In SEO, when we talk about “Do Follow” links (more commonly “follow” links), we’re referring to hyperlinks that pass “link equity” or “link juice” to the linked page, potentially helping improve that page’s authority and search engine ranking. These are the standard links you’ll encounter on the web, and unless specified otherwise, all links are “follow” by default.
Here’s a deeper look into the concept:
This is the concept that links, depending on various factors like the authority of the linking site, can pass value or “equity” to the linked site. This passed equity can positively influence the linked page’s authority and rankings.
A “no follow” link is the opposite of a “do follow” link, specifically telling search engines not to pass link equity to the linked page. This is achieved by adding the rel="nofollow"
attribute to the hyperlink.
Originally, “no follow” was introduced to combat spammy links in blog comments and forum posts, but it’s also commonly used for links in advertisements, sponsored content, or any other links that site owners don’t want to vouch for in terms of passing authority.
“Do follow” links from reputable, high-authority websites can help improve the linked page’s authority and trustworthiness in the eyes of search engines.
Gaining “do follow” links from authoritative sites can positively influence the search engine rankings of the linked page. This is why link-building is a critical component of many SEO strategies.
It’s essential to have a mix of both “do follow” and “no follow” links in a website’s link profile to make it appear natural to search engines. Too many “do follow” links from low-quality or irrelevant sites can be a red flag and potentially trigger penalties.
In summary, a “Do Follow” link in SEO is a type of link that passes authority and can influence the search engine rankings of the linked page. SEO professionals often aim to acquire links from authoritative and relevant sources when working on link-building strategies.