Dofollow Links: What They Are and How to Get Them

When SEOs talk about backlinks, one question comes up over and over again: “Was that a dofollow link?” 

It’s a fair question because not every backlink passes SEO value. The difference between dofollow and nofollow links can have a huge impact on your link-building strategy. In this guide, we’ll break down what a dofollow link is, how it plays into your rankings, and the best, proven ways to get them in 2026.

What Are Dofollow Links?

A dofollow link is a regular hyperlink that lets search engines follow it and pass authority from one page to another. So when one website links to another with a dofollow link, Google sees it as you trusting this source, which means that it deserves to rank higher.

Don’t get confused if you see phrases like “do follow link,” “link do follow,” or “SEO dofollow links.” They all mean the same thing. People just spell it differently when describing a hyperlink that transfers SEO value.

Dofollow links have a lot of influence on Google’s ranking algorithm.

⚠️ All links are dofollow unless they carry a rel=”nofollow” or another restrictive attribute (like sponsored or ugc).

Dofollow links in HTML: A code example

Here’s what a dofollow link looks like in code and how it differs from a nofollow one.

✅ Dofollow link (default):

🚫 Nofollow link:

When Google scans the first example, it will follow the link and pass PageRank to serpzilla.com. In the second case, Google can see the link but ignores it for ranking purposes. No authority is passed along.

Pro tip: You don’t need to explicitly add rel=”dofollow” to your links. It’s automatically assumed unless otherwise stated.

The Effects of Dofollow Links on SEO

The impact of dofollow backlinks goes far beyond merely passing PageRank. Let’s see how they affect your search visibility and brand authority in 2026.

1. Direct ranking power

As you’ve already seen, dofollow links are still one of the strongest ranking factors. When an authoritative site links to you, Google uses that as a direct signal that your content is valuable.

Studies back this up repeatedly. For example, in a large-scale analysis of 11.8 million Google search results, Backlinko found that pages ranking as number one have an average of 3.8x more backlinks than lower positions. Most of those links are dofollow, since only these pass PageRank and influence rankings.

2. Authority and EEAT signaling

Google’s focus on EEAT (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) means that links from credible sites have major impact on your SEO link-building. A dofollow backlink from a solid online source sends a signal that you’re a trusted expert in your niche.

In other words, backlinks serve as off-site endorsements. Without them, your claims of expertise might just stay internal. With them, you’re referenced externally, and that referencing matters for E-E-A-T.

3. Crawlability and discovery

Another major SEO success factor. Dofollow links make it easier for Googlebot to find and index new pages on your site. 

Say you publish a new landing page and earn a dofollow link from a frequently crawled site. Think resources like Medium or Reddit, where all sorts of fresh content are posted and indexed within hours. That link acts as a shortcut: search engines will discover and index your page faster than if it had no external signals.

4. The AI Overviews factor

AI Overviews results in Google search.

Google’s AI Overviews have been creeping into search results, and everyone wants to appear there for a reason. Quality dofollow links are your way in.

AI systems rely on signals of authority and reliability when deciding which sites to quote or summarize. Backlinks are a core part of that selection process. Pages referenced by topical, dofollow links from high-trust sources are far more likely to appear in AI-generated answers.

How to Get Dofollow Links in 2026

Feel free to choose between these most effective and ethical strategies to earn dofollow backlinks, starting with the fastest one.

Buying backlinks the smart way with Serpzilla

If you want to move fast and build your dofollow link profile for real impact, Serpzilla is your best ally. It’s an SEO platform and a marketplace with over 100,000 vetted media domains where you can buy dofollow links safely. The tool is complete with metrics like DR, traffic, and topical relevance. This means you won’t have to guess which links will get the job done. 

You can:

• Filter by topic, country, and placement type
• Preview metrics like Ahrefs Domain Rating (DR), Moz Domain Authority (DA), and Majestic Trust Flow (TF)
• Order real article placements with guaranteed dofollow attributes

Basically, it means no more cold-emailing dozens of site owners. Now you can find, evaluate, and purchase dofollow backlinks from solid sources in one place. Transparent tracking helps you assess the impact accurately and quickly. 

Example: A law firm in the UAE used Serpzilla to promote their website through high-quality dofollow backlinks from niche-relevant blogs and media outlets. Within just a few months, their organic traffic grew fivefold, and the site began ranking for competitive legal service keywords across the region.

👉 Start buying through Serpzilla to get your first SEO dofollow links today.

Guest posting on niche sites

Guest posts are also a top way to get highly contextual, quality dofollow backlinks. It’s simple: you contribute useful content to a site in your niche and, in return, include a relevant link back to your page. 

Source: https://www.amraandelma.com/best-backlink-statistics-2025/?utm_source=chatgpt.com. 

Pro tip: Always focus on niche alignment. One dofollow backlink from a DR 50 site in your vertical beats ten irrelevant ones, even if those come from pages with higher authority.

Creating linkable assets

The best dofollow backlinks often come without asking. What do you need to get them? Publish something that genuinely helps your audience, and others happily will cite it. 

Linkable assets come in various forms, but the ones that attract dofollow links typically include:

• Original research. Think studies, surveys, and case data. They often become sources others want to quote. When journalists or bloggers need to support a claim, they will link to your original data. That’s why research reports consistently earn natural dofollow backlinks over time. 
• Free tools. Calculators, generators, or templates attract backlinks because they solve a problem instantly. Every time someone recommends the tool in a blog post or tutorial, they naturally include a dofollow link so readers can access it directly.
• Data visualizations. Everyone loves a good infographic or a simple yet informative chart. They are digestible and highly shareable.
• Interactive calculators or templates. These also get bookmarked and shared a lot. Every “here’s what we used” post becomes another contextual backlink.

Broken link building

A broken link is simply a hyperlink that leads to a dead page, one that returns a 404 error instead of loading content. 

Broken link building turns that problem into an opportunity. Here’s how you can use it:

1. Find broken (404) links on authoritative sites in your niche using tools like Ahrefs or Screaming Frog.
2. Create similar or better content to replace the broken page.
3. Reach out to the site owner, suggesting your resource as a replacement.

You’re helping them fix an error, and the conversion rate for getting a dofollow link is much higher than standard cold outreach.

HARO and journalist outreach

Platforms like HARO (Help a Reporter Out) or Connectively connect you directly with journalists in search of expert quotes. 

If your quote fits the story, you can earn a SEO dofollow backlink from major media outlets and, even more importantly, a trusted mention in front of a huge audience.

Pro tip: Treat journalist outreach like link prospecting. Don’t just pitch your usual way. Research the reporter’s past articles, mirror their writing tone, and offer a concise, quotable insight they can paste in without editing. That will make your chances of being featured much higher. Plus, you’ll start building real relationships with writers who may link to you again later.

Community and forum contributions

SEOs love forums and online communities because that’s where the least obvious (and sometimes the most valuable) dofollow link opportunities are. 

Some of these platforms, like Reddit and Quora, mark most links as nofollow by default, but contextual mentions in high-trust threads or subreddits with relaxed moderation can still generate dofollow backlinks once posts gain traction and get indexed.

And even when the links stay nofollow, active participation builds visibility and drives referral traffic. This often leads to organic dofollow mentions later. 

Pro tip: Before dropping your links, spend a few weeks contributing genuinely. Answer questions, share tools, and interact with users. Once your profile gains karma or credibility, your links are less likely to be flagged as spam. It’s worth the time and effort. 

Best List of High-Quality Dofollow Backlinks for 2026

To help you get started with SEO backlinks, we put together a list of 20 real, high-authority sites that offer dofollows.

Explore the full extended list and metrics in our detailed article on the best dofollow backlink sites. 

Wrap Up

Dofollow backlinks remain one of the most powerful currencies in SEO. They build authority, trust, and discovery potential. As you can see, there are endless resources for scoring dofollows, so just choose the ones that fit your SEO strategy. 

And if you feel overwhelmed by the options, just launch your backlink-building campaign with Serpzilla. It’ll match you with quality dofollow links, saving hours of manual research and outreach.