In plain English
What does dofollow / nofollow mean?
Dofollow and nofollow describe how search engines may treat a link. “Dofollow” is an informal name for a normal link without a qualifying rel attribute. A nofollow link includes rel="nofollow", which tells search engines not to treat the link as a standard endorsement. Sponsored and user-generated links may use related attributes.
Nofollow links can still send referral traffic, help readers discover a brand, and support a natural coverage profile. Search engines may treat these attributes as hints, so neither link type guarantees a ranking change.
Example
The syndicated article linked to the company site with a nofollow attribute, while readers could still click through normally.
Use it well
Three practical tips
- 01
Do not judge a placement only by whether its link is dofollow.
- 02
Use sponsored attributes correctly for paid placements.
- 03
Focus on useful, relevant coverage rather than trying to control every publisher’s link policy.
Knowledge check
Did it stick?
Can a nofollow link still be useful?
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