What is the difference between dofollow and nofollow links?

Dofollow and nofollow are attributes that can be assigned to HTML links, affecting how search engines crawl and index those links. Here's a breakdown of the key differences between dofollow and nofollow links:

### Dofollow Links:

1. **Default Attribute**: Dofollow links are the default state of HTML links if no other attribute is specified.
   
2. **Search Engine Crawling**: Dofollow links allow search engine crawlers (like Googlebot) to follow them and pass authority (PageRank) from the linking page to the linked page.
   
3. **SEO Impact**: Dofollow links contribute to the linked page's SEO authority, potentially improving its search engine rankings.
   
4. **HTML Attribute**: Dofollow links do not require any special HTML attribute, as they are the standard way links are counted by search engines.

Example:
```html
<a href="https://example.com/page" target="_blank">Dofollow Link</a>
```

### Nofollow Links:

1. **HTML Attribute**: Nofollow links include the `rel="nofollow"` attribute in the HTML code of the link.
   
2. **Search Engine Crawling**: Search engines recognize the `nofollow` attribute and do not pass authority (PageRank) from the linking page to the linked page.
   
3. **SEO Impact**: Nofollow links do not directly impact the SEO authority of the linked page. They are often used to indicate that the link shouldn't be considered as a recommendation or endorsement.
   
4. **Purpose**: Nofollow is commonly used for user-generated content, paid links, or to link to untrusted content to prevent manipulation of search engine rankings.

Example:
```html
<a href="https://example.com/page" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Nofollow Link</a>
```

### When to Use Each:

- **Dofollow Links**: Use dofollow links when you want to pass authority and improve the SEO rankings of the linked page. This is appropriate for editorial links within content, natural endorsements, and citations.

- **Nofollow Links**: Use nofollow links for links that you do not endorse or trust fully. This includes paid links, user-generated content (like comments and forums), and links to untrusted or sponsored content.

### Importance in SEO Strategy:

- **Link Diversity**: A healthy backlink profile includes a mix of dofollow and nofollow links to appear natural to search engines.
 
- **SEO Best Practices**: Adhere to Google's guidelines on link schemes and paid links, using nofollow where appropriate to avoid penalties.

Understanding the differences between dofollow and nofollow links allows you to implement a balanced link building strategy that supports your SEO goals while maintaining compliance with search engine guidelines.