Introduction: The Modern SEO Dilemma
When it comes to guest posting, one of the most debated topics among bloggers and digital marketers is the question of dofollow vs. nofollow links. Which one truly benefits your SEO? Should you focus on getting guest posts dofollow backlinks only, or are nofollow links also valuable in 2025?
The truth is — both have their place in a balanced link-building strategy. Understanding the differences between these two types of links, their impact on search rankings, and when to use each is essential for long-term SEO growth.
This article will break down everything you need to know about dofollow vs. nofollow guest posts, including how Google views them today, how they affect your website’s authority, and practical tips to get the most out of your guest blogging efforts.
What Are Guest Post Links?
Guest posting is the process of writing and publishing an article on someone else’s website to gain exposure, authority, and backlinks. Typically, when your guest post goes live, the host site allows you to include one or more links back to your own website — either within the content or in the author bio section.
These backlinks can be of two types:
- Dofollow Links: Pass link equity (also known as “link juice”) from one site to another.
- Nofollow Links: Tell search engines not to pass authority, but still help with traffic and visibility.
Understanding how these links work is the key to building a natural and powerful backlink profile.
What Is a Dofollow Link?
A dofollow link is the default type of hyperlink. When a website links to another with a dofollow link, search engines like Google interpret it as a vote of trust.
That means — if a reputable site gives you a dofollow link, it’s telling Google, “I trust this source.” This, in turn, helps improve your site’s domain authority, ranking potential, and search engine visibility.
Example of a Dofollow Link (HTML):
<a href="https://rahaal-theexplorer.com/">Rahaal the Explorer</a>
There’s no extra attribute added here — by default, this is a dofollow link.
Benefits of Dofollow Links
- Pass Link Equity: They directly improve your website’s ranking power.
- Enhance Domain Authority (DA): Consistent dofollow backlinks from reputable sites boost overall site authority.
- Improve Organic Rankings: Quality dofollow links help your pages rank for competitive keywords.
- Build Credibility: Being linked by high-DA sites increases your brand reputation.
However, not all dofollow links are beneficial. Links from spammy, low-quality, or irrelevant sites can hurt your SEO instead of helping.
What Is a Nofollow Link?
A nofollow link is a hyperlink that contains a special attribute (rel="nofollow") telling search engines not to pass ranking authority to the linked site.
Example of a Nofollow Link (HTML):
<a href="https://rahaal-theexplorer.com/" rel="nofollow">Rahaal the Explorer</a>
Nofollow links were originally introduced by Google in 2005 to combat comment spam and paid links. While these links don’t transfer direct SEO value (link juice), they still hold indirect benefits for your brand.
Benefits of Nofollow Links
- Drive Referral Traffic: Readers can still click and visit your website.
- Diversify Link Profile: Having a mix of dofollow and nofollow links looks more natural to Google.
- Build Brand Awareness: Exposure on high-traffic blogs, even with nofollow links, increases recognition.
- Avoid Over-Optimization: Too many dofollow backlinks too quickly can appear manipulative; nofollow links balance the ratio.
In 2025, Google has become more sophisticated in understanding the context of a link — even nofollow links can signal credibility when placed on authoritative, relevant sites.
Dofollow vs. Nofollow: The Technical Difference
| Aspect | Dofollow Link | Nofollow Link |
|---|---|---|
| HTML Attribute | <a href="..."> | <a href="..." rel="nofollow"> |
| Passes Link Juice | Yes | No |
| Affects SEO Rankings | Yes, directly | Indirectly |
| Best Use Case | Quality backlinks for SEO | Sponsored posts, comments, forums |
| Risk Level | High if from spammy sites | Low, but limited SEO benefit |
| Traffic Benefit | Yes | Yes |
| Ideal Ratio | 60–70% of total backlinks | 30–40% for balance |
Both types of links play a unique role in creating a balanced backlink strategy.
How Google Treats Nofollow Links in 2025
For years, nofollow links were completely ignored by search engines in terms of link equity. But since Google’s March 2020 update, it treats the rel="nofollow" attribute as a “hint”, not a strict directive.
That means Google may choose to count a nofollow link toward your ranking signals if it comes from a high-quality, contextually relevant source.
In short:
- Nofollow links can indirectly improve SEO.
- They contribute to brand trust and discovery.
- Google now uses them to understand natural linking patterns.
This change means that nofollow guest posts are not useless — they’re part of a modern, natural backlink mix.
When to Use Dofollow Links in Guest Posts
Dofollow links are most effective when:
- The website has high domain authority (DA 50+).
- The niche matches your own (e.g., travel-to-travel, marketing-to-marketing).
- The content adds genuine value to readers.
- The link is editorially earned, not purchased.
- You include only one dofollow backlink — to avoid appearing spammy.
When your guest post provides unique insights or valuable data, editors are more likely to allow a dofollow link naturally.
When to Use Nofollow Links
Nofollow links are ideal for:
- Sponsored Guest Posts: Paid collaborations must use nofollow (to comply with Google’s policy).
- High-Traffic Platforms: Sites like Forbes, Medium, or Huffington Post often provide nofollow links, but the referral traffic is massive.
- Comment Sections and Forums: These naturally require nofollow to prevent spam.
- New Bloggers: A nofollow link on a reputable site still improves visibility and trust.
Even if they don’t pass link juice, nofollow guest post links build authority through exposure and relevance.
Should You Only Target Dofollow Guest Posts?
The short answer is — no.
While guest posts dofollow backlinks directly boost SEO, a natural link profile must include a mix of both. If all your backlinks are dofollow, Google may view it as unnatural manipulation — which can trigger algorithmic penalties.
A healthy strategy includes:
- 60–70% dofollow links
- 30–40% nofollow links
This ratio shows organic, diversified link growth — exactly what Google favors in 2025.
How to Identify If a Guest Post Site Gives Dofollow or Nofollow Links
Before you pitch to any website, check what type of backlinks they provide.
Steps:
1. Visit a recent guest post published on their blog.
2. Right-click on a link and select “Inspect.”
3. Look at the HTML code:
- If it includes
rel="nofollow", it’s nofollow. - If it doesn’t, it’s a dofollow link.
You can also use tools like:
- Ahrefs
- MozBar (browser extension)
- SEOquake
These tools quickly highlight which links are dofollow or nofollow on any webpage.
How to Ask for Dofollow Links in Guest Post Outreach
When pitching your article idea, approach the editor professionally and ethically. Avoid demanding dofollow links — instead, focus on value exchange.
Here’s how you can phrase it:
“I’ll ensure the content is 100% original, SEO-optimized, and highly relevant to your readers. If possible, I’d love to include a single dofollow backlink to a relevant page on my website for context.”
This polite approach increases your chances of getting approved for a dofollow guest post while maintaining credibility.
Guest Posting Strategy: Combining Dofollow and Nofollow Links
To maximize your SEO growth, create a balanced guest blogging strategy:
- Publish on High-DA Blogs: Prioritize dofollow opportunities for link equity.
- Leverage High-Traffic Platforms: Even if nofollow, they build brand awareness.
- Mix Anchor Texts: Avoid over-optimized keywords. Use branded or natural anchors.
- Track Your Links: Monitor which posts drive traffic and conversions.
- Stay Consistent: Guest blogging works best when done regularly, not occasionally.
By combining both link types, you build a stronger, safer SEO foundation.
Common Mistakes in Guest Post Link Building
Avoid these errors that could harm your site:
- Overusing dofollow links in one article.
- Linking to unrelated pages just for SEO.
- Paying for links on unverified or spammy blogs.
- Ignoring Google’s link attribution policies.
- Writing low-quality, AI-spun guest posts.
Google’s 2025 updates focus heavily on helpful, people-first content, so relevance and quality matter far more than link type.
FAQs
1. What is the main difference between dofollow and nofollow guest posts?
Dofollow links pass link juice and improve SEO rankings, while nofollow links don’t pass authority but still help with traffic and credibility.
2. Are nofollow guest post links useless?
No. Nofollow links drive referral traffic, enhance brand visibility, and balance your link profile — which Google now values.
3. How do I get more dofollow guest post opportunities?
Target niche-relevant blogs, build relationships with editors, and pitch high-quality, original content.
4. Can too many dofollow links hurt my website?
Yes. Over-optimization or getting multiple dofollow links too fast from irrelevant sites can trigger spam filters or manual penalties.
5. Which is better — dofollow or nofollow guest posts?
Both are essential. Dofollow links help with rankings, and nofollow links improve diversity and visibility.
Conclusion: The Perfect Balance Between Dofollow and Nofollow
The debate of dofollow vs. nofollow isn’t about choosing one over the other — it’s about understanding their roles and balancing them effectively.
If you’re looking to grow your brand through guest posts dofollow opportunities, prioritize relevance, content quality, and natural linking. But don’t underestimate nofollow links — they bring traffic, trust, and engagement, which are vital SEO signals in 2025.
In the end, a healthy backlink profile isn’t just about passing link juice; it’s about creating real connections, value, and authority that search engines and readers both recognize.
