A follow link (default link type) allows link equity (PageRank) to pass from one page to another, helping SEO authority flow.
Why Follow Links Matter for SEO
Follow links signal to search engines that a website is trustworthy and relevant. When high-authority websites link to your content with follow links, it boosts your domain authority and improves the chances of ranking higher in search results.
They are also valuable for referral traffic, as users clicking through follow links often discover new resources, products, or services, enhancing engagement. For SEO, building a profile of high-quality follow links is a long-term strategy for sustainable rankings.
Follow Links Across Different CMS Platforms
WordPress
WordPress users can easily manage follow links through its editor, plugins, and linking options. It allows the insertion of dofollow or nofollow attributes depending on SEO strategy
Shopify
Shopify stores use follow links in blog posts, product descriptions, and partnerships to improve search visibility and drive referral traffic.
Wix
Wix allows follow links to be added manually or through the editor. Proper use ensures the site passes authority to trusted external pages.
Webflow
Webflow gives precise control over follow links, letting designers embed them in buttons, navigation, and content blocks while maintaining clean code.
Custom CMS
Custom CMS platforms allow developers to implement follow links in templates, navigation, and content sections, ensuring full SEO compliance and proper link juice distribution.
Follow Links in Different Industries
Ecommerce
Ecommerce websites benefit from follow links in product reviews, manufacturer pages, and partner blogs. These links build credibility and boost organic rankings for high-value products.
Local Businesses
Local businesses can earn follow links through partnerships, local directories, or community mentions, strengthening their authority in local search results.
SaaS
SaaS companies use follow links in guest posts, case studies, or industry publications to improve domain authority and reach potential clients.
Blogs and Publishers
Blogs and publishers benefit by linking to high-quality sources with follow links, providing value to readers and improving SEO for both the linked site and their own content credibility.
Best Practices for Follow Links
- Focus on linking to authoritative, relevant websites to pass valuable SEO signals.
- Avoid excessive linking to low-quality or spammy sites, which can harm credibility.
- Use descriptive anchor text to clearly indicate the linked page’s topic.
- Balance follow and nofollow links strategically to maintain a natural link profile.
- Monitor follow links regularly to ensure they are not broken or redirected improperly.
Common Mistakes with Follow Links
Overusing follow links to low-quality websites can dilute authority and harm rankings.
Using generic anchor text like “click here” does not provide context to search engines.
Neglecting internal linking while focusing only on follow links reduces site structure efficiency.
Ignoring broken or redirected links, which can frustrate users and decrease SEO value.
Treating follow links as a shortcut for ranking instead of building genuine, high-quality connections.
FAQs
What is a follow link in SEO?
A follow link, or dofollow link, is a standard hyperlink that allows search engines to follow it and pass link equity (also known as “link juice”) to the linked page, potentially improving its search engine ranking.
How do follow links impact SEO?
Follow links contribute to a website’s SEO by transferring authority and trustworthiness from the linking page to the destination page, which can enhance the destination page’s visibility in search engine results.
Are all links follow links?
No, not all links are follow links. Links with the rel="nofollow" attribute instruct search engines not to follow the link or pass link equity, distinguishing them from follow links.
How can I identify a follow link?
Follow links are standard hyperlinks without the rel="nofollow" attribute. To identify them, inspect the link’s HTML code; if it lacks the rel="nofollow" attribute, it’s a follow link.
Why are follow links important for SEO?
Follow links are crucial for SEO because they help search engines discover new content, establish site authority, and improve rankings by passing link equity from reputable sources to the linked page.
