Sep 4, 202311 min read

NoFollow vs DoFollow Links: Navigating the SEO Maze

women's face, looking up in confusion - SEO - looking at a search bar - to use to search for follow vs nofollow links

The Crucial Role of Link Building for SEO Success

Ah, link building, the bread and butter of SEO! Imagine the world wide web as a sprawling metropolis, and your website as a cozy little shop tucked away in one of its bustling corners.

Now, link building is like constructing well-lit, signposted pathways that lead customers right to your doorstep. It’s the digital equivalent of a warm, inviting glow that says, "Come on in!"

The more quality pathways (or links) you have to your site, the higher your shop (or site) ranks in the grand directory of the city (or search engine) - in a nutshell.

And let's face it, if you're not on the first page of that directory, do you even exist to your consumers and potential customers?

So, roll up those sleeves and start building those links and pathways! Your business deserves all the foot traffic it can get.

Overview of What NoFollow and DoFollow Links Are in SEO

Alright, we're diving in now into understanding what NoFollow and DoFollow links are, which could be considered the the yin and yang of the SEO space. Buckle up!

Picture this: DoFollow links are the golden tickets, the ones that pass on 'link juice' (link value or link equity) and boost the recipient site's search engine ranking.

It's like getting a thumbs up from a popular kid in school; it boosts your street cred and makes you more noticeable.

On the flip side, NoFollow links are the secret handshakes. They say, "Hey, I'm linking to this site, but I'm not vouching for it." Don't count my link and I am not endorsing this site. Bummer!

Essentially, the types of links don’t pass on any (what is called in the SEO space) "link juice", but they're still crucial for a natural and diverse link profile.

You see, in the eyes of the mighty search engines, a mix of DoFollow and NoFollow links makes your site seem more genuine and less like a robot trying to game the system.

So what that means is you should never have a 100% DoFollow link profile for any site. It will trigger too many flags for Google's system which could result in further analysis by their team to see if your site is trying to game the system.

Remember, balance is key! Just like a well-rounded diet, a mix of both link types is essential for your website's health and search engine ranking.

Differences Between NoFollow and DoFollow Links

In the world of SEO, understanding the differences between NoFollow and DoFollow links is crucial for the success of your website.

These two types of links have distinct characteristics and effects on your website’s performance in search engine results. Let's break it down:

A. SEO Impact: DoFollow links pass on SEO juice, thereby helping in improving the page authority of the linked page, whereas NoFollow links do not have a direct impact on SEO as they do not pass on any link juice.
B. Passing of Link Juice: Link juice, or SEO value, is only passed through DoFollow links. These links act as a vote of confidence from one site to another, while NoFollow links, on the other hand, are like a handshake with gloves on - there’s contact, but no SEO value is transferred.
C. Influence on Ranking: Since DoFollow links pass on link value and help in building site authority, they have a direct influence on search engine rankings. Google's PageRank system was designed on the foundations of links.

NoFollow links, however, DO NOT directly affect your site’s ranking, but they are essential for creating a natural link profile (in Google's eyes), which indirectly influences organic search performance.

Understanding these nuances is key to developing a robust SEO strategy.

Understanding How Link Juice Flows

Ah, the elusive "link juice"! Let's unravel this mystery shall we.

Link juice, also known as "link equity", is the SEO value passed from one page to another through hyperlinks (when using follow attributes).

It’s like the lifeblood of SEO, flowing through the veins of your website and nourishing your pages with ranking power.

Here's how it works:

Passing the Juice: When one webpage links to another, it passes so called 'link juice' or value to that page (it endorses it). The more link juice a page has (# of links), the higher its authority can be calculated, consequently, its potential to rank higher in search engine results.
DoFollow Links: These are just regular hyperlinks that pass link juice from one page to another, helping to boost the recipient page's authority and search engine ranking. Think of DoFollow links as recommendations or votes of confidence from one site to another.
NoFollow Links: These are links with a rel="nofollow" tag that tells search engines not to consider the link for SEO ranking purposes. It’s like saying, "I'm linking to this, but I'm not endorsing the page I am linking too." NoFollow links do not pass link juice, but they are still important for creating a natural link profile and driving traffic.

Understanding Google's Pagerank System

Google uses an algorithm called PageRank to determine the importance of a webpage. It's less profound today as there are so many more signals related to ranking, but the foundations still stand true.

Google's Pagerank System for evaluating hypertext links on the web (you don't need to know this unless you really want too study the original paper published at Stanford). If you feel ambitious and want to read up on the mathematics of Pagerank, feel free, but it's not essential to understanding the follow vs nofollow links at this level.

Essentially,

The more high-quality DoFollow links a page has, the higher its PageRank.
Link value plays a crucial role in determining a page’s PageRank.

Link Juice Distribution: The link juice a page can pass is divided among all the links on that page. For example, if a page with high authority links to ten different pages, the link juice passed to each of those pages is only one-tenth of the total.

Link Juice Conservation: Some webmasters try to conserve link juice by using NoFollow links for external sites and DoFollow links for their own pages. This can sometimes be called "link sculpting" - which essentially is manipulating the flow of links to ensure you pass the highest amount of value internally to your site pages.

Google however has advised against this practice, stating that it is better to work on building a natural mix of DoFollow and NoFollow links for your site profile. Link where it makes sense and improves the user journey.

While link equity is crucial for successful ranking influence, it's not the only factor in Google's algorithms today. Relevance, content quality, and user experience are also incredibly important for ranking well in search engine results.

Understanding DoFollow Links

Embarking on the journey of SEO can often feel like learning a new language, and one of the first terms you'll encounter is 'DoFollow links'.

These are the building blocks of the internet, the golden tickets that help webpages climb the ranks of search engine results.

normal link juice transfer - outbound links

Understanding DoFollow links is fundamental to any successful SEO strategy as they play a crucial role in building your website's authority and improving its search engine ranking.

A. Definition of DoFollow Links

DoFollow links are the default type of links that pass 'link juice' or SEO value from one page to another. Essentially, they act as a vote of confidence from one site to another. Note: All links are DoFollow unless marked as NoFollow.

B. Importance of DoFollow Links for SEO

Passing Link Juice:

DoFollow links pass on link juice, helping to boost the page authority and, consequently, the search engine ranking of the linked page.

Building Authority:

Receiving DoFollow links from high-authority sites signals to search engines that your content is trustworthy and authoritative, which can improve your site's overall SEO.

C. Best Practices for Acquiring DoFollow Links

Creating High-Quality Content:

Produce original, well-researched, and valuable content that others naturally want to link to. This is the most organic way to acquire DoFollow links.

Guest Posting:

Writing guest posts for reputable websites in your niche can earn you DoFollow links back to your site. Just ensure that the site you are posting on provides DoFollow links.

Building Relationships with Influencers:

Networking and building relationships with influencers and authoritative figures in your industry can lead to them sharing and linking to your content, resulting in DoFollow links.

Understanding NoFollow Links

A. Definition of NoFollow Links

NoFollow links are hyperlinks with a rel="nofollow" tag that tells search engines not to consider the link for SEO ranking purposes. It's like saying, "I'm linking to this, but I'm not endorsing it."

B. When to Use NoFollow Links

Paid Links:

When a link is part of a paid advertisement or sponsorship, it should be marked as NoFollow to ensure search engines know you haven't paid for the link itself, IE - SEO juice.

User-Generated Content:

Content created by users, like guest posts or wiki entries, should often be marked as NoFollow to avoid being penalized for links you don't entirely trust.

Comments and Forums:

Links in comments or forum posts should be NoFollow to prevent spam and protect your site’s reputation. This discourages spammers from littering your site with low-quality links

C. How to Create NoFollow Links

To create a NoFollow link, simply add the rel="nofollow" tag to the HTML code of the link. For example: <a href="http://example.com" rel="nofollow">Example</a>

D. Impact of NoFollow Links on SEO

While NoFollow links don't pass on SEO juice or directly impact your search engine ranking, they are essential for a balanced and natural link profile. Having a mix of DoFollow and NoFollow links shows search engines that your site isn't trying to manipulate the system, which, in the long run, can positively affect your SEO.

Strategies for a Balanced Link Profile

A. Importance of a Balanced Link Profile

A balanced link profile is essential for maintaining your website's credibility and authority in the eyes of search engines. It signals that your site is acquiring links naturally and not trying to manipulate the system.
A mix of DoFollow and NoFollow links, from a variety of sources, and with diverse anchor texts, helps to avoid penalties and improve your site's overall SEO performance.

B. Tips for Achieving a Balanced Link Profile

Diversify Your Link Sources:

Acquire links from a variety of sources, including blogs, forums, news sites, and social media. This shows search engines that your content is valuable and relevant to a broad audience.

Monitor Your Link Profile:

Regularly audit your link profile to ensure a healthy mix of DoFollow and NoFollow links, and to identify and remove any toxic or spammy links that could harm your SEO.

Be Mindful of Anchor Text Distribution:

Use a variety of anchor texts, including branded, generic, and keyword-rich anchors, to create a natural and diverse link profile. Over-optimization of anchor text can lead to penalties.

Incorrect use of DoFollow and NoFollow Links can Lead to Several Pitfalls:

Search engines like Google penalize websites that manipulate links to gain higher rankings.

If you are caught buying or selling DoFollow links or using NoFollow links where DoFollow should be used, it could result in a penalty by Google, so BE CAREFUL!

Watch this carefully and ensure that any link building strategies, outreach or reclimation your SEO team is working on are VERY careful.

Loss of Trust: Misusing DoFollow and NoFollow links can lead to a loss of trust from both search engines and users. For example, if you mark all external links as NoFollow, it can be seen as an attempt to hoard 'link juice', which can lead to a loss of trust from other websites and your audience.
Poor User Experience: Incorrectly using NoFollow links can lead to a poor user experience. For example, if you use a NoFollow link for a resource that is highly relevant and valuable to your audience, it may be seen as a lack of endorsement for that resource, leading to confusion and a lack of trust.
Loss of Link Juice: If you incorrectly mark valuable external links as NoFollow, you miss the opportunity to pass link juice to those websites. This can lead to a loss of potential relationships and partnerships with other websites.
Imbalanced Link Profile: An imbalanced link profile with too many DoFollow or NoFollow links can be a red flag to search engines and may affect your website's authority and rankings.
Ineffective SEO Strategy: Misusing DoFollow and NoFollow links can lead to an ineffective SEO strategy. For example, if you acquire too many low-quality DoFollow links, it may not significantly improve your rankings and may even harm your website's authority.
Damage to Relationships: Marking links as NoFollow when they should be DoFollow can harm relationships with other businesses or influencers, as it may be seen as a lack of endorsement or trust.

Decoding Links: The Final Tally on Follow vs. NoFollow

Link building is more than just gathering a plethora of backlinks from anywhere on the web (and stay away from cheap link building services - which are usually scams and will get you into link profile penalty trouble down the link).

It's about ensuring a natural, diverse, and authoritative profile that resonates with search engine algorithms. A healthy link profile can bolster your website's credibility, enhance visibility, and foster organic growth.

Diversify Your Links: Just like a diversified stock portfolio provides balance, ensure your links come from a wide range of sources including blogs, news sites, forums, and more.
Prioritize Quality Over Quantity: A few high-authority and relevant backlinks can outweigh hundreds of low-quality ones. Focus on securing links from credible, relevant sources.
Be Wary of Quick Fixes: Avoid schemes or services that promise hundreds of links overnight. These can often lead to spammy or toxic links that can hurt your site's reputation and rankings.
Regularly Monitor & Audit: Use tools to keep an eye on your link profile. Regularly remove or disavow toxic or undesirable links.
Natural Anchor Text Distribution: Over-optimized anchor text can be a red flag. Ensure your anchor texts are varied and appear natural.
Engage in Genuine Outreach: Build relationships in your industry. Guest posts, collaborations, and authentic engagements can pave the way for organic link building.

Keep in mind, link building isn't a race to the finish; it's a long-distance run.

To secure enduring outcomes, one needs perseverance, a steady effort, and a well-thought-out strategy.

If you are looking for trusted link building services, with an agency that has over 30 years experience in link strategies, link acquisitions and more - give us a call to discuss your project with our experts.

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