When it comes to SEO, a link is not necessarily just a link. There are different types of links, and not all of them have the same effect. One of these link types is ‘dofollow links‘, but what are they? And what sets them apart from other link types?
When it comes to SEO, a link is not necessarily just a link. There are different types of links, and not all of them have the same effect. One of these link types is ‘dofollow links’, but what are they? And what sets them apart from other link types?
A dofollow link is a hyperlink that allows search engines (like Google) to follow the link and thus “crawl” the website it links to.
You can think of it as a bridge connecting two websites. When a search engine follows a dofollow link, it transfers what is known as “link juice” from one website to the other. This “link juice” can improve the ranking of the linked URL in search results.
An example of a dofollow link in HTML code might look like this:
<a href=”https://www.example.com”>this is a dofollow link</a>
The difference between dofollow and nofollow links
Within SEO (search engine optimization), there are typically two types of links when it comes to inbound links: dofollow links and nofollow links. To understand dofollow links, it is important to know the difference between them and nofollow links.
By default, all links are dofollow links unless they are specifically marked as “nofollow.” This means that search engines follow them and pass “link juice” to the linked page. This helps improve the page’s ranking in search results.
In contrast, nofollow links have a specific tag that tells search engines not to follow the link, thereby not transferring link juice to the page in question.
A nofollow link will look like this in the HTML code:
<a href=”https://www.eksempel.dk” rel=”nofollow”>This is a nofollow link.</a>
Why are dofollow links important?
Dofollow links play a central role in SEO as they actively transfer value from one website to another, making them one of the most sought-after elements in link building and search engine optimization.
1. SEO value and link juice
As mentioned earlier, dofollow links transfer “link juice” from the linking page to the chosen URL. This “juice” represents authority and trust that search engines use to rank websites.
The more link juice your page receives from relevant and authoritative sources, the higher it will typically rank in search results.
2. Influence on search results rankings
Search engines like Google use complex algorithms to determine which websites appear at the top of Google. Dofollow links are an important signal that tells search engines that your website is relevant and trustworthy within a given topic.
The more dofollow links you have from quality websites, the greater the likelihood that your page will rank higher on relevant keywords.
3. Building domain authority
Dofollow links help build your website’s domain authority. Domain authority is a measure of the quality and trustworthiness of your website. A high domain authority can have a positive impact on your rankings in search results.
How to get a dofollow link?
Ideally, you should acquire Dofollow links by creating value for other websites and their target audiences. This approach focuses on PR, branding, and falls within the scope of white hat SEO. This means that your SEO strategy follows search engine guidelines.
Ideally, you should acquire dofollow links by creating value for other websites and target audiences. This is a typical PR and branding path and falls within white hat SEO.
This may involve the following methods:
- Guest blogging: Share your expertise by writing guest posts for relevant websites in your industry. The posts give you the opportunity to introduce yourself and your company. You can naturally include a dofollow link to your own website.
- Quality Content: Invest in creating unique and informative content that is relevant to your target audience. When you produce high-quality content, you increase the chance that other websites will naturally link to it because they find it valuable to their own readers.
- Online Communities: Actively participate in online communities and forums within your niche. By contributing valuable information and participating in discussions, you can build a reputation as an expert, which also increases your chances of attracting links from other members.
- Outreach: Contact relevant websites and bloggers and propose a collaboration where they link to your content. This requires in-depth research and a focused effort, but can be worthwhile if successful.
Best practice for dofollow links
When working on building dofollow links to your website, it’s important to follow best practices to ensure your links are effective and contribute positively to your SEO. This is where the “a link is not just a link” mantra should be taken to heart.
Here are some key factors to keep in mind:
1. Relevance of linking websites
Search engines place great importance on the relevance of the websites that link to you. A link from a website that deals with a similar topic/niche as your website is considered more valuable than a link from an irrelevant website.
For example, if you have a webshop that sells sports equipment, a link from a blog about fitness is more relevant than a link from a pet food website.
2. Natural link profile and diversity of link sources
A natural link profile is characterized by a variety of link sources and types. Avoid getting all your links from the same type of website. Or too many websites with too low domain authority. Make sure to have a mix of links from different sources such as blogs, forums, news sites and industry-specific websites.
3. Anchor text and link placement
Anchor text is the text that is visible to the user and that links to your website. It is important to use relevant anchor text that describes the content of the page you are linking to. Avoid using generic anchor texts like “click here” or “read more“. Instead, use specific keywords that are relevant to your page.
Link placement is about where on the page the link is placed. A link in the body of the page is generally more valuable than a link in the footer or in a sidebar. Make sure your links are placed naturally in the content and make sense to the reader.
