What Is a Dofollow Link?
Every link on the web is either dofollow (default) or modified with a rel attribute that changes how search engines treat it. A dofollow link tells Google: "I endorse this destination. Pass some of my PageRank to it." The vast majority of internal links are dofollow, as are many editorial backlinks from reputable publications and blogs.
The term "dofollow" emerged as a counterpart to "nofollow" — once Google introduced the rel="nofollow" attribute in 2005, SEOs needed a word for links without it. The default became "dofollow" even though no such HTML attribute exists. Understanding this distinction is fundamental to link building and internal link strategy.
- Every standard <a href> tag without a restrictive rel attribute is a dofollow link
- Dofollow links are followed by Googlebot and included in PageRank calculations
- They represent an editorial endorsement from the linking page to the destination page
How Dofollow Links Affect SEO
Dofollow links are the primary mechanism of PageRank transfer. Each dofollow link on a page passes a share of that page's authority to its destination. The more high-authority pages that have dofollow links pointing to a given page, the more PageRank that page accumulates — and the better it is positioned to rank.
Upload your Screaming Frog CSV — free, instant, nothing stored.
See your internal link equity in 30 seconds →For internal SEO, ensuring that all important internal links are dofollow is essential. Some CMS configurations or plugins accidentally add nofollow attributes to internal links — this blocks PageRank from flowing to those pages even though you control both ends of the link. Audit your internal links periodically to verify none are inadvertently nofollowed.
- Dofollow internal links pass PageRank to destination pages — they should be the default for all navigation and content links
- A single accidental nofollow on a key internal link can cut off a page from the equity it should be receiving
- Dofollow backlinks from high-authority external sites are the strongest off-page ranking signal available
Dofollow vs. Nofollow Links
The practical difference is whether PageRank passes. Dofollow links pass it; nofollow links do not (or pass significantly less, according to Google's 2019 clarification that nofollow is a "hint" not a directive). For link building purposes, dofollow backlinks are what most SEOs pursue because they directly increase the target page's PageRank.
For internal links, the rule is simpler: make all internal links dofollow unless you have a specific reason to restrict equity flow. Legitimate exceptions include links to login pages, checkout flows, or faceted navigation URLs that should not accumulate PageRank.
- Dofollow passes PageRank; nofollow blocks or significantly reduces it
- All standard content and navigation internal links should be dofollow
- Check for CMS plugins that may add rel="nofollow" to internal links inadvertently
How to Audit Dofollow vs. Nofollow Internal Links
Run a Screaming Frog crawl and export All Inlinks. This export includes the link type column, which distinguishes dofollow links from nofollow ones. Upload the export to LinkJuice to filter and visualize the distinction — identifying any internal nofollow links that should not be blocking equity flow.
- Screaming Frog's All Inlinks export marks link type (follow vs. nofollow) for each pair
- LinkJuice lets you filter nofollow internal links and assess their equity impact
- Prioritize fixing nofollow tags on internal links to key landing pages and pillar content
Upload your Screaming Frog CSV — free, instant, nothing stored.
Find your site's weakest links before Google does →Frequently Asked Questions
- What is a dofollow link?
- A dofollow link is any standard hyperlink that does not carry a rel="nofollow", rel="sponsored", or rel="ugc" attribute. It passes PageRank from the linking page to the destination page and is treated by Google as an editorial endorsement. Most internal links and many external links are dofollow by default.
- Is dofollow an actual HTML attribute?
- No. "Dofollow" is an SEO community term for the default link state — a link without any rel attribute that restricts crawling or equity passing. There is no rel="dofollow" attribute in HTML. A standard <a href> tag with no rel attribute is a dofollow link by default.
- Should all my internal links be dofollow?
- In almost all cases, yes. Adding nofollow to internal links blocks PageRank from flowing to those pages, which generally hurts their ability to rank. The only exception is links to login pages, cart pages, or other URLs you explicitly want to exclude from PageRank accumulation.
- How many dofollow backlinks do I need to rank?
- There is no universal number. The quantity and quality of dofollow backlinks needed depends on your competitors, your site's existing authority, and the competitiveness of the target keyword. Focus on earning fewer, higher-quality links from authoritative, topically relevant sites rather than accumulating large quantities from low-authority sources.
Find Blocked Internal Links Free
Upload your Screaming Frog CSV and see which internal links are dofollow vs. nofollow — and fix any that are accidentally blocking your PageRank flow.
Upload crawl & start🔒 Runs in your browser. Your data never leaves your machine. No email needed.