What is the difference between do-follow and no-follow links?

The main difference between do-follow and no-follow links lies in how they impact SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and how search engines, like Google, treat them.

1. Do-Follow Links
Definition: A do-follow link is the default type of hyperlink that allows search engines to follow it and pass on link juice (or SEO value) to the linked website.

How Search Engines Treat Them: When search engines encounter a do-follow link, they count it as a vote of confidence for the linked page. This helps the linked page rank better in search engine results because it signals to Google that the content is trustworthy or authoritative.

SEO Impact: Do-follow links directly affect the rankings of the linked website. They contribute to domain authority and page authority. This is why building do-follow backlinks is a crucial part of SEO.

Where You Find Them: Do-follow links are the standard for links found in blog posts, articles, product pages, and most internal links on websites.

Example:

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<a href="https://example.com">Visit Example Website</a>
This is a do-follow link by default.

2. No-Follow Links
Definition: A no-follow link is a hyperlink with a rel="nofollow" attribute. This tells search engines not to pass on link juice to the linked website and not to follow the link.

How Search Engines Treat Them: When a no-follow link is encountered, search engines do not pass any SEO value or "link juice" to the target page. This means that the link does not directly help the linked page rank higher in search results.

SEO Impact: No-follow links do not directly impact the search engine rankings of the linked page. However, they can still contribute in other ways, like driving traffic or creating brand awareness.

Where You Find Them: No-follow links are typically used for user-generated content (such as blog comments, forums), paid advertisements (to prevent passing SEO value from ads), and social media links (like Twitter or Instagram links).

Example:

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<a href="https://example.com" rel="nofollow">Visit Example Website</a>
This is a no-follow link because of the rel="nofollow" attribute.

Key Differences at a Glance:

Feature   Do-Follow Links   No-Follow Links
SEO Impact   Passes SEO value/link juice, can improve rankings   Does not pass SEO value/link juice
Search Engine Crawling   Search engines follow the link to the target page   Search engines do not follow the link
Use Case   Used in blog posts, articles, natural links   Used for ads, paid links, comments, social media
Effect on Rank   Can positively influence the target page's rank   No direct influence on rankings
Why Do We Use No-Follow Links?
To Avoid Manipulation: For paid advertisements, link schemes, or sponsored content, no-follow links ensure that they don't artificially inflate rankings.

User-Generated Content: In cases like comment sections or forums, webmasters use no-follow to prevent spammy or low-quality links from influencing SEO.

Control Over Link Equity: By adding the no-follow attribute, webmasters can control which links they want search engines to follow and which they don't.

Can No-Follow Links Be Valuable?
While no-follow links don't directly impact SEO rankings, they still have value:

Traffic: No-follow links can still drive valuable referral traffic. If someone clicks a link, even though it doesn't impact SEO, it could lead to conversions, sales, or social engagement.

Brand Visibility: Being mentioned on reputable websites, even with no-follow links, can help increase brand exposure and trust.

Diversification: A healthy backlink profile includes a mix of both do-follow and no-follow links. A completely natural backlink profile will have a combination of both types, making the overall link strategy look organic.

In conclusion:

Do-follow links are crucial for SEO as they help improve search rankings.

No-follow links don't directly affect SEO rankings but can still drive traffic and increase visibility.