What is the difference between dofollow and nofollow backlinks?

Dofollow and nofollow are attributes applied to HTML link tags to indicate to search engines whether a link should pass link equity (also known as link juice) or not. Here's a breakdown of the differences between dofollow and nofollow backlinks:

1. Link equity: Dofollow backlinks pass link equity, which helps improve the receiving page's search rankings by signaling its relevance and authority. Nofollow backlinks, on the other hand, do not pass link equity and have no direct impact on the receiving page's search rankings.

2. Search engine crawling: Dofollow links guide search engine crawlers (also known as bots or spiders) to discover and index new pages and websites. Nofollow links, however, do not influence search engine crawling and are often ignored by crawlers.

3. Link building strategies: Dofollow backlinks are a crucial component of link building strategies, as they directly contribute to improving search rankings. Nofollow backlinks, while not directly beneficial for search rankings, still provide value by increasing brand visibility, referral traffic, and social proof.

4. Attributes in HTML: Dofollow links do not have any specific attribute in the HTML link tag, as they are the default link type. Nofollow links, however, include the rel="nofollow" attribute in the HTML link tag, like this: <a href="https://example.com" rel="nofollow">Link Text</a>.

5. Manipulative link building: Search engines like Google recommend using nofollow links for user-generated content, paid links, or links from social media platforms to prevent manipulative link building and maintain the integrity of search results.

6. Impact on search rankings: Dofollow backlinks have a direct impact on search rankings, as they pass link equity and help improve the authority and relevance of the receiving page. Nofollow backlinks do not directly influence search rankings, but they can still provide indirect benefits, such as increased brand visibility, referral traffic, and social proof.

7. Link diversity: A natural and healthy backlink profile includes a mix of dofollow and nofollow backlinks. An excessive number of dofollow backlinks can appear manipulative to search engines, potentially leading to penalties or lower search rankings.

In summary, dofollow backlinks pass link equity and directly influence search rankings, while nofollow backlinks do not pass link equity and have no direct impact on search rankings. Both types of backlinks are essential for a natural and healthy backlink profile, and it's crucial to maintain a balance between them to avoid appearing manipulative to search engines.