results pages (SERPs).
Nofollow Links
While search engine crawlers can still identify and follow nofollow links, their primary purpose is to prevent the transfer of link authority. When a crawler encounters a nofollow link, it will still visit the linked webpage, but it will not pass on any link juice to that page. This helps search engines understand which links should not influence search engine rankings while still allowing them to discover and index the linked content.
Impact on SEO
Dofollow Links
Dofollow links have a significant impact on SEO. As search engine crawlers follow these links and consider them as signals of endorsement, the more high-quality and relevant dofollow links a website has, the higher its chances of ranking well in search engine results. Dofollow links from authoritative and trustworthy websites can boost a website’s visibility, credibility, and organic rankings. However, it’s essential to ensure that the dofollow links are obtained naturally and from reputable sources to avoid any penalties from search engines.
Nofollow Links
While nofollow links do not directly impact SEO rankings, they can still play a valuable role in an SEO strategy. Nofollow links can drive traffic to a website, increase brand exposure, and generate user engagement. Additionally, having a mix of both dofollow and nofollow links can make a website’s backlink profile look more natural and organic, which can be beneficial for SEO purposes.
User Experience and Engagement
Dofollow Links
Dofollow links can enhance user experience and engagement by providing users with valuable and relevant content. When users come across a dofollow link on a webpage, they can navigate to the linked page to learn more or find additional resources. Dofollow links that point to high-quality and authoritative sources can build trust with users, as they know they are being directed to reliable information or reputable websites.
Nofollow Links
Nofollow links can also contribute to a positive user experience. While these links may not directly impact SEO rankings, they can still be valuable for users looking for additional information or resources related to the content they are consuming. Nofollow links can lead users to relevant blogs, forum discussions, or social media posts that provide further insights or different perspectives on a topic. By including these nofollow links, website owners can enhance the user experience and provide users with a comprehensive resource hub.
Link Building Strategies
Dofollow Links
When it comes to link building strategies, obtaining dofollow links from authoritative and relevant websites is a common goal. Some effective strategies to acquire dofollow links include:
- Guest Blogging: Contributing high-quality, informative articles to authoritative websites in exchange for dofollow links in the author bio or within the content.
- Influencer Outreach: Collaborating with influencers or industry experts to secure mentions or backlinks on their websites or social media platforms.
- Content Marketing: Creating valuable and shareable content that naturally attracts dofollow links from other websites.
- Broken Link Building: Finding broken links on relevant websites and offering replacements with your own content, which includes dofollow links.
- Participating in Online Communities: Engaging in discussions and sharing valuable insights on forums, Q&A platforms, and social media platforms to establish credibility and receive dofollow links.
Nofollow Links
While nofollow links may not carry the same SEO value as dofollow links, they can still be part of an effective link building strategy. Some strategies to acquire nofollow links include:
- Social Media engagement: Sharing content on social media platforms and engaging with users to increase brand visibility and generate nofollow links through social media shares and mentions.
- Commenting on Blogs: Leaving thoughtful comments on relevant blog posts with a link back to your website can generate nofollow links and contribute to online discussions.
- Participating in Online Communities: Similar to the dofollow link-building strategy, actively engaging in online communities can lead to nofollow links as users discover and value your contributions.
Social Media Platforms and Link Attributes
Dofollow Links
Social media platforms generally do not utilize dofollow links due to the potential for spam and manipulation. Most social media platforms automatically add a nofollow attribute to the links shared in posts, comments, and profiles. However, some exceptions may exist, such as LinkedIn, which allows users to add dofollow links to their profiles.
Nofollow Links
Nofollow links are prevalent on social media platforms. Major platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram add a nofollow attribute to all shared links, regardless of the content or source. This prevents these links from directly influencing search engine rankings and ensures a fair and controlled environment for users.
Determining Link Attributes
HTML Attribute
The link attributes, including “rel” (relationship), determine whether a link is dofollow or nofollow. The “rel” attribute can have different values, but for dofollow links, it is typically left blank, as it is the default behavior. On the other hand, for nofollow links, the “rel” attribute should be explicitly set to “nofollow” to indicate that search engine crawlers should not follow the link or pass on any valuable link juice.
Adding Rel Attribute
To add the “nofollow” attribute to a link, one can use HTML by adding the attribute within the anchor tag. For example:
This HTML code sets the link to “www.example.com” as a nofollow link.
How to Create Dofollow and Nofollow Links
Dofollow Links
Creating a dofollow link is relatively straightforward. By default, when you create a hyperlink in HTML or using a content management system (CMS) like WordPress, it will automatically be a dofollow link. As long as the “rel” attribute is left blank or omitted when adding the link, search engine crawlers will follow and count it as a dofollow link.
Nofollow Links
To explicitly create a nofollow link, the “nofollow” attribute needs to be added to the HTML code. This can be done manually by including the attribute within the anchor tag, or some CMS platforms have plugins or settings that allow users to easily designate links as nofollow.
Best Practices for Using Dofollow and Nofollow Links
Contextual Relevance
Both dofollow and nofollow links should be used in a way that provides value and remains contextually relevant to the content where they are placed. Linking to reputable sources, relevant content, or complementary resources can enhance the user experience and improve the overall credibility of the website.
Link Diversity
Maintaining a diverse backlink profile is essential for a healthy and natural-looking link profile. It’s beneficial to have a mix of dofollow and nofollow links from various sources to avoid being flagged for unnatural linking practices. A well-rounded backlink profile signals to search engines that the website is part of a genuine online ecosystem.
Link Quality
Quality should always take precedence over quantity when it comes to links. It is crucial to prioritize obtaining high-quality dofollow links from authoritative websites rather than focusing solely on acquiring numerous low-quality or spammy dofollow links. When it comes to nofollow links, they can still contribute value through traffic and brand exposure, but they should also come from trusted and relevant sources.
Content Spinning
Content spinning, or the practice of creating multiple versions of the same content with minor variations, is not a recommended approach for creating links. Search engines have become increasingly sophisticated in detecting spun or duplicate content, and such practices can result in penalties or a negative impact on SEO.
Link Monitoring
Regularly monitoring and analyzing the performance of dofollow and nofollow links is necessary to optimize their effectiveness. Monitoring metrics such as referral traffic, rankings, and user engagement can provide insights into which links are driving valuable results and which may need adjustments or further optimization.
In conclusion, understanding the difference between dofollow and nofollow links is crucial for any website owner or SEO practitioner. Dofollow links allow search engine crawlers to follow and pass on link juice, impacting search engine rankings, while nofollow links do not directly contribute to rankings but can still drive traffic and provide a positive user experience. By implementing a well-rounded link building strategy, utilizing best practices, and carefully managing link attributes, website owners can enhance their SEO efforts and optimize the overall user experience.
