
✅ The Ultimate Guide to Dofollow Backlinks in 2025: How to Build, Check, and Benefit from Them
When it comes to SEO, backlinks are queen—but not all backlinks are equal. Dofollow backlinks remain the gold standard for boosting your site’s authority and rankings.
In this guide, you’ll learn:
What are dofollow backlinks
Why they matter for SEO
How to get high-quality and free dofollow backlinks
How to check them with a tool
Pros and cons of buying dofollow links
Best practices to avoid penalties
Let’s jump in.
🔎 What Are Dofollow Backlinks?
Dofollow backlinks are links that allow search engines to pass link equity (PageRank) from the referring site to yours. Unlike nofollow links, these are SEO-friendly and contribute directly to your rankings.
Example:
<a href="https://yourdomain.com">Your Anchor Text</a>
By default, links are dofollow unless explicitly marked rel="nofollow"
.
🚀 Why Dofollow Links Matter for SEO
Benefit | Impact on Your Site |
---|---|
Increase Domain & Page Authority | Higher trust and credibility in Google’s algorithm |
Improve keyword rankings | Google views these as votes in favor of your content |
Drive targeted referral traffic | Quality backlinks bring engaged users |
Enhanced site reputation | Earned through reputable, relevant domains |
The simple truth: Dofollow backlinks provide the SEO juice your site needs to rank higher.
🎯 How to Get Dofollow Backlinks (White‑Hat Strategies)
Here are proven tactics to earn high-quality dofollow backlinks:
1. Guest Posting on Relevant Blogs
Write well-researched, value-packed posts for reputable sites in your niche. In return, get a dofollow link in your author bio or content.
2. Publish Data-Driven or Unique Research
Content that features original data or tools often earns editorial dofollow links from journalists, bloggers, and industry references.
3. Create Infographics or Visual Assets
Visual content is widely shared and often linked back by others as a creditable resource.
4. Resource Page & Broken Link Outreach
Find pages linking to dead pages and offer your content as a replacement — a smart way to earn valuable dofollow links.
5. High-Quality Directories (Niche-Specific)
Only use trusted directories that offer real value (e.g., industry associations, local business sites).
6. Press Releases & Media Coverage
Publish newsworthy updates or stories—media sites often provide dofollow links if the content is relevant and well-written.
🆓 Free Dofollow Backlinks List: Where to Get Them
Looking to grab some no-cost dofollow links? Here are reliable sources:
Medium (Guest posts) — Dofollow links within published articles
Blogger (BlogSpot) — In-content posts can include dofollow links
Industry forums (relevant ones) — Some forums allow dofollow links on signature or resources pages
Niche directories & listing sites — Look for reputable ones that provide real citations
Quora Spaces — If you’re publishing full articles there, some links may be dofollow depending on settings
Note: Always ensure the context and authority of the site to avoid low-quality or spammy backlinks.
🛠️ How to Check Dofollow Backlinks
Want to audit your backlinks and find who links to you with dofollow?
Use these tools:
Ahrefs – Navigate to Backlinks → Type: Dofollow
SEMrush – Backlink Audit with filter dofollow
Moz Link Explorer – Filter link types to isolate dofollow
Ubersuggest – Offers backlink breakdown by type
Screaming Frog – Crawl your site and filter
<a>
tags without the nofollow attribute
Bonus: Browser Extension
Install the NoFollow Chrome extension, which highlights nofollow links—so dofollow links appear unmarked and easy to spot.
💰 Buying Dofollow Backlinks: Help or Risk?
Some advertisers offer “buy dofollow backlinks” packages. Here’s what to know:
✅ Advantages:
Fast acquisition of links for SEO boosts
Access to high-domain-authority sites
Possible control over anchor text
❌ Risks:
Google considers buying links for SEO a violation of guidelines
Links might be removed or penalized over time
Anchor-text over-optimization can trigger penalties
Bottom line: Buying dofollow links is risky. It’s better to earn links organically for sustainable ranking growth.
🧠 Best Practices for Dofollow Link Building in 2025
Follow these tips to stay safe and effective:
Prioritize relevance — Links should come from sites in your niche.
Diversify anchor text — Use branded, partial-match, and generic phrases.
Maintain link diversity — Mix dofollow with nofollow, UGC, and occasional sponsored links.
Use link velocity wisely — Build links gradually to avoid suspicion.
Audit frequently — Remove toxic backlinks and update your strategy.
Focus on quality, not quantity — A few authoritative links are better than many weak ones.
📚 Dofollow vs Nofollow: What’s the Difference?
Feature | Dofollow Backlink | Nofollow Backlink |
---|---|---|
SEO Value | ✅ Passes Link Juice | ❌ Does not pass Link Juice |
Best For | Ranking, authority building | Traffic, indexing, link profile diversity |
Common Sources | Guest posts, editorial links | Forums, comments, social media |
Anchor Tags | Standard <a> | <a rel="nofollow"> |
🧪 Pro Tips: How to Get Dofollow from Social Platforms
It’s difficult to get dofollow links from mainstream social sites (most links there are nofollow). But you can find creative ways:
Guest posts on Medium – internal dofollow links within your article
Quora Spaces or Publishing – some article links may be dofollow
Blogger / WordPress.com – properly formatted posts can include dofollow links
Relevant niche-specific forums that permit dofollow signatures or resource entries
Always ensure that content is truly valuable and aligns with community guidelines.
🧾 Quick Review: Dofollow Backlinks at a Glance
Question | Answer |
---|---|
What are dofollow backlinks? | Links that pass SEO value |
Do they boost rankings? | ✅ Yes, significant impact |
Can you get them for free? | ✅ Yes (guest posting, outreach) |
Should you buy them? | ⚠️ Only if done carefully (risky) |
How to check them? | SEO tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush etc. |
Best practices? | Relevance, anchor diversity, link velocity |
🏁 Final Thoughts: Build Smart, Rank Better
Dofollow backlinks remain a cornerstone of effective SEO in 2025. They help build authority, drive keyword rankings, and establish trust with search engines.
But the key to success lies in:
Quality over quantity
Relevance and context
Natural link acquisition over shortcuts
Pair dofollow backlinks with a rich ecosystem of nofollow, UGC, editorial and social signals for a balanced, robust link profile that stands the test of time.