How to Get Do follow Links: Boost Your SEO with Quality Backlinks
Do Follow Links Explained: What They Are & Why They Matter for SEO
Introduction: What If I Told You One Link Could Boost Your Google Rankings?
You publish content. You wait. But Google doesn’t budge. Sound familiar?
If you’ve ever wondered why your amazing blog post isn’t climbing the search results, the missing piece might just be do follow links. These aren’t just random hyperlinks—they’re the secret sauce to building authority, climbing rankings, and driving real organic traffic.
In this guide, you’ll learn exactly what do follow links are, how they work, why they’re critical for SEO, and how you can build more of them starting today.
Element | Description | Purpose/Impact |
---|---|---|
Do Follow Link (rel dofollow) | A standard hyperlink that allows search engines to follow and pass authority to the target page | Improves SEO rankings by transferring link juice |
HTML Example | <a href="https://example.com">Link Text</a> | Default format of a dofollow link (no rel="nofollow" needed) |
Do Follow vs No Follow | Dofollow passes SEO value; Nofollow does not | Helps prioritize quality backlinks for SEO growth |
Where to Use Do Follow Links | Internal linking, referencing trusted sources, guest post backlinks | Boosts authority, improves crawlability, and strengthens SEO strategy |
Best Tools to Check Link Type | SEOquake, MozBar, Check My Links, Ubersuggest | Identify if a link is dofollow or nofollow |
How to Build Dofollow Backlinks | Guest blogging, HARO, creating linkable assets, skyscraper technique, outreach | Increases domain authority and improves keyword rankings |
When to Avoid Do Follow Links | Linking to spammy or untrusted sources | Prevents passing link juice to low-quality sites, avoids penalties |
Best Practices | Use contextual, relevant anchor text; avoid excessive linking; link to high-quality sources | Enhances user experience and SEO effectiveness |
What Are Do Follow Links?
Let’s start with the basics—and the do follow meaning.
A do follow link (also written as dofollow link or rel dofollow) is a type of hyperlink that tells search engines to “follow” the link and pass ranking authority (aka “link juice”) to the destination page.
Here’s how it looks in HTML:
rel="nofollow"
attribute? That means it’s dofollow by default.Why Do Follow Links Matter for SEO?
Search engines like Google treat do follow backlinks as endorsements. When a trusted site links to your content using a dofollow link, it’s like a digital thumbs-up that says, “Hey, this page is legit.”
Benefits of Do Follow Backlinks:
- ✅ Improved domain authority
- ✅ Higher search engine rankings
- ✅ More organic traffic
- ✅ Increased trust and visibility
- ✅ Better indexing by search engines
Insert an image of a website gaining rankings with arrows pointing to dofollow backlinks.
Do Follow vs Nofollow: What’s the Difference?
Let’s clear up the confusion between these two hyperlink types:
Attribute | Effect on SEO | Link Juice? | Use Case |
---|---|---|---|
rel="dofollow" | Boosts SEO rankings | ✅ Yes | Guest posts, citations, quality referrals |
rel="nofollow" | Doesn’t affect rankings | ❌ No | Sponsored posts, blog comments, user-generated content |
Even though you’ll often see “dofollow external links” referred to as “do follow,” the HTML doesn’t explicitly require the word “dofollow”—absence of “nofollow” implies it’s dofollow.
How Do You Check If a Link Is Dofollow?
There are a few quick ways to check if a link is dofollow:
✅ Browser Inspect Tool (Manual Method)
- Right-click the link
- Click “Inspect”
- Look for
rel="nofollow"
- If it’s not there—it’s a do follow link
✅ Chrome Extensions (Easier Way)
- SEOquake
- Check My Links
- MozBar
These tools highlight enlaces dofollow (dofollow links in Spanish) and nofollow links in real time on any page.
How to Create Do Follow Links (and Get Others to Link to You)
You can manually create do follow links on your site with clean HTML:
1. Guest Blogging
Offer valuable content to authoritative websites in exchange for a contextual do follow link.
2. Create Link-Worthy Content
Stats, tools, and ultimate guides attract natural backlinks—some of the best SEO currency.
3. Use HARO (Help A Reporter Out)
Respond to media queries and earn dofollow external links from top publications.
4. Resource Link Building
Find articles listing resources in your niche and pitch your content for inclusion.
5. Skyscraper Technique
Find high-performing content with lots of backlinks. Make something better and reach out to the same sites.
Do Follow Link Example in Real Life
Imagine you write an article on “Best AI Tools in 2025” and a high-authority tech blog links to it like this:
<a href=”https://yourblog.com/best-ai-tools”>Best AI Tools in 2025</a>
Boom. That’s a do follow link—and it could potentially boost your ranking overnight if the site has strong domain authority.
Common Myths About Do Follow Links
❌ “You can just buy dofollow links and win SEO.”
Wrong. Google penalizes paid link schemes. Focus on earning links naturally.
❌ “All guest posts provide dofollow links.”
Not true. Some sites set all outbound links to nofollow—always check after publishing.
❌ “Nofollow links are useless.”
Not exactly. While they don’t pass SEO value, they can still bring traffic and brand exposure.
When Should You Use Do Follow Links?
You should use do follow links when:
- Linking to a trustworthy, relevant external resource
- Creating internal links to boost on-page SEO
- Referencing your own high-value content in blog posts
- Including backlinks in outreach and PR campaigns
Use nofollow only when linking to sponsored content or untrusted sources.
Best Practices for Using Do Follow Links
Here are some golden rules:
- ✅ Use relevant anchor text (not “click here”)
- ✅ Place links contextually within the content
- ✅ Ensure links open in the same tab (unless external and user-focused)
- ✅ Don’t stuff too many links on one page
- ✅ Avoid linking to spammy or unrelated sites
1. What are do follow links?
Do follow links (also known as dofollow links) are hyperlinks that tell search engines to follow the link and pass SEO value, also known as “link juice,” to the destination page. These links help improve the search engine rankings of the linked page and are essential for building domain authority.
2. What is the difference between do follow and nofollow links?
The main difference lies in how search engines treat them:
- Do follow links allow search engines to follow the link and transfer SEO authority.
- Nofollow links include a
rel="nofollow"
attribute, instructing search engines not to pass ranking credit.
While both links are valuable, do follow backlinks are especially important for improving search rankings.
3. How can I tell if a link is dofollow?
To check if a link is a dofollow link, inspect the HTML code. If the link does not contain the rel="nofollow"
attribute, it is dofollow by default.
You can also use browser extensions like SEOquake, Check My Links, or MozBar, which highlight dofollow and nofollow links directly on the page.
4. How do I create a do follow link in HTML?
Here’s a simple do follow link HTML example:
<a href=”https://example.com”>Visit Example</a>
Since there’s no rel="nofollow"
attribute, the link is treated as dofollow by search engines.
5. Are do follow backlinks better for SEO?
Yes. Do follow backlinks are crucial for SEO because they help increase your domain authority, improve page rankings, and enhance your visibility on search engines. They signal trust and relevance when earned from reputable websites.
6. Where can I get do follow backlinks?
You can earn do follow backlinks from:
- Guest posting on authoritative blogs
- HARO (Help A Reporter Out) contributions
- Creating link-worthy content like tools, guides, or infographics
- Resource page outreach
- Building relationships in your niche
These strategies help you earn rel dofollow links naturally.
7. What is the importance of dofollow external links?
Dofollow external links pass authority to external pages, which can enhance your site’s credibility when linking to high-quality sources. When used wisely, they build trust with both users and search engines and improve your page’s topical relevance.
8. Can too many do follow links hurt my website?
Too many do follow links to low-quality or unrelated sites can hurt your website by lowering your trust score or triggering a Google penalty. Always link to relevant, reputable sources and avoid spammy link exchanges.
9. Are internal do follow links as valuable as external ones?
Both have value, but in different ways:
- Internal do follow links help with site navigation, crawlability, and distributing link equity across your pages.
- External do follow backlinks from other domains are more powerful for increasing domain authority and improving search engine trust.
10. Can I convert a nofollow link to a dofollow link?
Only the website owner or editor can change a link’s attribute. If you’ve contributed content or earned a backlink and it’s marked nofollow, you can politely request that they make it do follow, especially if your content provides genuine value.
11. What does “rel dofollow” mean in SEO?
Technically, there is no need to write rel="dofollow"
in HTML because all links are dofollow by default unless marked otherwise. However, “rel dofollow” is often used informally to describe the standard link behavior that passes SEO value.
12. Are social media links dofollow or nofollow?
Most social media platforms assign rel="nofollow"
to external links to prevent SEO manipulation. However, some platforms (like Reddit or Medium under certain conditions) may provide lien dofollow (French for “dofollow link”) benefits when your content gains authority or engagement.
13. What are examples of do follow links?
Here are real-world do follow link examples:
- A guest post on a blog where your article includes a link back to your homepage
- A journalist quoting your research and linking to your original article
- A business listing on Crunchbase or G2 that links to your site without
rel="nofollow"
These are all forms of do follow backlinks that help SEO.
14. Do all blogs offer dofollow backlinks in guest posts?
Not always. Some blogs automatically add rel="nofollow"
to all outbound links, including those in guest posts. That’s why it’s important to review their editorial guidelines or check the link after publishing using a dofollow checker.
15. How often should I monitor my do follow backlinks?
You should monitor your do follow backlinks at least once a month using tools like:
- Ahrefs
- SEMrush
- Ubersuggest
- Google Search Console
These tools help you track newly earned links, check anchor text, and verify if your backlinks remain dofollow over time.
Conclusion: Dofollow Links = SEO Superpower
There’s no shortcut to the top of Google—but do follow links are about as close as it gets. When earned honestly and used wisely, they can supercharge your content’s visibility, drive qualified traffic, and boost your authority in any niche.
So, start auditing your current links. Check which ones are dofollow, and make a plan to earn more from trustworthy, high-authority websites. Your rankings will thank you.
What’s your favorite strategy for building do follow backlinks? Drop your thoughts or questions below—I’d love to hear from you!
Top 5 Affordable Backlink Packages to Boost Your Website’s Ranking