What Is a Dofollow Backlink and Why It Matters for SEO

At its core, a dofollow backlink is the most powerful kind of link you can get. Think of it as a genuine vote of confidence from one website to another. It’s the default setting for any hyperlink, and it signals to search engines like Google that the site being linked to is a credible, valuable resource.

What a Dofollow Backlink Actually Does

Picture the web as a giant, interconnected map of credibility. When a respected site links to your SaaS platform with a standard dofollow link, it’s not just sending visitors your way. It’s passing on a bit of its own authority.

In the SEO world, we often call this transfer of authority "link equity" or (more casually) "link juice." This endorsement is a major trust signal for search engine algorithms. The more high-quality dofollow links pointing to your site, the more authoritative you appear, which directly helps you rank higher for the keywords your customers are searching for.

Dofollow vs. Nofollow: An Important Distinction

To really get why dofollow links are so important, you have to understand their opposite: the nofollow link. A nofollow link has a special HTML tag (rel="nofollow") that essentially tells search engines, "Don't count this as a vote." While these links can still bring valuable referral traffic, they don't pass on that all-important link equity.

The bottom line is this: A dofollow link is an enthusiastic endorsement that boosts your SEO. A nofollow link is more like a casual mention that doesn't carry the same weight with search engines. For building your site's authority, dofollow links are what you're after.

To make this crystal clear for any SaaS founder diving into SEO, here’s a simple breakdown of how these two link types stack up.

Dofollow vs Nofollow Links At a Glance

This table offers a quick look at the fundamental differences between dofollow and nofollow backlinks and how they affect your SaaS SEO strategy.

Attribute	Dofollow Link	Nofollow Link
Primary Function	Passes SEO authority ("link equity") to the linked page.	Instructs search engines not to pass SEO authority.
SEO Impact	Directly helps improve search engine rankings and domain authority.	Has little to no direct impact on search rankings.
Default Type	Yes, all standard links are dofollow unless modified.	No, requires a specific `rel="nofollow"` tag in the HTML.
Best For	Building website authority and credibility with search engines.	Citing sources without endorsement or for paid links.

Understanding this distinction is the first and most critical step in building a backlink profile that not only drives traffic but also builds lasting authority in your market.

How Dofollow Backlinks Fuel Your SEO

Let's get right to it. A dofollow backlink is the default, standard type of link you see on the web. At its core, it's a vote of confidence from one website to another.

Imagine your website's authority is a bucket of water. Big, established sites are like massive reservoirs, full of authority built up over years. A dofollow backlink is an open pipe that lets some of that authority—what SEOs call "link equity" or "link juice"—flow from their reservoir into your bucket.

When Google's web crawlers find a dofollow link pointing to your SaaS, they take it seriously. It’s a powerful signal that your content is valuable, trustworthy, and relevant. This endorsement is a massive factor in how search engines decide to rank your pages.

The Flow of Link Equity

This concept of "link equity" is what makes the web, well, a web. It’s how search engines understand the relationships between sites and figure out who deserves the top spots in search results. Every dofollow link you earn contributes to your site's overall authority, helping you climb the rankings.

So, what does this look like in the code? It's just a standard link. There are no special rel attributes telling search engines to ignore it or treat it differently.

Because it's the default, it’s the most natural way for one site to vouch for another. It's an unfiltered signal of trust.

The connection between these links and high rankings is undeniable. A dofollow backlink is a hyperlink that passes SEO value, and it’s still one of the most important ranking signals Google uses. One study analyzing nearly 12 million search results found that the #1 result has, on average, 3.8x more backlinks than the pages ranking #2 through #10. You can dig deeper into how these links directly influence rankings and visibility.

Why Quality Crushes Quantity

But here’s the catch: not all links are created equal. A single dofollow link from a major industry publication like TechCrunch carries far more weight than a hundred links from obscure, spammy directories. Search engines are sophisticated enough to know the difference.

A single, editorially placed dofollow backlink from a high-authority website can provide a more significant SEO lift than dozens of links from spammy or irrelevant sources. This is the core principle of modern link building.

This is why your focus has to be on quality. Building a strong backlink profile isn't about collecting as many links as you can; it's about earning meaningful endorsements from the right websites. By prioritizing relevance and authority, you build a solid foundation that supports your long-term growth. Earning these valuable links takes time and effort, but the payoff is a stronger, more resilient presence in search results.

Dofollow Is Just the Beginning: Understanding Other Link Attributes

While a dofollow link is the default setting and the one we're usually aiming for, it’s not the only type of link out there. To get a real handle on your backlink profile, you need to understand the other "attributes" that can be attached to a link.

Think of these attributes—officially known as rel attributes—as little notes for search engines. A standard, authority-passing dofollow link doesn't have a special note. But other links do, and they tell Google's crawlers exactly how to treat them.

Nofollow: The Original "Don't Count This" Tag

The first and most common attribute you’ll run into is rel="nofollow". Google originally rolled this out as a way to fight the rampant comment spam that was plaguing the web. It gave site owners a tool to stop spammers from gaming search rankings by dropping links everywhere.

When you add rel="nofollow" to a link, you're telling search engines, "Go ahead and follow this link to see what's there, but don't pass any of my site's authority or 'link equity' to it." It effectively neutralizes the link as a direct ranking signal.

A nofollow link is like a friend giving you directions to a restaurant but refusing to give an opinion on it. They’ll help you find the place, but they aren’t vouching for the quality of the food.

You'll see nofollow links all over the place. Most links in social media bios, forum signatures, and on massive user-driven sites like Wikipedia are automatically tagged this way. In the code, it’s a simple addition:

<a href="https://your-saas-website.com" rel="nofollow">Check out this cool tool</a>

This is where the flow of authority—the "link juice" we talked about—gets cut off.

As you can see, a dofollow link acts like a pipe, sending authority from Site A to Site B. The nofollow attribute essentially puts a cap on that pipe.

Getting More Specific: Sponsored and UGC Links

Over time, Google realized the web had gotten more complex. The single nofollow tag wasn't quite enough to describe all the different kinds of links. So, they introduced two more specific attributes to give them clearer signals.

Sponsored Links (rel="sponsored"): This one is straightforward and essential for transparency. You must use this attribute for any link you've been paid to place. This covers everything from banner ads and paid product reviews to affiliate links. It’s Google’s way of identifying commercial relationships so paid links don't artificially boost search rankings.
- Here's the code: <a href="https://your-saas-website.com" rel="sponsored">Our top partner</a>
User-Generated Content Links (rel="ugc"): This tag is for any link created by a user, not the site owner. Think of links in blog comments or posts on a public forum. It tells search engines, "This link wasn't editorially placed by me, but by one of my users."
- And the code: <a href="https://your-saas-website.com" rel="ugc">A user recommends this</a>

It’s important to remember that having a mix of these link types is completely natural. While earning high-quality dofollow links should be your main focus, any healthy, real-world backlink profile will have nofollow, sponsored, and UGC links, too. In fact, a profile made up of 100% dofollow links would look pretty suspicious to Google.

The Real Business Impact of Dofollow Links

It's easy to get lost in the technical weeds of SEO. But for a SaaS founder, a strong dofollow backlink profile isn't just a number on a dashboard—it's a core business asset that drives real growth.

Once you move past the theory of what is a dofollow backlink, you start to see the tangible results. Every high-quality link you earn helps build a sustainable customer acquisition engine, turning your SEO work into actual sign-ups, leads, and revenue. This is about building a more resilient, profitable company, not just chasing a high score.

Fueling Your Organic Growth Engine

The most obvious impact of a healthy backlink profile is a boost in your keyword rankings. When Google sees other authoritative sites pointing to your content, it sees you as more credible. That trust helps your pages climb the search results for the exact terms your ideal customers are typing in.

Better rankings create a powerful feedback loop. More visibility brings more organic traffic, which leads directly to more free trial sign-ups and demo requests. A single dofollow link from a respected industry blog can send qualified traffic your way immediately, but its true value is the long-term authority it passes. That authority is what helps you consistently rank for valuable keywords over time.

Dofollow backlinks are the primary drivers for improving keyword rankings, strengthening your domain, and increasing organic traffic. In fact, research suggests that over 70% of links earned through solid content marketing are dofollow, especially from blogs and news sites. It’s proof that creating genuinely helpful content is still the surest path to earning links that move the needle. To see more data on this, you can explore the latest link building statistics on presswhizz.com.

Generating High-Intent Referral Traffic

Beyond the pure SEO boost, dofollow links from relevant sites send you some of the most valuable traffic you can get: referral traffic. These aren't just random visitors. They're highly qualified and often ready to act.

When someone clicks a link from a source they already trust to visit your site, they arrive with that trust already baked in. They were just reading something that recommended your SaaS, making them far more likely to convert.

Just think about the context:

A link from a product review sends a visitor who is actively evaluating their options.
A link from an integration partner’s blog brings someone who already uses a tool that works with yours.
A link from a “best of” roundup delivers a user who is in decision-making mode.

This kind of referral traffic is almost always warmer and more primed to engage than traffic from nearly any other channel.

Building Unshakeable Brand Credibility

Finally, earning dofollow links from respected sites is one of the best ways to build brand credibility. In a packed SaaS market, a feature on a well-known industry publication sets you apart. It's powerful social proof that signals to potential customers that you are a legitimate, respected player.

This authority isn't just a feel-good metric. It makes sales conversations easier, partnership opportunities more frequent, and all your marketing efforts more effective. It strengthens your brand's overall digital footprint, contributing to what’s known as your site's domain authority. For a deeper look at that concept, check out our guide on what domain authority is and why it matters for SEO. Ultimately, a strong link profile acts as a powerful moat around your business.

Actionable Strategies for Earning Dofollow Links

Alright, so you know what a dofollow backlink is. That's the first step. Now comes the real work: actually earning these powerful SEO assets. While there are no magic shortcuts, a smart, focused playbook can help you build a backlink profile that drives genuine growth for your SaaS.

Forget about chasing endless lists of sketchy directories. Modern link building is all about creating value that other people genuinely want to share. Your goal is to make your content and tools so good that linking to you is an easy, natural decision for editors and creators. To get this right, you really need to understand modern link building best practices.

Build and Promote a Link-Worthy Free Tool

As a SaaS company, one of the most effective link magnets you can create is a free tool. This doesn't have to be incredibly complex. Think of a simple calculator, a data generator, or even a "lite" version of your main product that solves a very specific problem for your audience.

Once it's built, you have to get the word out. The promotion is just as crucial as the tool itself. Share it in relevant online communities, get it listed on tool directories, and reach out to influencers who might find it useful. A truly helpful tool will naturally start attracting dofollow links from blog posts and resource pages as people discover and share it.

Create Original, Data-Backed Research

Journalists, bloggers, and industry analysts are constantly on the hunt for fresh data and statistics to back up their articles. You can become their go-to source by conducting your own original research and publishing the findings in a detailed report.

This doesn't mean you need a massive budget for a formal study. You can start by analyzing your own platform data (anonymized, of course) or by surveying your user base. When you package these insights into a polished report with clear charts and visuals, you create a definitive resource that others will cite—and link to—for years.

By becoming the primary source for a key statistic or industry trend, you position your SaaS to earn high-authority dofollow links passively as your research gets referenced across the web.

Write Strategic Guest Posts

Guest posting is a classic tactic for a reason: it works. It’s a fantastic way to tap into an established audience while securing a valuable dofollow link back to your website. But to make it effective, your approach has to be strategic.

Don't just write for any website that will publish your work. Zero in on reputable publications that your ideal customers actually read and trust. The objective isn't just the backlink; it's about delivering real value to a relevant audience and building your brand's authority.

A well-placed guest post delivers on multiple fronts:

Builds Authority: It showcases your expertise in the field.
Drives Referral Traffic: It sends qualified, interested visitors back to your site.
Earns a Dofollow Link: It passes SEO value from a relevant, high-quality domain.

Leverage Partnerships and Integrations

For any SaaS business, integrations are a natural part of the growth cycle. These partnerships also happen to be a goldmine for dofollow backlinks. When you integrate your tool with another, you create a powerful co-marketing opportunity.

Both you and your new partner can issue press releases, announce the integration on your blogs, and add each other to your respective integration marketplaces. This creates several opportunities for contextually relevant dofollow links from domains that are already trusted by your audience. It's a true win-win that helps both user bases and strengthens the SEO profiles of both companies.

If you're looking for more ideas, our guide on how to get backlinks for SEO dives into even more proven methods.

Dofollow Links: How to Avoid the Pitfalls and Build Real Authority

Chasing dofollow links can feel like walking a tightrope. Get it right, and you'll see your search rankings climb. But one wrong step—one bad link—can send your SEO efforts plummeting, sometimes resulting in a Google penalty that wipes out months of hard work.

The critical thing to understand is that not all dofollow links are created equal. Some are toxic, originating from spammy sites built for the sole purpose of tricking search engines. These are the links that can poison your backlink profile and tank your reputation with Google.

Steer Clear of Dangerous Link Schemes

Your number one job is to recognize and avoid any tactic that smells fishy. If a service is promising a guaranteed number of links for a suspiciously low price, you should run in the other direction. That's a classic sign of a link farm or a scheme that will do more harm than good.

Specifically, you need to avoid these like the plague:

Private Blog Networks (PBNs): These are webs of interconnected websites that exist only to pass link equity. Google has gotten incredibly good at sniffing out these artificial networks, and getting links from a PBN is one of the fastest ways to earn a penalty.
Spammy Directories: Sure, some legitimate, niche-specific directories can provide value. But most are just digital graveyards full of links, with zero real traffic or quality control. A dofollow link from an irrelevant, low-quality directory is a red flag for search engines.
Paid Link Schemes: Directly paying for a dofollow link that isn't properly marked with rel="sponsored" is a direct violation of Google's guidelines. It's a high-stakes gamble that almost never pays off and can get your site flagged or de-indexed.

A healthy backlink profile is earned, not bought. The second a link building tactic feels too easy or purely transactional, it’s a signal to stop and think. Real authority is built on genuine, editorial endorsements.

Best Practices for a Healthy Backlink Profile

To build a strong, resilient backlink profile, you need a strategy grounded in quality and relevance. The goal is to earn links that feel completely natural because they are natural—both to your readers and to search engine crawlers.

Always anchor your link building efforts in these core principles:

Topical Relevance is Everything: A dofollow link has the most impact when it comes from a site that operates in your world. For a SaaS company, a link from a respected tech blog is a powerful, relevant signal that tells Google you're a legitimate player in that space.
Target High-Authority Sites: Focus your energy on earning links from established, trustworthy websites. One single link from a high-authority domain is far more valuable than a hundred links from low-quality, unknown sites.
Aim for Editorial Placement: The gold standard for a backlink is one that's placed naturally within the flow of an article. This happens when a writer includes your link because your resource genuinely adds value to their content—it's a true editorial vote of confidence.

Answering Your Dofollow Backlink Questions

Alright, so you're ready to dive in and start building some high-quality dofollow links. As you get started, a few practical questions are bound to pop up. Let's get them answered so you can move forward with confidence.

How Can I Check if a Backlink Is Dofollow?

You don't need to be a coding wizard to figure this out. The simplest method is to use your web browser's built-in inspection tool.

Just find the link on the page, give it a right-click, and choose "Inspect." This opens up a panel showing the page's HTML. If you see an attribute like rel="nofollow", rel="sponsored", or rel="ugc" inside the link's code, it's not a dofollow link. If you don't see any of those tags, congratulations—it’s passing authority.

Of course, checking links one by one is a huge time sink. For a real bird's-eye view of your backlink profile, you'll want to lean on an SEO platform like Ahrefs or Semrush. They crawl the web for you and categorize all your backlinks automatically, saving you a ton of manual effort.

The core question isn't just "what is a dofollow backlink," but which of your backlinks are dofollow. Regularly auditing your profile is key to understanding your site's authority.

How Many Dofollow Backlinks Do I Need?

This is the million-dollar question, isn't it? The honest answer is that there’s no magic number.

Quality and relevance are far more important than just piling on links. The real goal isn't just to get a bigger backlink profile, but a better one. Focus on earning links from websites that are genuinely respected and relevant to your niche. One great link from an industry authority is worth more than a hundred low-quality, irrelevant ones.

Are Social Media Links Dofollow?

Nope. With very few exceptions, links from major social media sites like X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, and Facebook are all nofollow.

But that doesn't mean they aren't valuable. Far from it. These links are fantastic for driving real, interested people to your SaaS, building your brand's presence, and sparking conversations. Plus, great content shared on social media often gets discovered by bloggers and journalists, leading to valuable dofollow links down the road.

Ready to build authority and get discovered? SubmitMySaas gives you an instant SEO boost with a high-quality badge and 35+ dofollow backlinks to amplify your launch. Get started today at https://www.submitmysaas.com.