If you are involved in optimizing your website's SEO, you have probably heard about the difference between DoFollow and NoFollow backlinks. But do you really know what distinguishes these two types of links and how they impact your site's SEO?
In this article, we will explain everything you need to know about DoFollow and NoFollow backlinks, and how to utilize them to enhance your website's visibility and ranking in search results.
Backlinks in SEO: What Are They?
Definition of Backlinks
Backlinks are hyperlinks that connect a page on your website to another page on a third-party site.
Imagine you have a Webflow agency, and a blogger who specializes in web design and no-code tools references you in one of their articles. In this case, the link from their article to your webpage is a backlink.
Backlinks can also be seen as votes or recommendations, as they indicate to search engines that your content is relevant and valuable. The more quality backlinks you have, the more your site will be regarded as a reference in your field, thus increasing your chances of appearing at the top of search results. Therefore, backlinks are a crucial element of organic SEO and your website's visibility.
We can also consider backlinks as a form of online word-of-mouth, where other websites endorse your content to their readers. Just like personal recommendations are often more influential than advertisements, backlinks can significantly impact your website's SEO.
The Importance of Backlinks for SEO
Backlinks are very important factors for your website's organic SEO. In fact, search engines like Google use backlinks to evaluate the quality and relevance of your content. The more high-quality backlinks your site receives from credible and relevant websites in your field, the more it will be recognized as a reference by search engines.
It is essential to note that not all backlinks are equal in terms of quality and impact on your website's SEO. Backlinks from reliable and pertinent websites in your field are generally considered more valuable (quality backlinks) than backlinks from less credible or less relevant sites. Additionally, the number of backlinks you receive is not the only important factor; the quality, diversity, and relevance of the backlinks are also key elements for improving your SEO.
DoFollow Backlinks
In this section, we will focus on DoFollow backlinks.
Explanation of How DoFollow Backlinks Work
DoFollow backlinks are recommendations for your content. When a quality website links to your site, it means that it endorses your content and considers it relevant and useful for its own audience. Search engines view these links as votes of confidence and authority. The anchor text is also important for SEO, as if it contains relevant keywords for your content, it helps search engines understand what your page is about.
Therefore, quality DoFollow backlinks are very important for your SEO. They convey authority and credibility, and also share SEO juice. This means the link passes some of its SEO value to the linked page, thereby enhancing its relevance and authority for relevant keywords. However, it's important to note that the amount of SEO juice shared depends on several factors, such as the quality of the referring site, the anchor text, and the relevance of the linked content. Thus, it is always better to focus on creating quality backlinks rather than solely concentrating on the number of links.
Benefits for SEO
DoFollow backlinks offer several benefits for your website's organic SEO:
- They help strengthen the authority and credibility of your site, which can improve its ranking in search results.
- They can also help increase traffic to your site by attracting visitors from other websites.
- They can help enhance user experience by providing links to other relevant and high-quality resources.
How to Obtain Quality DoFollow Backlinks
There are several methods to obtain quality DoFollow backlinks. Firstly, you can reach out to relevant and quality websites in your field and propose to create a link to your site. You can also create high-quality content and promote it to your target audience, which can encourage relevant websites to link to your content. Social media can also be effective for promoting your content and drawing the attention of relevant websites. Lastly, you can participate in discussion forums and relevant blogs in your field and include a link to your website in your comments or contributions. There are also platforms for acquiring backlinks for a fee, but caution is needed, as purchasing links can lead to penalties.
NoFollow Backlinks
In this section, we will focus on NoFollow backlinks.
Explanation of How NoFollow Backlinks Work
NoFollow backlinks are a type of hyperlink that does not pass "SEO juice" or authority to a website. Unlike DoFollow backlinks, NoFollow links are coded to signal to search engines that they should not consider the link for the ranking of the linked page.
NoFollow backlinks work by adding a "rel = nofollow" attribute to a hyperlink. This indicates to search engines that the link should not be taken into account for the ranking of the linked page.
Differences from DoFollow Backlinks
The main difference between NoFollow and DoFollow backlinks is that NoFollow links do not convey SEO juice or authority to a website. This means that even if a website has many NoFollow links, it will not necessarily impact its ranking in search results. In contrast, DoFollow backlinks can help improve a website's visibility by increasing its authority and relevance for relevant keywords.
Limitations for SEO
Although NoFollow backlinks do not directly help improve a website's SEO, they can still be beneficial for content marketing. NoFollow links can help generate traffic to a website, enhance brand awareness, and attract new visitors. Furthermore, even if a website has many NoFollow links, it can still indicate to search engines that the site is active and engaged in its community. However, to achieve significant SEO results, it is always better to focus on creating quality DoFollow backlinks.
How to Create NoFollow Backlinks in Webflow?
By default, in Webflow, any link created is DoFollow. However, we can create NoFollow links by adding a custom attribute to our link. Here’s how to do it:
- Create a link on your page (button, link block, or text link).
- Add a URL in the element's settings.
- Add the following custom attribute in the "custom attribute" section:
Name: rel
Value: nofollow
DoFollow vs NoFollow: What Difference Do They Make for SEO?
Comparison of Advantages and Limitations of Each Type of Backlink
DoFollow and NoFollow backlinks have different advantages and limitations in terms of SEO.
DoFollow backlinks are considered more valuable because they convey authority and SEO juice, but they can be more difficult to obtain as they require the trust of a referring website.
On the other hand, NoFollow backlinks do not directly pass SEO juice, but can still help attract traffic and increase visibility for your website. They are also easier to acquire as websites can use them without risking the loss of SEO juice.
It is important to work on creating quality backlinks, whether they are DoFollow or NoFollow, by targeting relevant and reliable websites in your field. By using a combination of DoFollow and NoFollow backlinks, you can strengthen your link profile and improve visibility in search results.
How to Optimize Your SEO Strategy by Combining Both Types of Backlinks
To optimize your SEO strategy, it is important to understand the advantages and limitations of each type of backlink, whether DoFollow or NoFollow.
When comparing the benefits of the two types of backlinks, it can be said that DoFollow backlinks are more valuable for SEO, as they pass authority and credibility to your website. In contrast, NoFollow backlinks can be useful for improving your visibility by attracting traffic to your website.
However, it's important to note that the use of NoFollow backlinks should not be underestimated. NoFollow backlinks can also enhance your website's credibility by indicating to search engines that other websites reference your content.
Therefore, to optimize your SEO strategy, it is recommended to combine both types of backlinks. By utilizing a mix of DoFollow and NoFollow backlinks from reliable and relevant websites in your field, you can improve your visibility, credibility, and authority for relevant keywords.
It is also essential to focus on the quality of your backlinks by creating high-quality content and building relationships with other websites in your field. By following these best practices, you can enhance your SEO strategy and improve your online visibility.
Discover our Complete Webflow SEO Guide
Conclusion:
In conclusion, backlinks are a key element of organic SEO and should be integrated into your online marketing strategy. DoFollow backlinks can help enhance your site's authority and relevance, while NoFollow backlinks can be valuable for traffic and diversifying your link profile. However, it is crucial to focus on quality over quantity of links and collaborate with relevant and reliable websites to maximize benefits.
For an effective Webflow SEO-friendly development strategy, feel free to consult our service offerings to assist you in creating your website and optimizing your organic SEO.
