Follow Links
Follow links are hyperlinks that let users and search engines move from one web page to another, usually from one site to a target page on another site.
Key takeaways
- Follow links are the default hyperlink type and pass authority to the linked page.
- They are essential for link building because they help pages rank higher.
- Quality and relevance of the linking site matter more than the number of links.
- Earn follow links through great content, outreach, and digital PR — never buy them.
- Use tools like Ahrefs or MozBar to check if a link is follow or nofollow.
For SEO, follow links can pass discovery, relevance signals, and authority from the linking page to the destination page, which is why they matter in link building and rankings.
Example
A food blog writes a review of a kitchen gadget and links to the product page on an e‑commerce site. That link is a follow link — it helps search engines discover the product page and may pass some authority from the blog to the product page.
When should I use this?
- Link building campaigns — to earn editorial backlinks that boost rankings.
- Content promotion — when you want other sites to link to your content naturally.
- Partnerships and digital PR — to get mentions and links from relevant, authoritative sources.
- Internal linking — though internal links are also follow by default, they serve a different purpose (site navigation and topic clustering).
What it is not
- Nofollow links — these have
rel="nofollow"and do not pass authority. - Sponsored links — marked with
rel="sponsored"for paid placements. - UGC links — marked with
rel="ugc"for user-generated content. - Internal links — these connect pages within the same domain, not across different sites.
Quick start
- Create high-quality content that others want to reference (guides, original research, tools).
- Identify relevant sites in your niche using tools like Ahrefs or Moz.
- Reach out with a personalized pitch explaining why your content adds value to their audience.
- Earn the link — if they agree, they add a follow link naturally.
- Monitor your backlinks with Search Console or a backlink checker to track new follow links.
Common mistakes
- Assuming any follow link is good — low-quality or irrelevant sites can hurt your credibility.
- Buying or trading links — this violates Google’s guidelines and can lead to penalties.
- Confusing follow links with internal links — they serve different SEO roles.
- Chasing quantity over quality — a few authoritative links outperform hundreds of spammy ones.
Next step
FAQ
What is a follow link in SEO?
A follow link is a hyperlink that search engines can crawl and follow. It passes link equity and helps the linked page rank higher.
What is the difference between follow and nofollow links?
Follow links pass authority and can be crawled; nofollow links tell search engines not to pass authority or follow the link for ranking purposes.
Are all backlinks follow links?
No. Backlinks can be follow or nofollow. Follow backlinks are the ones that typically contribute to ranking.
How do I check if a link is follow or nofollow?
You can view the page source or use browser extensions like MozBar or Ahrefs Toolbar to see the rel attribute.
Related topics
Sources
- Google Search Central — Official guidance on how Google discovers and evaluates links as part of SEO fundamentals.
- Google Search Central — Explains crawlable links and how Google finds pages through links.
- Moz Beginner's Guide to Link Building — Clear, widely cited explanation of link building and backlinks in SEO.
- Ahrefs SEO Glossary — Concise definition and practical framing of link building and backlinks.
- Yoast Link Building Guide — Accessible explanation of links as signals of trust and authority.
Reviewed by Lucía Marín, Founding editor.