Two Types of Links. One Matters More.
When a website links to you, that link is either "dofollow" or "nofollow."
Dofollow = passes ranking power (link equity) to your site. This is the default.
Nofollow = tells Google "don't count this as a vote." Added via a rel="nofollow" attribute.
Simple enough, right?
So Nofollow Links Are Worthless?
Nope.
Google said back in 2019 that nofollow is now a "hint," not a directive. Meaning they might still count it.
Plus, nofollow links from high-traffic sites still send real visitors to your site. That traffic has value regardless of SEO.
A nofollow link from Forbes still beats a dofollow link from spamsite247.biz. For a deeper understanding of how link authority works, check out our dedicated breakdown.
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What to Actually Focus On
Chase great links from relevant, authoritative sites. Don't obsess over the follow attribute.
A natural link profile has BOTH dofollow and nofollow links. If 100% of your links are dofollow, that actually looks suspicious.
The Quick Rule
Prioritize dofollow. Appreciate nofollow. Never reject a link from a great site just because it's nofollow. Moz has an excellent beginner's guide to link building that covers this in more detail.
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