Dofollow Backlinks: What Are They and How to Get Them in 2025
Dofollow backlinks are the currency of trust on the internet. They signal authority, influence rankings, and remain central to Google’s algorithm — even in 2025. But how exactly do they work, and how do you earn them without risking penalties? The deeper you look into link building, the more complex it becomes. It’s not just about getting links — it’s about getting the right links, from the right sources, in the right way. This guide breaks down everything you need to know about dofollow backlinks: what they are, why they matter, how to earn them ethically, and what’s changed in the SEO landscape as we head deeper into a world shaped by AI, automation, and stricter ranking systems. Whether you’re a startup founder aiming for your first page-one keyword, a digital marketer refining your link-building process, or an enterprise SEO leader aiming to accelerate growth, this guide is your compass. What are Dofollow Backlinks and How Do They Work? A dofollow backlink is a link that tells search engines to follow it and pass authority to the linked site. This simple instruction can directly influence rankings – but there’s more nuance under the surface. When one website links to another using a standard HTML anchor tag (without a rel=”nofollow” attribute), search engines interpret that link as a signal of trust. These are “dofollow” by default, and they effectively tell Google, “I vouch for this content.” That trust carries weight. Dofollow links pass PageRank, the foundational metric Google originally used to measure site authority. While PageRank is no longer visible publicly, it’s still very much alive under the hood — and dofollow backlinks remain one of the key ways it’s distributed. In a world where content is easy to produce and harder to rank, Google relies on these links as independent, off-site validation of content quality. The more authoritative the linking site, the more “SEO juice” is passed to the linked page. Rich Media: Link Type Comparison Link Type Passes Authority? Indexed by Google? Use Case Dofollow ✅ Yes ✅ Yes Ranking, trust, authority Nofollow ❌ No ✅ Yes Sponsored, UGC, blog comments Sponsored ❌ No ✅ Yes Paid/sponsored content UGC ❌ No ✅ Yes Forums, user comments It’s also important to note: search engines treat dofollow links differently depending on context. A link from the New York Times will carry more weight than a new blog, even if both are dofollow. That’s where domain authority, topical relevance, and link placement come into play. To sum up: dofollow backlinks are digital endorsements. They’re a core part of Google’s algorithm — and your site’s ability to rank likely depends on them. How To Get Dofollow Backlinks the Right Way Getting dofollow backlinks isn’t about gaming Google – it’s about creating link-worthy content and building relationships that scale. The best dofollow links aren’t bought or begged for. They’re earned through value and white hat link building strategies. The most effective white hat strategies in 2025 blend content quality, digital PR, outreach, and link-worthy assets. Search engines have become better at evaluating link context and intent. That means tactics like link farms, comment spam, and even “okay-ish” guest posts no longer cut it. If you’re serious about dofollow backlinks, your link-building process needs to be built on relevance, authority, and trust. Rich Media: 5 White-Hat Tactics to Earn Dofollow Links Tactic Why It Works Digital PR & Data Campaigns Earns links from major publications with original stats Guest Posting on Authoritative Sites Builds links from relevant blogs with real traffic Skyscraper Technique Improves existing content and earns links from similar pages Resource Page Outreach Leverages existing curated content hubs Link Reclamation Fixes broken or unlinked mentions with minimal friction Mini Case Study: A SaaS brand launched a study on “Remote Work Productivity” with 1,200 survey respondents. They created a blog post, infographic, and PDF report. Within 30 days, they earned 60+ dofollow links – including from HubSpot and TechCrunch – using targeted outreach and press release distribution. But even small brands can win. You don’t need a massive report. Even a well-written blog post with proprietary insights or expert quotes can attract links – if you position it right. And remember: not all dofollow backlinks are created equal. A contextual link inside a relevant article on a DA 70+ site is infinitely more powerful than a random blog sidebar link. Once your strategy is in place, tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, and BuzzStream can help you scale with outreach, monitor links, and identify prospects worth chasing. Also, don’t forget to tap into vertical SEO networks – if you’re in fintech, Blue Tree’s fintech marketing services can help you align link acquisition with industry context, increasing topical relevance and EEAT signals. Why Are Dofollow Backlinks Important for SEO? Dofollow backlinks are crucial because they directly influence a website’s search engine rankings, trustworthiness, and domain authority. Here’s why they’re at the heart of modern SEO: When you acquire a dofollow backlink, you’re essentially receiving a “vote of confidence” from another website. Search engines like Google see these links as signals of quality, relevance, and trust. In fact, they are one of the most critical ranking factors, as evidenced by several Google algorithm updates that prioritize link-based authority. Rich Media: SEO Ranking Factors Comparison (2025) Ranking Factor Importance Source Backlinks (Dofollow) High Moz Content Quality (E-A-T) High Google Search Quality Evaluator Guidelines User Experience (Core Web Vitals) Medium Google Search Central On-Page SEO (Keywords) Medium SEMrush Site Architecture & Navigation Medium Google Search Central Link Authority and PageRank While PageRank isn’t publicly visible anymore, the core concept remains integral. Google still uses the authority passed from one site to another through backlinks. Sites with a high domain authority (DA) and relevant, high-quality content are able to pass more authority through their dofollow links than those with lower DA. Therefore, acquiring backlinks from authoritative sources in your niche can significantly improve your rankings for competitive keywords. For example, imagine you’re in the health industry. A dofollow link from
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