What is a Dofollow Link in SEO?
7 min read
A Dofollow Link is a standard HTML hyperlink that does not contain a rel="nofollow", rel="sponsored", or rel="ugc" attribute. By default, every standard hyperlink created on the web is a dofollow link. In search engine optimization, dofollow links act as authoritative votes of confidence: search engine crawlers follow the hyperlink to discover new content, and algorithms transfer PageRank link equity and topical anchor text relevance from the origin webpage directly to the destination URL.
HTML Syntax and Crawl Behavior of Dofollow Links
In HTML specifications, there is no formal rel="dofollow" attribute. The term "dofollow" is an industry convention used to describe the default state of any standard hyperlink:
<!-- Standard Dofollow Hyperlink (Passes PageRank and Equity) -->
<a href="https://b2bsaasseo.agency/glossary/technical-seo">Technical SEO Guide</a>
<!-- Nofollow Hyperlink (Instructs Bots Not to Pass Equity) -->
<a href="https://example.com" rel="nofollow">Third-Party Resource</a>When search engine crawlers encounter a dofollow link in the rendered DOM, they execute two distinct actions:
- Graph Traversal (Discovery): The bot adds the destination URL to its crawl frontier, queueing the page for subsequent crawling and indexation.
- Equity Calculation (PageRank Transfer): The algorithm calculates the authority of the originating page and divides a portion of that equity across all outbound dofollow links, strengthening the search authority of the destination page.
Why Dofollow Backlinks Drive B2B SaaS Rankings
Google algorithms evaluate both the technical quality of your content and the volume of editorial trust placed in your domain by third-party peers:
| Ranking Factor | Contribution of Dofollow Backlinks | Strategic Business Impact |
|---|---|---|
| PageRank Accumulation | Acts as a direct multiplier of technical domain authority. | Allows deep commercial landing pages to rank for highly competitive software keywords. |
| Topical Relevancy Signals | Transfers descriptive anchor text signals directly into search indexing models. | Helps search engines understand the exact software category your product serves. |
| Crawl Budget Acceleration | Authoritative external sites link to your fresh content, triggering rapid bot discovery. | Reduces indexation latency for newly published product features and glossary guides. |
How to Earn High-Authority Editorial Dofollow Backlinks
Securing genuine dofollow links from premier publications requires creating content that serves as an indispensable reference point:
- Publish Original Industry Research and Data Reports: When tech journalists, analysts, and bloggers cite proprietary benchmarks or survey findings, they link directly to the source with editorial dofollow links.
- Build Free Engineering and Productivity Tools: Interactive calculators, schema generators, and lightweight software utilities earn viral dofollow links across developer forums and technical blogs.
- Execute Targeted Digital PR Outreach: Supply reporters at major technology publications with expert commentary and insights on breaking industry news.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an official rel="dofollow" HTML attribute?
No. Dofollow is simply the absence of a nofollow attribute. While writing rel="dofollow" in HTML will not cause an error, search engine bots ignore it and treat the link as a standard hyperlink.
Can too many dofollow links hurt your SEO?
Only if they are acquired through manipulative link schemes, private blog networks (PBNs), or paid link farms. A natural backlink profile containing earned dofollow links from relevant websites accelerates organic performance.
Do internal dofollow links pass PageRank?
Yes. Internal dofollow links are the primary mechanism used to distribute PageRank from authoritative pages (like the homepage) down to deeper product features and commercial landing pages.