Two websites link to the same article. Both backlinks appear in relevant content, use descriptive anchor text, and direct visitors to the correct page. Yet one link is followed, while the other carries a nofollow attribute.
Does that mean one backlink is valuable and the other is worthless?
Not necessarily.
The difference between dofollow and nofollow links affects how Google interprets hyperlinks, but their SEO value involves more than a single HTML attribute. Link relevance, editorial context, placement, and the relationship between websites also matter.
Understanding these differences helps SEO professionals evaluate backlink profiles, manage outbound links, and avoid mistakes with sponsored content.
Let’s examine how both link types work, what Google’s guidelines say, and when each makes sense.
Dofollow vs Nofollow Links: What’s the Actual Difference?
A dofollow link is a regular hyperlink that search engines can consider as a ranking signal. A nofollow link contains the rel=”nofollow” attribute, which tells search engines that the publisher does not want to give the destination a normal editorial endorsement.
The term dofollow is commonly used in SEO, but it isn’t an official HTML attribute required for links to be followed.
Here’s how they compare:
| Feature | Dofollow links | Nofollow links |
| HTML attribute | No special rel value required | Uses rel=”nofollow” |
| Ranking signals | Eligible for consideration | Generally not credited as normal endorsements |
| Link equity | May contribute ranking value | Google treats the attribute as a hint |
| Referral traffic | Can generate visitors | Can generate visitors |
| Crawling | Can help discovery | Generally not followed from that link |
| Common use | Editorial references | Links without editorial endorsement |
| SEO value | Depends on link quality and context | Can provide visibility, traffic, and other indirect benefits |
The important distinction is that nofollow isn’t an absolute instruction to ignore a link in every situation.
Google treats nofollow as a hint when determining how links should be considered in its search systems.
If you’re auditing existing backlinks, a Dofollow Link Checker can help identify link attributes and distinguish regular followed links from those marked nofollow, sponsored, or UGC.
How Dofollow and Nofollow Links Work in HTML
The technical difference comes down to the attributes attached to an HTML anchor element.
Example of a Dofollow Link
A standard hyperlink looks like this:
<a href=”https://example.com/seo-guide”>
SEO Guide
</a>
There is no qualifying rel attribute, so Google can treat it as a regular followed link.
You don’t need to add rel=”dofollow” or any other special instruction.
This is the normal format for editorial links, internal navigation, and references to useful resources.
Example of a Nofollow Link
A nofollow hyperlink includes an additional attribute:
<a href=”https://example.com/seo-guide”
rel=”nofollow”>
SEO Guide
</a>
The link still works for visitors. Clicking it opens the destination normally.
However, the attribute signals that the publisher doesn’t want Google to treat the hyperlink as a standard editorial endorsement.
Can a Link Have Multiple Rel Attributes?
Yes. HTML links can contain multiple relationship values.
For example:
<a href=”https://example.com/”
rel=”nofollow sponsored”>
Sponsored Resource
</a>
This identifies the link as both sponsored and nofollow.
Google supports combining relevant attributes, which is useful when a link belongs to more than one category.
How Dofollow Links Affect SEO
Followed links can contribute to Google’s understanding of relationships between webpages.
However, their impact depends on more than whether the link contains a nofollow attribute.
Link Equity and Ranking Signals
Link equity is an SEO term describing ranking value that may be conveyed through hyperlinks.
Google’s ranking systems have historically used links to understand relationships and importance across the web.
A followed backlink may contribute to those signals, but Google doesn’t disclose the exact ranking value assigned to individual backlinks.
That means a followed link from a website isn’t automatically valuable simply because it lacks rel=”nofollow”.
Relevance and Editorial Context
Consider two hypothetical backlinks pointing to a technical SEO guide.
The first appears inside a detailed article on a reputable digital marketing website. The author references the guide because it supports an explanation.
The second appears in an unrelated article with awkwardly inserted keyword-rich anchor text.
Both links might technically be followed.
Yet their editorial relevance and usefulness are clearly different.
A sensible backlink evaluation should therefore consider the linking page’s topic, placement, editorial purpose, and whether the link serves readers.
Why Every Dofollow Backlink Isn’t Equally Valuable
Some backlinks appear in low-quality directories, automatically generated pages, or content created primarily to manipulate search rankings.
Others come from genuine editorial references.
Google’s spam policies identify manipulative link-building practices, including buying links for ranking purposes and distributing low-value content containing optimized anchors.
A followed attribute doesn’t make a manipulative backlink safe or valuable.
The objective should be earning relevant editorial references rather than accumulating followed links without considering their source.
Do Nofollow Links Have SEO Value?
Nofollow links are often dismissed because they generally don’t function as ordinary ranking endorsements.
That interpretation overlooks how people discover content and how Google’s handling of nofollow has evolved.
Google’s Nofollow Hint Model
Originally, Google treated nofollow as a stronger instruction not to count a link for ranking purposes.
In September 2019, Google announced that nofollow, sponsored, and ugc would be treated as hints for ranking.
From March 2020, nofollow also became a hint for crawling and indexing purposes.
This doesn’t mean every nofollow link passes ranking value.
Google explains that such links will generally not be followed or considered as ordinary ranking endorsements, although its systems may evaluate them alongside other signals.
Referral Traffic and Brand Exposure
Imagine an industry publication mentions your research and links to it using nofollow.
Even without a conventional followed endorsement, interested readers can visit your website.
Those visits may lead to newsletter subscriptions, product trials, inquiries, or purchases.
A nofollow link can also introduce your content to journalists, bloggers, and other publishers who might later reference it independently.
These are potential business and visibility benefits, not guaranteed ranking improvements.
Why Nofollow Doesn’t Mean Worthless
A relevant nofollow link from a publication read by your target audience may be more useful for referral traffic than a followed link buried on an unrelated website.
When evaluating backlinks, consider who might click them and why the publisher included them.
The HTML attribute is important, but it shouldn’t be the only measure of a link’s usefulness.
Nofollow vs Sponsored vs UGC: Understanding Google’s Link Attributes
Google supports three primary rel values for qualifying outbound links.
Although they share similarities, each communicates a different relationship.
| Attribute | Purpose | Typical example |
| nofollow | Avoid implying normal editorial endorsement | An unendorsed external reference |
| sponsored | Identify advertising or compensated placements | Paid articles and advertisements |
| ugc | Identify user-generated links | Forum posts and blog comments |
Rel=”nofollow”
Use nofollow when you want to link to another website but don’t want to associate your website with it through a normal followed endorsement.
It can be appropriate when the more specific sponsored or UGC values don’t apply.
Rel=”sponsored”
Google recommends sponsored for links created through advertising, sponsorships, or other compensation arrangements.
For example:
<a href=”https://advertiser.example/”
rel=”sponsored”>
Visit Our Sponsor
</a>
This matters particularly for paid guest posts, advertorials, and affiliate arrangements involving compensated links.
Google also accepts nofollow for identifying paid links, although sponsored is preferred.
Rel=”ugc”
UGC stands for user-generated content.
Google recommends this attribute for links appearing in comments, forum discussions, and similar user-submitted material.
For example:
<a href=”https://example.com/”
rel=”ugc”>
Community Resource
</a>
These attributes help communicate the nature of links without preventing visitors from using them.
When Should You Use Dofollow or Nofollow Links?
The right attribute depends on why the link exists, not whether you want to increase or decrease a particular link ratio.
Editorial References
When you naturally reference a useful article, study, tool, or resource, a regular followed link is generally appropriate.
For example, a technical writer linking to official documentation doesn’t need to add nofollow merely because the destination belongs to another website.
Sponsored Content and Paid Guest Posts
Compensated placements require additional care.
If a business pays for an article that includes links to its website, those links should be appropriately qualified.
Google prefers rel=”sponsored” and accepts rel=”nofollow” for paid placements.
Paying for followed links primarily to influence rankings can violate Google’s link-spam policies.
Blog Comments and Community Discussions
Links submitted by users are commonly marked ugc or nofollow.
This helps publishers distinguish user-submitted references from their own editorial recommendations.
Internal Links and Navigation
Ordinary internal navigation links should generally remain followed.
Using nofollow on internal links as a routine method of controlling crawling or distributing PageRank is not a recommended SEO strategy.
If you need to control crawling or indexing, use the appropriate technical mechanism for that specific objective.
Practical Link Attribute Decision Table
| Situation | Recommended approach |
| Natural editorial citation | Regular followed link |
| Paid advertising placement | sponsored |
| Compensated guest post link | sponsored or nofollow |
| Public forum contribution | ugc |
| Link without editorial endorsement | nofollow |
| Standard internal navigation | Regular followed link |
These are practical defaults. The actual relationship between the publisher, destination, and content should determine the final implementation.
Common SEO Misconceptions About Dofollow and Nofollow Links
Several outdated assumptions still influence how websites manage links.
Myth 1: Every dofollow link improves rankings.
A followed link may be considered by search engines, but that doesn’t guarantee a ranking benefit. Relevance, context, quality, and Google’s broader systems matter.
Myth 2: Nofollow links have no SEO value.
Nofollow links can generate referral traffic and brand exposure. Google also treats the attribute as a hint rather than an unconditional exclusion.
Myth 3: External links should always be nofollow.
Normal editorial references don’t automatically require nofollow. Google’s guidelines reserve link qualification for situations where the relationship warrants it.
Myth 4: Websites need an ideal dofollow-to-nofollow ratio.
Google doesn’t prescribe a universal percentage of followed and nofollowed backlinks.
A backlink profile should be evaluated through relevance, link quality, editorial context, and potential spam signals rather than an arbitrary ratio.
Myth 5: Nofollow prevents a page from appearing in Google.
Nofollow isn’t a reliable indexing-control method.
Google may discover the destination through other links or sitemaps. If indexing must be prevented, the website owner should use an appropriate noindex directive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Dofollow Links Better Than Nofollow Links for SEO?
Followed links are generally more directly relevant to conventional link-based ranking signals. However, nofollow links can still provide meaningful referral traffic and exposure. The better link depends on its source, context, and purpose.
Does Google Crawl Nofollow Links?
Google generally doesn’t follow links qualified with nofollow, but it treats the attribute as a hint. The destination may also be discovered and crawled through other sources.
Can Nofollow Links Generate Referral Traffic?
Yes. Nofollow doesn’t stop users from clicking a hyperlink. A relevant nofollow backlink can send visitors to your website just like a followed link.
Should Paid Guest Post Links Be Dofollow?
Paid guest-post links should be appropriately qualified using rel=”sponsored” or rel=”nofollow”. Paying for followed links intended to manipulate rankings can violate Google’s spam policies.
Is Rel=”dofollow” Necessary in HTML?
No. Standard hyperlinks don’t need a dofollow attribute. A normal anchor element without qualifying rel values is generally treated as followed.
