By Mark Wood, owner of Mark Wood Official. Last updated: November 11, 2026.
When you buy a guest post, you will often choose between a dofollow and a nofollow link. Here is what each one means, and how to think about which one to buy.
The three link types
- Dofollow. A normal link. Search engines can follow it and may treat it as a vote for your site.
- Nofollow. The link has a tag that tells search engines not to pass credit. It can still bring real visitors.
- Sponsored. A tag meant for paid or sponsored links.
Link Types at a Glance
| Link type | What it looks like in the code | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Dofollow | A normal link with no rel value | Editorial links, and links that sellers offer as dofollow |
| Nofollow | rel=”nofollow” | Links a site does not want to vouch for, often used on guest posts |
| Sponsored | rel=”sponsored” | Paid placements and advertisements |
| UGC | rel=”ugc” | User-generated content such as comments and forum posts |
Why a healthy link profile uses both
Real websites receive a mix of link types. A profile made only of dofollow links can look unnatural. Nofollow and sponsored links still help your brand get seen, bring visitors, and make your profile look more natural.
How to Check If a Link Is Dofollow or Nofollow
- Open the page where your link appears.
- Right-click your link and choose Inspect in Chrome or Edge.
- Look at the highlighted link tag. If you see rel=”nofollow”, rel=”sponsored” or rel=”ugc”, the link is qualified.
- If there is no rel value, or only “noopener”, it is a normal dofollow link.
You can also right-click the page, choose View page source, press Ctrl+F and search for your domain name to see the code around your link.
What Google Recommends
Google’s guide to qualifying outbound links says to mark advertisements and paid placements with rel=”sponsored”, and user-generated content such as comments and forum posts with rel=”ugc”. Its spam policies add that sponsorship links are not a violation as long as they are qualified with rel=”nofollow” or rel=”sponsored”.
In practice, this means a dofollow link that someone paid for carries more risk than a nofollow or sponsored one. Keep your volume reasonable, choose relevant sites, and do not rely on links alone. Our guide on why a guest post may not be indexed explains another common problem.
An honest note about paid links
Google asks that paid links be marked as sponsored or nofollow. Paid dofollow links carry more risk, and no one can promise rankings. Think carefully about your goals and how many links you build, and do not rely on links alone.
How to choose
- If you want visitors and brand exposure, a nofollow link on a relevant, high-traffic site can be a good choice.
- If you want to strengthen your link profile, mix dofollow links from relevant sites with nofollow ones, and build slowly.
- Always check the site first. Look at the traffic, the niche and the example post.
Filter by link type on Markwood
Every site on our All Sites page shows its link type. Tick “Dofollow only” to see only dofollow sites, or leave it off to compare both. Questions? Contact us.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between dofollow and nofollow?
A dofollow link is a normal link with no rel value. A nofollow link carries rel=”nofollow”, which tells search engines not to treat the link as an endorsement. Both look the same to a human reader.
Is a nofollow link useless?
No. A nofollow link can still bring real visitors and brand awareness, and it makes a link profile look more natural.
Does Google want guest post links to be nofollow?
Google asks that links in sponsored and paid content be qualified with rel=”sponsored” or rel=”nofollow”. Publishing or acquiring excessive sponsored and guest posts without proper link tags can lead to algorithmic and manual actions.
How can I check if my link is dofollow or nofollow?
Right-click your link on the page and choose Inspect. If the link tag shows rel=”nofollow” or rel=”sponsored”, it is qualified. If it has no rel value, it is a normal dofollow link.
Should I buy only dofollow links?
Not necessarily. A healthy link profile uses a mix, and paid dofollow links carry more risk. Choose relevant sites with real traffic first, then think about the link type.