What is a dofollow backlink, and how do you get one for free?
Dofollow vs nofollow explained in plain English, why dofollow backlinks still matter for a new startup, and honest ways to earn your first ones without buying links.
· 2 min read
If you have launched anything in the last few years, someone has probably told you to "get backlinks". Here is what that actually means, why the dofollow kind matters, and how to earn them without paying for anything shady.
Dofollow vs nofollow in plain English
A backlink is any link from another site to yours. By default, a link is dofollow: search engines follow it and treat it as a small vote of confidence for the page it points to.
A nofollow link has a rel="nofollow" attribute (or sponsored or ugc). It tells search engines not to count the link as an endorsement. Visitors can still click it, but it usually passes little or no ranking value.
| Dofollow | Nofollow | |
|---|---|---|
| Sends visitors | Yes | Yes |
| Helps Google discover your pages | Yes | Usually |
| Passes ranking signals | Yes | Mostly no |
| Typical source | Editorial links, directories, launch boards | Comments, forums, paid placements |
Why it matters for a new startup
A brand-new domain has no history. Google does not know whether to trust it yet. A few links from relevant, real sites help with three things:
- Discovery. Crawlers find your site faster when other sites point at it.
- Trust. Links from established sites signal that you are a real product.
- Ranking. Over time, relevant links help your pages compete for search terms.
You do not need hundreds. For an early product, a handful of relevant links beats a pile of random ones every time.
Honest ways to earn dofollow links
Launch boards and startup directories
This is the easiest place to start. You describe your product once and get a listing page that links back to your site. On UppLaunch, the link from a free launch is dofollow for as long as the UppLaunch badge is on your site, and Premium launches are always dofollow.
Integrations and partner pages
If your product works with other tools, ask to be listed on their integrations or partners page. These links are highly relevant and tend to last for years.
Write something worth linking to
A useful guide, a free tool, or original data gets linked to naturally. It is slower, but it is the kind of link nobody can take away.
Guest posts and podcasts
Writing for a blog in your niche, or appearing on a podcast, usually comes with a link in your bio or show notes.
What to avoid
If a link is easy to buy in bulk, it is easy for Google to ignore, or to penalise.
- Paid link packages. "500 backlinks for $20" links come from spam networks.
- Link exchanges. Swapping links at scale is listed as a link scheme in Google's spam policies.
- Hidden or irrelevant links. A link from a site that has nothing to do with yours does little good.
How to check what you have
Google Search Console shows which sites link to you under Links. It is free, it is Google's own data, and it is the best place to watch your backlinks grow.
Want your first one today? Launch your product on UppLaunch. It is free, and the product page goes live right away.
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