How do you balance pursuing dofollow links versus building a natural link profile that includes both dofollow and nofollow attributes? What ratio has worked best in your experience?

Hi, Chris here. I run Visionary Marketing, specialist SEO and Google Ads agency in the UK. We've built link profiles for clients across dozens of niches so I've got a pretty firm view on this one. The short answer is that anyone obsessing over a specific dofollow-to-nofollow ratio is overthinking it. I've seen that advice floating around — "aim for 60/40" or "70/30 dofollow to nofollow" — and it's mostly nonsense. Google's algorithm isn't sitting there with a calculator checking your ratio. What it's looking for is whether your link profile looks like it happened naturally, and natural link profiles are messy. That said, here's what we've actually observed. We audited the backlink profiles of 34 sites ranking in the top 3 for competitive UK commercial keywords last year. The dofollow-to-nofollow split ranged from about 55/45 to 85/15. There was no magic number. The sites that ranked well had one thing in common: variety. Different anchor texts, links from different types of sites, a mix of follow and nofollow, and they accumulated gradually over time rather than in suspicious bursts. Where nofollow links genuinely matter is in two places most people miss. First, brand signals. A nofollow mention on a major news site or industry publication still tells Google your brand exists and people are talking about it. We had a client get a nofollow link from the BBC and saw their branded search volume increase 23% in the following month. You can't buy that with a dofollow guest post on some random blog. Second, referral traffic. One of our e-commerce clients gets more actual revenue from a nofollow link on a popular forum than from 15 dofollow links on low-traffic directories combined. The link doesn't pass PageRank but it passes customers, which is sort of the whole point. The real danger isn't having too many nofollow links. It's having too many dofollow links from obviously manufactured sources. If 90% of your profile is dofollow links from guest posts with exact-match anchors, that's a pattern Google can spot a mile away. We cleaned up a profile like that for a client in 2024. Took about 4 months of disavows and genuine link building to recover, and they'd lost roughly £8,000 in revenue during that period. My advice: stop chasing a ratio. Focus on earning links from sites where your actual audience hangs out. If some are nofollow, good. Chris Visionary Marketing chris@visionary-marketing.co.uk visionary-marketing.co.uk

In practice, I don't approach link building with a fixed dofollow versus nofollow ratio in mind, because search engines don't evaluate profiles based on an ideal percentage, they evaluate how natural and contextually credible the link profile looks over time. What we focus on instead is acquisition intent and source diversity. Dofollow links still carry the primary weight for ranking, so they remain a core objective, especially from high-authority, relevant domains through placements like editorial mentions, niche edits, and digital PR. However, an over-concentrated dofollow profile can look manipulated, particularly if those links are coming from similar types of sites or anchors. That's where nofollow links play an important role, not necessarily for direct ranking impact, but for building a realistic footprint and often driving qualified referral traffic. In many cases, strong nofollow links from platforms like major publications, forums, or social channels can indirectly contribute to SEO performance by increasing visibility, brand searches, and even attracting organic dofollow links over time. In terms of what has worked best, most of the healthy link profiles I've seen tend to land somewhere in the range of roughly 60 to 80 percent dofollow, with the remainder being nofollow, but this is more an observation than a target. The real priority is ensuring that links are earned from a mix of sources, have varied anchor text, and align with the site's topical relevance and growth stage. If a link profile looks like something that could realistically happen without deliberate manipulation, that is usually when it performs best.

I am an SEO Strategist, and I have learned that balancing different types of links is the only way to grow a website safely. When building a fitness app in Sweden, I grew our traffic from 10,000 to 500,000 monthly visitors by making our link profile look natural to search engines. In my experience, a 65:35 ratio works best. This means 65% of your links should pass direct authority, while the other 35% are "no-follow" links that come from forums, social media, or review sites. If you only have one type of link, Google will flag your site as suspicious. My strategy is very clear. I focus 65% of my effort on high quality news sites and tech podcasts for authority. I keep the other 35% on popular community forums like Reddit and local Swedish message boards to show that real people were talking about us. I use diverse linking to make sure our links look varied. About 45% used our brand name, 25% were just our website address, and 30% used specific keywords like "best fitness app." The prioritization of Swedish websites with a domain rating of 40 or higher is done. This helps us mimic the success of big local companies like Spotify. The implementation of these grew our traffic by 220% in eight months. We hit a top-three ranking for our most important search terms without ever getting penalized.

We have found that a steady mix of dofollow and nofollow links over time works best. It is not based on any trick but reflects how people interact online. Most people share content first before others start citing it. This pattern helps us understand how attention builds and shifts. We track this pattern in groups over time to see how pages grow. New pages often have more nofollow links because they are still being discussed. Older pages gain more dofollow links as they become trusted sources. If a page stays with mostly nofollow links, it shows the value is not clear enough. If it shifts to only dofollow links, it may mean outreach is too heavy.

I balance dofollow link pursuit with building a natural mix by prioritizing relevance and quality over any fixed percentage. In practice we filled business directory profiles and prioritized contextual dofollow opportunities from industry sites and HARO while accepting reputable nofollow links from directories and press. I did not track a strict numeric ratio; instead we used competitor backlink audits to guide where to focus outreach. That approach produced noticeable increases in referral traffic and a handful of leads without chasing an arbitrary dofollow-to-nofollow target.

We don't target a specific ratio. We focus on getting links from relevant, real publications and let the ratio sort itself out. That said, looking at the data across 12 client link profiles we manage, the ones growing fastest in organic traffic average around 60-65% dofollow and 35-40% nofollow. The profiles that looked most "natural" to us (and to Google, based on ranking performance) were never 90%+ dofollow. An unnaturally high dofollow percentage is a signal that links were bought or manufactured. Where our nofollow links come from: social media profiles (LinkedIn, Twitter bios), forum mentions, press releases, and some editorial mentions where the publication defaults to nofollow. We don't chase these on purpose. They happen as a byproduct of being active online. Where our dofollow links come from: expert contribution platforms like Featured, guest articles on industry blogs, client testimonials on partner websites, and resource page links from complementary businesses. These take more effort, but each one moves the needle. The one thing I'd warn against: spending energy trying to convert nofollow links into dofollow. We used to email publications asking them to change link attributes. The response rate was about 5% and the time spent wasn't worth it. Better to write another quality answer and earn a new dofollow link from scratch. For our own agency site, we went from a domain rating of 8 to 19 in four months. The link profile during that growth was roughly 58% dofollow, 42% nofollow. We prioritized dofollow opportunities (expert answers on dofollow publications) but never turned down a nofollow mention on a high-authority site. A nofollow link from a DA 85 publication still sends referral traffic and brand awareness. The practical rule: pursue every relevant link opportunity regardless of attribute. Prioritize dofollow when you have a choice. And if your profile ever tips above 80% dofollow, that's not a win. That's a red flag you should diversify.

The dofollow-nofollow balance question misses the larger point—LINK VALUE extends beyond PageRank transfer. Nofollow links from high-traffic authoritative sites drive referral visitors, build brand recognition, and create discovery pathways that dofollow links from obscure sources never achieve. One client's nofollow link from a major industry publication generated 340 referral visits and 12 qualified leads despite not directly impacting rankings through link equity. Our experience shows healthy profiles naturally contain 20-40% nofollow links from social media, news sites, and user-generated content platforms. One B2B client with 68% dofollow, 32% nofollow link profile ranks excellently because the mix looks organic—major publications naturally use nofollow while industry blogs and partner sites use dofollow. Trying to engineer 90%+ dofollow ratios requires rejecting valuable placements or building unnatural link profiles that trigger algorithmic scrutiny. The strategic approach: pursue links based on AUDIENCE RELEVANCE and authority, accepting whatever attributes those sources assign. We've never declined a placement in a tier-one publication because it was nofollow—the traffic, credibility, and indirect SEO benefits justify the effort. One Harvard Business Review mention (nofollow) elevated our perceived authority more than 50 dofollow links from marketing blogs, proving that link value transcends simple PageRank calculations.

A natural link profile should resemble digital word of mouth. Some mentions pass authority, others simply confirm visibility and relevance. That is why I do not separate dofollow and nofollow into good and bad categories. Search engines are better at spotting manipulation than ever, so an all-dofollow pattern can become a liability. A brand that is genuinely gaining attention will attract links from media sites, curated resources, public profiles, review platforms, and community discussions, each with its own attribute logic. The ratio that has consistently felt most resilient is about 65 percent dofollow and 35 percent nofollow. I have also seen strong performance with an even 60 to 40 split when a brand has broad public visibility. We pay closer attention to source diversity, link relevance, and anchor restraint because those factors shape trust at scale. If the profile looks slightly messy but believable, that is usually a positive sign. Clean-looking backlink charts often impress people, but realistic ones tend to perform better.

The dofollow-nofollow ratio question reflects outdated SEO thinking from when PageRank was the primary ranking factor. Modern algorithms evaluate LINK CONTEXT—the relevance of linking page content, the authority of linking domain, the naturalness of link placement, and user engagement signals from referral traffic. One highly contextual relevant nofollow link outperforms ten random dofollow links lacking topical connection to the linked page. Our data from 50+ client campaigns shows profiles with 25-45% nofollow links perform as well or better than those with 10% nofollow, assuming overall link quality remains high. One client deliberately building links from major publications (mostly nofollow) alongside industry partnerships (mostly dofollow) achieved better rankings than competitors focused exclusively on dofollow acquisition. The natural mix signaled legitimate authority rather than manipulative building. The approach that consistently works: build links for BUSINESS VALUE first, SEO value second. If a placement drives qualified traffic, builds brand authority, or reaches your target audience, the attribute is irrelevant. One placement in a major industry newsletter (nofollow) generated 67 consultation requests directly—far more business impact than dozens of dofollow links driving zero referral traffic. We measure link building success by business outcomes and rankings, not by achieving arbitrary attribute ratios that ignore actual value delivery.

Balancing dofollow and nofollow links really comes down to understanding how a natural link profile grows over time. At Local SEO Boost we learned early on that focusing too heavily on chasing dofollow links can actually make a profile look artificial. Real brands earn links from many different places. News articles, guest posts, and resource pages often produce dofollow links, while social media mentions, forum discussions, and many directories naturally show up as nofollow. When we review backlink profiles across clients, a healthy pattern often falls somewhere around sixty to seventy percent dofollow with the rest nofollow, although the exact ratio matters less than the diversity of sources. One campaign we ran produced about twenty dofollow links from industry blogs and local publications, along with roughly fifteen nofollow mentions from community sites and social platforms. Rankings improved steadily because the links came from genuine conversations and useful content rather than forced placements. At Local SEO Boost the focus stays on earning attention through helpful articles, local resources, and shareable insights. When the content is useful enough to reference, both types of links appear naturally and the overall profile grows in a way search engines trust.

Chasing only do follow links looks efficient on paper, yet it often creates a pattern that search engines read as manufactured rather than earned. At Scale by SEO, we treat link building the same way we approach content signals, it has to look and behave like something that could exist without intervention. That means a mix of placements from directories, editorial mentions, community sites, and branded citations, many of which naturally carry nofollow attributes. Ignoring those sources usually narrows your footprint and makes your backlink profile easier to flag. The balance that has held up well is less about hitting an exact ratio and more about matching what is already ranking in your space. In most campaigns, we see healthy profiles land somewhere around 60 to 70 percent do follow and 30 to 40 percent nofollow, though it shifts depending on the industry. The key is how those links are earned. A single strong editorial do follow link tied to a well built page will outperform ten low quality placements every time. Nofollow links still play a role in discovery and traffic, especially when they come from relevant platforms where real users engage. When both types are built through credible sources, the profile feels balanced and tends to perform more consistently over time.

In practice, I don't chase dofollow links aggressively. I focus on earning links that come naturally from content that genuinely helps people dealing with chronic pain. For our personal massager brand, we've seen better long-term rankings when our backlink profile looks organic, meaning a healthy mix of dofollow from editorial placements and nofollow from forums, social mentions, and product discussions. I typically aim for roughly a 60-70% dofollow to 30-40% nofollow ratio, but I treat that more as a byproduct than a target. High-intent placements like health blogs or physiotherapy sites tend to drive both authority and conversions, even if some links are nofollow. IMO, the real lever isn't the ratio. It's relevance, consistency, and making sure every link fits naturally into how real users discover and talk about pain relief solutions.

I used to chase dofollow links pretty aggressively. That's what everyone talks about, so it felt like the obvious thing to do. Clients asked for them, reports highlighted them, and we pushed hard in that direction. It didn't work the way I expected. We'd build these link profiles that looked clean on paper, a lot of dofollow placements, decent sites, but rankings didn't move much. In some cases they stalled. When I started digging into it, the pattern was too obvious. It didn't look like how real sites earn links. It looked like we were trying to control everything. That's where the shift happened. Instead of thinking in terms of dofollow versus nofollow, we started looking at how the whole profile felt. Real sites pick up links from everywhere. Some are dofollow, some aren't. Some come from articles, some from directories, some from random mentions you didn't plan for. It's messy. Nofollow links ended up being more useful than I gave them credit for. Not because they pass authority directly, but because they make everything else look more natural. They also bring traffic sometimes, which people ignore. A mention in the right place, even if it's nofollow, can still do something. At this point, we don't chase link types. We focus on placements that make sense for the brand and the audience. If it's relevant, we go for it. Whether it ends up dofollow or nofollow isn't the main decision point anymore. As for ratios, I've never seen a fixed number that works across the board. Every site ends up looking a bit different. The moment you start trying to hit a specific percentage, you're forcing something that shouldn't be forced. If your link profile looks too perfect, it's probably the problem.

Chasing a fixed ratio usually leads to overthinking. Search engines don't reward a "perfect mix," they reward natural patterns over time. A better way to handle this is to treat nofollow links as part of demand generation, not something to avoid. One approach that tends to work: Focus outreach on placements that bring relevant traffic or credibility Let the link type be a byproduct, not the goal For example, links from communities, PR mentions, or platforms often come as nofollow, but they: Drive real visitors Build brand signals Sometimes get picked up later by other sites as dofollow In practice, a healthy profile often ends up somewhere around: 60-80% dofollow 20-40% nofollow But that's not something to force. It usually happens when acquisition is done right. One decision that made a difference was stopping the filtering of opportunities based on link type. Earlier, only dofollow opportunities were prioritized. After opening it up: More placements were secured Referral traffic improved Organic links started coming in naturally from secondary sources So this can be the best possible mindset: Build links where your audience actually is Accept nofollow as part of a credible footprint Avoid patterns that look engineered If a backlink profile looks "too clean," it often raises more flags than one that looks a bit messy but real.

I don't chase a fixed dofollow vs nofollow ratio—I focus on natural link velocity and diversity. In real-world profiles, a healthy mix typically lands around 60-80% dofollow and 20-40% nofollow, but the exact ratio matters less than relevance and authenticity. Nofollow links from high-traffic sources (like forums, directories, or social platforms) still drive referral traffic, brand signals, and can indirectly support rankings. My approach is to prioritize editorial, contextual dofollow links from relevant sites, while naturally earning nofollow links through PR, communities, and content distribution. I also monitor anchor text diversity and link sources to avoid patterns that look manipulative. The key is to build links the way a real brand would—across multiple channels and formats. When your profile looks organic and diversified, search engines trust it more, which ultimately has a stronger and more sustainable SEO impact.

After the 2024 Google algorithm change, our collaborations with niche micro-influencers demonstrated that earning natural backlinks mattered more than targeting a fixed dofollow:nofollow split, and those efforts drove a 20% traffic increase. From that work I avoid prescribing a strict ratio and focus on relevance and authority instead. I aim to earn dofollow links from high-quality publishers while recognizing that social shares and platform mentions will often be nofollow. That mix keeps the profile natural and resilient while supporting steady traffic growth.

Balancing dofollow versus nofollow links isn't about playing numbers; it's about building a natural, credible backlink profile that supports both SEO authority and real-world visibility. Search engines expect a mix of link types because real sites don't earn only one kind; they get mentions from social platforms, forums, directories, and news sites, as well as editorial and guest posts. From a tactical standpoint, I pursue dofollow links from highly authoritative, relevant sites first because they directly pass ranking power (link equity) and help improve domain authority and visibility in search results. These are typically from industry publications, partner blogs, and major content syndication placements. But I never chase dofollow exclusively; that's what makes a link profile look unnatural or even manipulative to Google's algorithms. At the same time, I intentionally embrace nofollow links because they: Diversify the profile, signaling organic mentions rather than curated link schemes Drive referral traffic and brand discovery from places like social media, forums, and community sites Lead to secondary wins, where exposure from a nofollow link can generate future dofollow links organically. A practical rule of thumb that's worked well for me and aligns with research from multiple SEO practitioners is to aim for roughly 60-70% dofollow and 30-40% nofollow across the backlink profile. This range represents a natural pattern seen in high-ranking websites and avoids the risk of algorithmic red flags that come with overly skewed dofollow profiles. Crucially, the focus isn't blindly hitting a ratio; it's about quality over quantity. A single high-authority dofollow link from a top publication often outweighs dozens of lower-value links, and a nofollow link from a widely read industry forum can send valuable traffic and brand awareness. I monitor both the diversity of linking domains and referral engagement metrics, adjusting tactics when I see clusters of one type that don't reflect organic growth. In essence: pursue dofollow for authority; welcome nofollow for natural diversity and traffic; and let relevance and quality, not rigid percentages, guide where you invest your link-building effort.

We balance by focusing on discovery first and authority second. If a mention helps the reader take the next step, we see value in it regardless of the link type. This approach helps us avoid ignoring trusted publishers that often use nofollow links. These mentions can still lead to more links from smaller sites that may use dofollow. In our process, we review new links each month using a few simple checks. We look at topical alignment, reader signals like comments or shares, and whether the anchor feels natural. If these are present, we keep the link even if it is nofollow. Over time, the mix balances on its own without forcing ratios. If the pattern looks extreme, it often means we relied too much on one method.

I don't approach it with a fixed ratio first. I start with what looks natural for the niche, then let that guide the mix. In most industries, a perfectly "optimized" dofollow-heavy profile actually looks suspicious. Real websites naturally earn a mix of both. In practice, I focus on acquiring strong, relevant links regardless of attribute, then let the ratio form organically. That said, from what I've seen across projects, a profile that lands somewhere around 60-80% dofollow and 20-40% nofollow tends to look healthy and stable. But I don't force that number. If you chase a ratio, you usually end up building links that don't make sense. The real balance comes from source diversity. For example: - Editorial placements and guest content - mostly dofollow - Social platforms, forums, directories, PR mentions - mostly nofollow When both are present, the profile looks natural because it reflects how links actually happen on the web. What changed my approach was realizing that nofollow links play a structural role. They bring referral traffic, diversify anchor distribution, and reduce the risk of over-optimization. In some cases, I've seen nofollow links indirectly support rankings by driving engagement and visibility. So instead of asking "is this dofollow?", I ask: - Is this site relevant? - Does it have real traffic or authority? - Does the link placement make sense contextually? If those are solid, I take the link. The balance takes care of itself, and the profile stays both effective and safe long-term.

I approach link building by focusing on "Authority Signal Integrity," where the goal isn't just to hoard "dofollow" juice but to mimic the organic behavior of a high-trust, technical brand that people naturally talk about. A profile that is 100% "dofollow" is a massive red flag for search engines because it suggests a manufactured, "pay-to-play" strategy rather than genuine editorial merit. In my experience, a ratio of roughly 70% dofollow to 30% nofollow has been the "sweet spot" for maintaining high velocity in rankings while staying firmly within a natural, resilient profile. This balance works because high-authority "nofollow" links—like those from top-tier news outlets, Wikipedia, or high-traffic forums—provide immense "referral traffic" and brand signals that Google's modern algorithms use to validate the relevance of your "dofollow" links. By prioritizing the quality of the referring domain over the technical attribute, you build a "moat" around your SEO that is far harder for competitors to replicate or for algorithm updates to penalize.