Follow vs. Nofollow Backlinks: What's the Difference?
Learn the difference between follow and nofollow backlinks, how they work, and why both types of links matter for SEO.
Backlinks are an important part of SEO. When another website links to your website, it creates a backlink that can help people discover your content and find your products or services.
However, not all backlinks work in the same way. You may have heard of two common types: follow backlinks and nofollow backlinks.
But what exactly do they mean, and how are they different?
Let's explain both in simple terms.
What Are Follow Backlinks?
A follow backlink is a regular link that search engines can use to discover and evaluate the relationship between two websites.
When another website links to your website using a normal link without a nofollow attribute, search engines can consider that link when evaluating your website's ranking signals.
For example:
<a href="https://example.com">Visit Example</a>
This is a regular follow link.
Benefits of Follow Backlinks
- Can pass link equity to your website.
- Can contribute to your website's SEO performance.
- Help search engines discover your website.
- Can improve your website's authority over time.
- Can bring referral traffic from other websites.
Follow backlinks from relevant and trustworthy websites can be valuable for your SEO strategy.
What Are Nofollow Backlinks?
A nofollow backlink is a link that includes a special HTML attribute telling search engines that the link should not be treated as a normal endorsement.
It uses the rel="nofollow" attribute.
For example:
<a href="https://example.com" rel="nofollow">Visit Example</a>
In simple terms, a nofollow link tells search engines that the website linking to you does not necessarily endorse your website.
Google generally treats nofollow as a hint rather than an absolute instruction, so it may still consider such links in certain circumstances.
Benefits of Nofollow Backlinks
- Can bring visitors to your website.
- Help people discover your products and services.
- Increase brand awareness.
- Can generate potential customers.
- Provide additional visibility across the internet.
Even though nofollow links generally do not pass ranking credit in the same way as regular links, they can still be useful for your business.
Follow vs. Nofollow Backlinks: Key Differences
Here is a simple comparison:
| Feature | Follow Backlinks | Nofollow Backlinks |
|---|---|---|
| HTML attribute | No special attribute | rel="nofollow" |
| Can pass link equity | Yes, potentially | Generally not treated as a normal endorsement |
| SEO value | Can contribute to ranking signals | May provide indirect SEO benefits |
| Referral traffic | Yes | Yes |
| Brand visibility | Yes | Yes |
| Helps users discover websites | Yes | Yes |
How to Check If a Backlink Is Follow or Nofollow
You can easily check whether a backlink is follow or nofollow.
Method 1: Inspect the HTML
- Open the website containing your backlink.
- Right-click the link.
- Select Inspect.
- Find the HTML anchor tag.
- Check whether it contains
rel="nofollow".
If the link does not contain a nofollow attribute, it is generally a regular follow link.
Method 2: Use SEO Tools
You can also use SEO tools to analyze your backlinks.
Some popular options include:
- Ahrefs
- Semrush
- Moz
- Google Search Console
These tools can help you understand your backlink profile and identify different link attributes.
Which Backlink Is Better for SEO?
Follow backlinks can be more directly useful for SEO because they can pass link equity and contribute to ranking signals.
However, that doesn't mean nofollow backlinks are useless.
For example, a nofollow link from a popular technology website could send hundreds of interested visitors to your website and increase brand awareness.
A healthy backlink profile can include different types of links from relevant websites.
Instead of focusing only on follow backlinks, prioritize earning links from trustworthy sources that genuinely help people discover your business.
Final Thoughts
Understanding the difference between follow and nofollow backlinks is important when building your website's SEO strategy.
A follow backlink is a regular link that can pass link equity and contribute to search engine ranking signals.
A nofollow backlink includes a special attribute that generally tells search engines not to treat the link as a normal endorsement.
Both types of backlinks can help people discover your website, generate referral traffic, and increase your online visibility.
If you're looking to showcase your SaaS, software, or digital product, PublishYourSaaS provides a platform where founders can list their products and improve their online visibility.
Remember: successful link building is not just about getting more backlinks. It's about earning relevant links that bring real value to your website and your audience.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is a follow backlink?
A follow backlink is a regular hyperlink without a nofollow attribute. Search engines can consider it when evaluating link-based ranking signals.
2. What is a nofollow backlink?
A nofollow backlink contains the rel="nofollow" HTML attribute, indicating that the linking website does not necessarily endorse the destination page.
3. Do nofollow backlinks help SEO?
Nofollow backlinks can help with referral traffic, brand awareness, and website discovery. Google also treats nofollow as a hint rather than an absolute directive.
4. Are follow backlinks better than nofollow backlinks?
Follow backlinks can provide more direct SEO value because they can pass link equity. However, nofollow backlinks can still provide valuable traffic and exposure.
5. How can I identify a follow backlink?
Inspect the link's HTML. If it does not contain a rel="nofollow" attribute, it is generally a regular follow link. Also check for other link attributes such as sponsored and ugc.
6. Should I build both follow and nofollow backlinks?
Yes. Focus on earning relevant, natural backlinks from different sources rather than trying to control the exact ratio of follow and nofollow links.