If content is king, backlinks are its kingdom’s currency.

They tell search engines which pages deserve authority, visibility, and trust. But not all backlinks are created equal, and the difference between a no-follow and a do-follow link can determine whether your SEO strategy climbs or stalls.

Most marketers know that links matter. They often miss how link attributes like rel="nofollow" or their absence shape how search engines interpret those links.

Should you chase do-follow links? Are no-follow links useless? Will Google ignore your comment section entirely?

In this article, we’ll unpack:

• What no-follow and do-follow links actually are
• Why they exist and how they differ
• What role each plays in your SEO strategy
• And which ones you should prioritize in your backlink outreach

Let’s clear up the confusion and help you build a smarter, more effective link profile.

What Are No-follow Links?

A no-follow link is a hyperlink with a special tag in its HTML code:
<a href="https://example.com" rel="nofollow">Example</a>

That rel="nofollow" attribute tells search engines:

“Don’t pass any SEO value from this page to the one it’s linking to.”

In other words, no-follow links exist to prevent websites from endorsing or transferring authority to another site - intentionally or unintentionally.

Google introduced the no-follow tag in 2005 to combat spammy link tactics.
Before that, people gamed search rankings by posting links in blog comments, forums, and other public places.

No-follow was a way to say - “This link exists, but I’m not vouching for it.”

While no-follow links don’t transfer PageRank or directly impact rankings, they still appear in the source code and are crawlable by search engines. These links are commonly used in:-

• Blog comments and forums – To prevent spam
• Wikipedia, Quora, Reddit – user-generated platforms default to no-follow
• Sponsored content or paid links – Google requires no-follow (or sponsored) attributes here
• Social media platforms – LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook typically no-follow all links

What Are Do-follow Links?

A do-follow link is the default type of hyperlink that allows search engines to crawl the destination page and pass along SEO value (often referred to as “link juice”).

Technically, you don’t need to add anything special to make a link do-follow. As long as it doesn’t include a rel="nofollow", sponsored, or ugc attribute, search engines will treat it as a do-follow link.

These links play a major role in how search engines assess credibility and authority. The more do-follow links you earn from high-quality websites, the more likely your site is to rank higher in search results.

Do-follow links signal trust and endorsement. When a reputable site links to your page, it’s essentially telling Google, “This content is valuable.”

They’re typically found in:

• Editorial articles and blog posts
• News publications and press mentions
• Guest posts (when not marked as sponsored)
• Resource roundups or curated link lists
• Authoritative niche directories

Because they directly influence search engine rankings, do-follow links are the most sought-after type in any backlink strategy.

No-follow vs Do-follow: What’s the Difference?

At a glance, no-follow and do-follow links look the same to users. But under the hood, they behave very differently in the eyes of search engines.

Here’s a side-by-side comparison to break it down:

While do-follow links directly impact search rankings, no-follow links still matter for building a natural backlink profile, driving referral traffic, and gaining visibility across high-authority platforms.

Why Do These Link Types Matter?

Both no-follow and do-follow links play a role in your site’s visibility, but they serve different purposes. Here's how each contributes to your broader marketing and SEO strategy.

Do-follow Links: Essential for SEO Growth

• Pass PageRank — These links transfer SEO authority from the linking site to yours.
• Improve Rankings — Search engines use them to understand which pages deserve to rank higher.
• Act as Trust Signals — A do-follow link from a high-authority site acts as an endorsement.
• Help Build Topical Authority — Links from relevant domains improve your content’s perceived expertise.

In short: If you're trying to improve your rankings, do-follow links are your best friend.

No-follow Links: Underrated but Valuable

• Drive Referral Traffic — A no-follow link on a high-traffic platform can bring visitors, even if it doesn't pass SEO juice.
• Build Brand Awareness — Links from Wikipedia, Quora, or Reddit can expose you to niche audiences.
• Support Link Diversity — A natural backlink profile includes both types of links. All do-follow links can look manipulative.
• Show Up in Crawl Paths — Google still sees these links and may use them for discovery and context.

Bottom line: No-follow links may not move your rankings directly, but they support your brand visibility and link profile health.

So, Why Should You Care?

Because search engines evaluate both the quality and the diversity of your backlink profile.
Focusing solely on do-follow links might give you short-term gains, but incorporating high-quality no-follow links keeps your strategy sustainable, diversified, and risk-free.

Which One Should You Prioritize in Your Backlink Strategy?

Not all links carry the same weight, but that doesn’t mean you should chase only one type. The smartest SEO strategies combine both intentional do-follow link building and strategic no-follow exposure.

Prioritize Do-follow Links for SEO Impact

If your primary goal is to improve search engine rankings, do-follow links should be your core focus. These are the links that pass PageRank and tell Google your content is worth surfacing.

• Aim for links from high-authority domains in your niche.
• Focus on contextual placements - Links within editorial content carry more weight than footers or sidebars.
• Use guest posting, digital PR, and content partnerships as your acquisition channels.

Do-follow links are the foundation of domain authority and organic traffic growth.

Don’t Ignore No-follow Links with Strategic Value

No-follow links might not directly influence SEO, but they’re far from useless.
When placed on high-traffic platforms, they can drive real visitors, build topical relevance, and increase brand visibility.

• No-follow links from sites like Quora, Reddit, Medium, and Wikipedia can still generate qualified traffic.
• They add credibility when your brand shows up across respected sources, even if the SEO value is neutral.
• They help diversify your link profile, which reduces the risk of penalties from unnatural link patterns.

Think of no-follow links as amplifiers for your content, not rank boosters, but audience expanders.

Remember that do-follow links drive rankings, but no-follow links support a credible, healthy profile.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Do no-follow links help SEO in any way?

While no-follow links don’t pass PageRank directly, they still support your SEO strategy in indirect ways. They can bring in referral traffic, increase your brand’s presence across authoritative platforms, and contribute to a natural-looking backlink profile. Google has also stated that it may use no-follow links as “hints” for crawling and indexing, especially when they come from trusted sources like Wikipedia or Reddit.

Can no-follow links still drive traffic?

Absolutely. Just because a link doesn’t impact rankings doesn’t mean it won’t send visitors your way. A no-follow link on a high-traffic site like Quora or LinkedIn can generate significant clicks, especially when placed in a contextually relevant, high-value answer. In many cases, these clicks are more qualified than those from do-follow links in low-quality directories or unrelated blogs.

How can I check if a link is no-follow or do-follow?

You can inspect a link using your browser’s “Inspect” tool (right-click > Inspect) and look at the anchor (<a>) tag. If it includes rel="nofollow", rel="ugc", or rel="sponsored", it’s not passing SEO value. Tools like Ahrefs, MozBar, and Chrome extensions like “NoFollow” can also highlight no-follow links directly on any webpage for quicker scanning.

What’s a UGC or sponsored link? Are they different from no-follow?

Yes, though they serve a similar purpose. rel="ugc" stands for “User Generated Content” and is used for links in places like forums or comment sections. rel="sponsored" is used for paid placements, like ads or affiliate links. Google introduced both in 2019 to provide more granular control, but in practice, they behave similarly to no-follow links in terms of SEO impact.

Should I disavow spammy no-follow links?

Usually, no. Since no-follow links don’t pass PageRank, they’re generally not harmful even if they come from low-quality or irrelevant websites. Google is good at ignoring these. You should only disavow links (whether do-follow or no-follow) if they’re part of a larger pattern of spam or manipulative behavior and you’ve received a manual penalty or warning.

Is it bad to have too many no-follow backlinks?

Not at all. As long as you also have a healthy base of do-follow links. A natural backlink profile includes a mix of both. In fact, if your link profile is made up exclusively of do-follow links, it could raise red flags with search engines. Diversity is a sign of organic growth, not manipulation.