There are two types of SEO backlinks: DoFollow, which offers SEO juice, and NoFollow, which does not. Find out the difference between these two types of links!
If you are involved in the SEO of your website, you have probably already heard about the difference between DoFollow and NoFollow backlinks. But do you really know the difference between these two types of links and their impact on your website's SEO?
In this article, we will explain everything you need to know about DoFollow and NoFollow backlinks, and how to use them to improve your site's visibility and position in search results.
Backlinks in SEO : What is it ?
Definition of backlinks
Backlinks are hyperlinks that link a page on your website to another page on a third-party website.
Imagine that you have a webflow agency website and that a blogger specialized in webdesign and no-code tools quotes you as a reference in one of his articles. In this case, the link from his article to your web page is a backlink.
Backlinks can also be considered as votes or recommendations, as they tell search engines that your content is relevant and useful. The more quality backlinks you have, the more your site will be considered as a reference in your field and the more chances you will have to appear at the top of the search results. Backlinks are therefore a key element of natural referencing and visibility of your website.
Backlinks can also be thought of as a form of online word of mouth, where other websites recommend your content to their readers. Just as personal recommendations are often more influential than advertisements, backlinks can have a significant impact on your website's SEO.
Importance of backlinks for SEO
Backlinks are very important factors for the natural referencing of your website. Indeed, search engines such as Google use backlinks to evaluate the quality and relevance of your content. The more quality backlinks your website receives from credible and relevant websites in your field, the more it will be considered as a reference by search engines.
It is important to note that not all backlinks are equal in terms of quality and impact on the SEO of your website. Backlinks coming from reliable and relevant websites in your field are generally considered more valuable(quality backlinks) than backlinks coming from sites with little credibility or relevance. Moreover, the number of backlinks you receive is not the only important factor; the quality, diversity and relevance of backlinks are also key elements to improve 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 they recommend your content and consider it relevant and useful to their own audience. Search engines consider these links as votes of confidence and authority. Anchor text is also important for SEO, because if it contains keywords relevant to your content, it helps search engines understand what your page is about.
Quality DoFollow backlinks are therefore very important for your SEO.They convey authority and credibility, and also share SEO juice. This means that the link passes on some of its SEO value to the linked page, improving its relevance and authority for relevant keywords. However, it is important to note that the amount of SEO juice shared depends on several factors, such as the quality of the sending site, the anchor text and the relevance of the linked content. Thus, it is always better to work on building quality backlinks rather than focusing only on the number of links.
Benefits for referencing
DoFollow backlinks have several advantages for the natural referencing of your website:
- They help build your site's authority and credibility, 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 improve the user experience by providing links to other relevant and quality resources.
How to get quality DoFollow backlinks
There are several methods to get quality DoFollow backlinks. First of all, you can contact relevant and quality websites in your field and offer them to link to your site. You can also create quality content and promote it to your target audience, which can encourage relevant websites to link to your content. Social networks can also be useful to promote your content and attract the attention of relevant websites. Finally, you can participate in discussion forums and blogs relevant to your field and include a link to your website in your comments or contributions. There are also platforms to acquire backlinks for a cost, but you have to be careful, as buying links can penalize you.
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 do not convey "SEO juice" or authority to a website. Unlike DoFollow backlinks, NoFollow links are coded to signal to search engines that they should disregard the link for SEO purposes of the linked page.
NoFollow backlinks work by adding a"rel = nofollow" attribute to a hyperlink. This tells search engines that the link should not be taken into account for the referencing of the linked page.
Differences with 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 won't necessarily impact its ranking in search results. On the other hand, DoFollow backlinks can help improve a website's visibility by increasing its authority and relevance for relevant keywords.
Limits for referencing
Although NoFollow backlinks don't directly help improve a website's SEO, they can still be useful for content marketing. NoFollow links can help drive traffic to a website, build brand awareness and attract new visitors. Additionally, even if a website has a lot of 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's always best to focus on building quality DoFollow backlinks.
How to make NoFollow backlinks on Webflow?
By default, in Webflow, when we make a link, it is DoFollow. However, we can create NoFollow links by adding a custom attribute to our link. Here is how to do it:
- Create a link on your page (button, block link or text link)
- Add a URL in the parameters of the
- Add the following custom attribute in the "custom attribute" section :
Name : rel
Value : nofollow
DoFollow vs. NoFollow: what is the difference for SEO?
Comparison of the advantages and limitations of each type of backlink
DoFollow and NoFollow backlinks have different benefits 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 because they require trust from a sending website.
NoFollow backlinks, on the other hand, do not directly transmit SEO juice, but they can still help attract traffic and increase your website's visibility. They are also easier to get because websites can use them without the risk of losing SEO juice.
It's important to work on creating quality backlinks, whether 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 your visibility in search results.
How to optimize your SEO strategy by combining the two types of backlinks
To optimize your SEO strategy, it is important to understand the advantages and limitations of each type of backlink, whether it is DoFollow or NoFollow.
Comparing the benefits of both types of backlinks, we can say that DoFollow backlinks are more valuable for SEO, as they convey authority and credibility to your website. On the other hand, NoFollow backlinks can be useful to improve your visibility by driving traffic to your website.
However, it is important to note that the use of NoFollow backlinks should not be underestimated. NoFollow backlinks can also help improve the credibility of your website by indicating to search engines that other websites are referring to your content.
Therefore, to optimize your SEO strategy, it is recommended to combine both types of backlinks. By using a combination 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 important to work on the quality of your backlinks, creating quality content and building relationships with other websites in your field. By following these best practices, you can improve your SEO strategy and increase your online visibility.
Discover our complete Webflow SEO Guide
Conclusion:
In conclusion, backlinks are a key element of SEO and should be integrated into your online marketing strategy. DoFollow backlinks can help improve your website's authority and relevance, while NoFollow backlinks can be useful for traffic and diversifying your link profile. However, it's important to focus on quality rather than quantity of links and work with relevant and reliable websites to maximize the benefits.
For an efficient SEO-friendly web development strategy, do not hesitate to consult our service offer to accompany you in the creation of your website and the optimization of your natural referencing.
