What is a dofollow link?

In the world of search engine optimization (SEO), not all links are created equal. A dofollow link is a standard hyperlink that tells search engines like Google, Bing, and others that they should follow this link to the destination page. More importantly, it signals to these search engines that they should pass on some of the linking website's authority or 'link juice' to the linked website. This transfer of authority is a fundamental part of how search engines determine the trustworthiness and relevance of a website.

When a website links to another with a dofollow link, it's essentially casting a vote of confidence. This vote tells search engines that the linked content is valuable and relevant. Over time, accumulating many high-quality dofollow links from reputable websites can significantly boost a website's search engine rankings, helping it appear higher in search results for relevant queries. Understanding and strategically acquiring dofollow links is a key part of any successful SEO strategy.

Why dofollow links matter for SEO

Dofollow links are a cornerstone of off-page SEO, which refers to all the activities you do outside of your website to improve its search engine ranking. They play a critical role in several ways:

Improving search engine rankings

Search engines use complex algorithms to rank websites. One of the most significant factors is the number and quality of backlinks pointing to a site. Dofollow links are the primary way this 'link juice' or authority is passed. The more authoritative websites that link to your content with dofollow links, the more trustworthy and relevant your site appears to search engines, leading to higher rankings.

Boosting domain authority

Domain Authority (DA) and other similar metrics (like Domain Rating by Ahrefs) are scores developed by SEO tools to predict how well a website will rank in search results. These scores are heavily influenced by the quality and quantity of dofollow backlinks. A higher domain authority often correlates with better search performance and increased visibility.

Driving referral traffic

Beyond SEO benefits, dofollow links also serve their primary purpose: guiding users from one website to another. When a user clicks on a dofollow link on a high-traffic website, they are directed to your site, potentially increasing your referral traffic and introducing new audiences to your content or products.

How to acquire dofollow links effectively

Building a strong dofollow link profile requires a strategic and ethical approach. Here are some effective methods:

Create high-quality, shareable content

The most organic way to earn dofollow links is by producing exceptional content that others naturally want to reference. This includes:

• In-depth guides and tutorials
• Original research and data studies
• Compelling infographics and visuals
• Valuable tools or resources

When your content is truly valuable, other websites will link to it as a resource for their own audience.

Guest posting

Writing and publishing articles on other reputable websites in your industry can be a great way to earn dofollow links. When you guest post, you typically get an author bio where you can include a dofollow link back to your website. Always ensure the guest post is high-quality and relevant to the host site's audience.

Broken link building

This technique involves finding broken links on other websites. You then create content that can replace the missing resource and reach out to the website owner, suggesting your content as a suitable replacement. If they update their link with yours, you gain a dofollow backlink.

Competitor backlink analysis

Tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush allow you to analyze the backlink profiles of your competitors. By seeing who links to them, you can identify potential linking opportunities for your own site. You can then reach out to these websites with your superior content or unique offering.

Best practices for link building

• Focus on relevance and quality: Always prioritize links from websites that are relevant to your niche and have a strong domain authority. A few high-quality links are far more valuable than many low-quality ones.
• Vary your anchor text: Anchor text is the clickable text of a hyperlink. Use a variety of anchor texts (e.g., brand name, exact match keywords, partial match, generic phrases) to make your link profile look natural to search engines.
• Avoid black-hat tactics: Do not buy links, participate in link schemes, or use other manipulative tactics. These can lead to severe penalties from search engines, harming your rankings.
• Monitor your backlink profile: Regularly check your backlinks for any spammy or low-quality links that might be hurting your SEO. You can disavow these links using Google Search Console.

By focusing on creating valuable content and employing ethical link-building strategies, marketing teams can effectively leverage dofollow links to improve their search engine performance and drive more organic traffic to their websites.