In the world of SEO, backlinks are crucial for building a website's online authority and visibility. However, not all backlinks are created equal. Some can significantly improve a website's search engine rankings, while others may have little to no impact. This is where the concepts of dofollow and nofollow backlinks come into play.

What are Dofollow Backlinks?
A dofollow backlink is a hyperlink that passes on "link juice" or ranking power from the linking website to the linked website. When a search engine crawls a webpage containing a dofollow backlink, it follows the link to the linked webpage and considers it as a vote of confidence. The more high-quality dofollow backlinks a website has, the more likely it is to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs).

Dofollow backlinks are the default type of links used on the web. Any link that is not explicitly marked as nofollow is considered a dofollow backlink. In HTML code, a dofollow link is represented by the tag "a href="www.example.com" rel="dofollow">anchor text." The "rel=dofollow" attribute tells search engine crawlers to follow the link and pass on link juice.

What are Nofollow Backlinks?
A nofollow backlink is a hyperlink that does not pass on any link juice to the linked website. The nofollow attribute was introduced by Google in 2005 to combat spam and manipulate search engine rankings. When a search engine crawls a webpage containing a nofollow backlink, it does not follow the link to the linked webpage, nor does it consider it as a vote of confidence.

In HTML code, a nofollow link is represented by the tag "a href="www.example.com" rel="nofollow">anchor text." The "rel=nofollow" attribute tells search engine crawlers not to follow the link or pass on any link juice.

Nofollow backlinks are typically used for the following purposes:

• To prevent spam: Website owners can add the nofollow attribute to external links in user-generated content, such as blog comments or forum posts, to prevent spammy links from passing on link juice and manipulating search engine rankings.
• To comply with advertising guidelines: When website owners receive compensation for including links to other websites in their content, they are required to mark those links as nofollow to comply with Google's advertising guidelines.
• To conserve link equity: When a website has an excessive number of outbound links, adding the nofollow attribute to some of them can help conserve link equity and prevent the website from spreading its ranking power too thin.

Which Type of Backlink is Better for SEO?
While dofollow backlinks are more valuable for improving a website's search engine rankings, nofollow backlinks can also provide some benefits. Here are some factors to consider when deciding which type of backlink is better for your SEO strategy:

• Dofollow backlinks are more likely to improve a website's search engine rankings and visibility in SERPs.
• Nofollow backlinks can still drive traffic to a website and improve its online exposure, even though they do not pass on any link juice.
• A diverse backlink profile that includes both dofollow and nofollow links appears more natural to search engines and can improve a website's overall authority and credibility.

Difference between dofollow backlinks and nofollow backlinks

Dofollow Backlinks:

1. Pass on Link Juice: Dofollow backlinks are hyperlinks that allow search engine crawlers to follow them and pass on ranking power or "link juice" to the linked website. This can help improve the linked website's search engine rankings and visibility in SERPs.

2. Influence SEO: Dofollow backlinks are an essential factor in search engine optimization (SEO). Websites with a higher number of high-quality dofollow backlinks from authoritative sources are more likely to rank well in search engine results.

3. Indexed by Search Engines: Dofollow backlinks are crawled and indexed by search engine bots, which helps in discovering and indexing the linked website's content.

4. Direct Traffic: Dofollow backlinks not only contribute to SEO but also generate referral traffic. When users click on a dofollow backlink, they are directed to the linked website, potentially increasing its visibility and user engagement.

Nofollow Backlinks:

1. Do Not Pass Link Juice: Nofollow backlinks, as the name suggests, do not pass on any ranking power or link juice to the linked website. They are intended to indicate to search engine crawlers that the link should not influence the ranking of the linked page.

2. Designed to Combat Spam: Nofollow backlinks were introduced to combat spam and prevent the abuse of ranking algorithms. By adding the rel="nofollow" attribute to a link, website owners can inform search engines not to consider it as an endorsement or vote of confidence.

3. Not Indexed by Search Engines: Nofollow backlinks are typically not crawled or indexed by search engine bots. However, it's worth noting that search engines may still discover and follow these links to understand the overall linking patterns of a website.

4. Can Generate Referral Traffic: Although nofollow backlinks do not directly contribute to SEO, they can still generate referral traffic. Users who come across a nofollow backlink and find it valuable may click on it and visit the linked website, potentially increasing its visibility and audience.

In summary, the main difference between dofollow and nofollow backlinks lies in their impact on SEO. Dofollow backlinks pass on link juice, positively influencing a website's rankings, while nofollow backlinks do not pass on link juice but can still drive referral traffic. A well-rounded backlink profile typically includes a mix of both types, as it appears more natural to search engines and provides a holistic approach to SEO and online visibility.

How to create Dofollow and Nofollow backlinks

Creating Dofollow Backlinks:

1. Guest Blogging: Find reputable websites in your niche that accept guest posts. Write high-quality content that aligns with their guidelines and includes a dofollow backlink to your website within the author bio or content body. Ensure that the website allows dofollow links in their guest posts.

2. Resource Link Building: Identify resource pages, such as lists of helpful websites or industry-specific directories, that allow dofollow links. Reach out to the website owners or administrators and suggest adding your website as a valuable resource with a dofollow link.

3. Broken Link Building: Find websites that have broken or outdated links on their pages. Offer to help by suggesting your content as a replacement and include a dofollow link. Tools like Check My Links or Broken Link Checker can assist in identifying broken links on relevant websites.

4. Influencer Outreach: Connect with influencers or authoritative figures in your industry. Offer to collaborate on content or provide valuable insights that they can feature in their blog posts. If they link to your website in their content, ensure it is a dofollow link.

5. Social Media Promotion: Share your content on social media platforms and engage with relevant communities. If people find your content valuable, they may link to it from their websites or blogs, potentially providing dofollow backlinks.

Creating Nofollow Backlinks:

1. Commenting on Blogs and Forums: Engage in discussions on industry-related blogs and forums by leaving insightful comments. While most comment sections use nofollow links, these interactions can still drive referral traffic and establish your authority within the community.

2. Social Media Profiles: Include links to your website in the bio sections of your social media profiles. Although these links are typically nofollow, they can still generate traffic and increase your online visibility.

3. Press Releases and News Coverage: Distribute press releases and pitch newsworthy stories to media outlets. While press release distribution platforms may use nofollow links, if your story gets picked up by news sites, they might provide valuable nofollow backlinks.

4. Quora and Q&A Platforms: Participate in question-and-answer platforms like Quora and include links to relevant resources on your website. These links are nofollow but can drive targeted traffic and position you as an expert in your field.

5. Directory Submissions: Submit your website to reputable directories or business listings. Although most directories use nofollow links, they can still generate referral traffic and improve your online visibility.

Remember, while creating backlinks, focus on providing value and relevance to the users and websites you interact with. Quality content, genuine relationships, and ethical practices are essential for long-term success in building both dofollow and nofollow backlinks.

Conclusion
Dofollow and nofollow backlinks are two different types of hyperlinks used on the web. Dofollow backlinks pass on link juice from the linking website to the linked website and are more valuable for improving a website's search engine rankings. Nofollow backlinks do not pass on any link juice but can still provide benefits such as driving traffic and improving online exposure. A balanced backlink profile that includes both dofollow.