If you’ve been doing SEO for any length of time, you’ve probably heard the term “dofollow links” thrown around. But what are dofollow links, really? And more importantly, why should you care about them if you’re running a business in Singapore and trying to rank on Google?
I’m Jim Ng, and over the years at Best Marketing Agency, I’ve watched link building evolve from a Wild West of directory submissions to one of the most nuanced, technically demanding parts of SEO. Dofollow links remain at the core of how Google decides which pages deserve to rank. They’re not the only factor, but they’re one of the hardest to fake and one of the most rewarding to earn.
Let me walk you through exactly how dofollow links work, the ten specific advantages they bring to your site, and the practical dos and don’ts that separate smart link building from the kind that gets you penalised.
Dofollow Links Explained in Plain English
Every hyperlink on the web is either dofollow or nofollow. A dofollow link is the default state of any HTML link. When you create a standard <a href="..."> tag without adding a rel="nofollow" attribute, it’s automatically dofollow.
What does that mean in practice? It means Google’s crawler will follow that link, land on the destination page, and pass along a portion of the linking page’s authority. The SEO community calls this “link equity” or “link juice.” Think of it as a recommendation letter. When The Straits Times links to your article about CPF investment strategies, Google interprets that as a credible source vouching for your content.
Nofollow links, by contrast, include a rel="nofollow" attribute that tells search engines, “I’m linking here, but I’m not endorsing this page.” Google introduced the nofollow attribute back in 2005 primarily to combat comment spam. Since then, additional attributes like rel="sponsored" and rel="ugc" have been added to give webmasters more granular control.
How Google Actually Processes Dofollow Links
Google’s PageRank algorithm, the original foundation of its ranking system, was built entirely around the concept of links as votes. While PageRank has evolved significantly since Larry Page’s Stanford paper, the fundamental principle remains. A dofollow link from a relevant, authoritative page transfers measurable ranking power to the destination URL.
Here’s what happens technically when Googlebot encounters a dofollow link:
- The crawler discovers the link on the source page during a routine crawl.
- It follows the link to the destination URL and adds it to Google’s crawl queue (if not already indexed).
- Google evaluates the relationship between the source page, the anchor text, and the destination page.
- A portion of the source page’s authority flows to the destination, weighted by factors like relevance, the source’s own authority, and the number of other outbound links on that page.
This is why a single dofollow link from a high-authority page like a government .gov.sg domain or a major news outlet can move the needle more than 50 links from obscure blogs. Quality is not just a nice-to-have. It’s the entire game.
The Role of Dofollow Links in Modern SEO
Let me be direct. You cannot rank competitively for valuable commercial keywords in Singapore without dofollow backlinks. I’ve audited hundreds of Singapore business websites, and the pattern is consistent. Sites that rank on page one for terms like “corporate secretary Singapore” or “commercial renovation contractor” almost always have stronger backlink profiles than those stuck on page three.
In a 2023 analysis by Ahrefs covering 14 million keywords, the number one ranking result had an average of 3.8 times more backlinks than positions two through ten. That’s not a marginal difference. That’s a structural advantage.
Dofollow links influence your rankings through three primary mechanisms:
First, they pass authority. Each quality dofollow link increases your page’s perceived trustworthiness in Google’s eyes. Second, they accelerate indexing. Google discovers new content by following links, so pages with inbound dofollow links get crawled and indexed faster. Third, they establish topical relevance. When fitness websites link to your fitness content, Google gains confidence that your page genuinely belongs in fitness-related search results.
For Singapore businesses competing in tight local markets, this matters enormously. If you’re a dental clinic in Orchard trying to rank for “teeth whitening Singapore,” the clinics outranking you almost certainly have more (and better) dofollow links than you do.
10 Advantages of Using Dofollow Links
1. Measurable Improvement in Search Engine Rankings
This is the most direct benefit, and I want to quantify it rather than just state it. One of our clients, a B2B SaaS company targeting the Southeast Asian market, went from position 14 to position 3 for their primary keyword after acquiring 12 high-quality dofollow links over a six-month period. Their on-page SEO didn’t change. The content stayed the same. The only variable was the new backlinks.
Google’s own documentation confirms that links remain one of the top ranking signals. When a reputable Singapore business directory or industry publication links to your page, it’s a direct signal to Google that your content deserves to rank higher.
Actionable step: Use Ahrefs or SEMrush to identify the top five ranking pages for your target keyword. Compare their backlink profiles to yours. The gap you see is likely the gap you need to close.
2. Builds Domain Authority Over Time
Domain Authority (DA) is a metric created by Moz that predicts how well a website will rank. While it’s not a Google metric, it correlates strongly with actual rankings because it’s calculated based on your backlink profile. Domain Rating (DR) from Ahrefs works similarly.
Every quality dofollow link you earn contributes to your overall domain authority. This creates a compounding effect. A site with a DR of 45 will find it easier to rank new pages than a site with a DR of 15, even if the content quality is identical. It’s like building a reputation. The more credible endorsements you collect, the easier it becomes to earn trust for everything you do.
For context, most small Singapore business websites sit between DR 5 and DR 20. Moving from DR 15 to DR 30 can be transformative for your ability to rank for competitive local keywords.
Actionable step: Check your current DR using Ahrefs’ free website authority checker. Then check your top three competitors. Set a realistic target to close the gap by 10 points over the next 12 months through consistent link acquisition.
3. Establishes Real Credibility with Both Google and Humans
Here’s something that often gets overlooked. Dofollow links don’t just signal credibility to algorithms. They signal credibility to actual people. When a potential customer sees your business mentioned and linked on a respected industry site, their trust in you increases before they even visit your page.
Think about it from a Singapore context. If your accounting firm gets a dofollow link from the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA) website, that carries weight with both Google and with the business owner who’s deciding between you and the firm down the street. It’s the digital equivalent of having your hawker stall recommended by a Michelin inspector. People notice.
Actionable step: Identify the three to five most respected publications or industry bodies in your niche. Create a plan to earn a mention or link from each one, whether through expert commentary, original research, or genuine partnership.
4. Drives Qualified Referral Traffic
Dofollow links don’t just help with rankings. They also send real visitors directly to your site. And these aren’t random visitors. They’re people who were already reading content related to your industry, which makes them significantly more likely to convert.
One of our e-commerce clients received a dofollow link from a popular Singapore lifestyle blog. That single link drove 340 visitors in the first month, with a conversion rate of 4.2%, nearly double their organic search conversion rate. Why? Because those visitors arrived with context. They’d already read a positive mention of the brand and were primed to buy.
Actionable step: Track referral traffic in Google Analytics 4. Set up UTM parameters for any links you actively build so you can measure not just traffic but actual conversions from each backlink source.
5. Accelerates Content Indexing and Discovery
If you’ve ever published a new page and waited days or weeks for Google to index it, you know how frustrating the process can be. Dofollow links from already-crawled pages significantly speed this up.
Google’s crawlers follow links to discover new content. When a well-established page with frequent crawl activity links to your new blog post, Googlebot is likely to discover and index your page within hours rather than days. This is especially valuable for time-sensitive content like event pages, seasonal promotions, or commentary on regulatory changes (think new IRAS tax guidelines or MAS fintech regulations).
Actionable step: After publishing new content, reach out to one or two relevant sites that might naturally link to it. Even getting one dofollow link from a frequently crawled site can cut your indexing time dramatically. You can verify indexing speed in Google Search Console under the URL Inspection tool.
6. Provides Compounding, Long-Term SEO Value
This is where dofollow links differ fundamentally from paid advertising. When you stop paying for Google Ads, your traffic drops to zero immediately. When you earn a dofollow link, it continues passing authority for as long as the linking page exists.
I’ve seen backlinks from 2018 still driving ranking improvements in 2026. That’s six years of continuous value from a single piece of outreach. Compare that to a Google Ads campaign where you might spend $3 to $8 per click for competitive Singapore keywords. Over six years, a single high-quality dofollow link can be worth thousands of dollars in equivalent paid traffic.
Actionable step: Build a spreadsheet tracking every dofollow link you earn, including the date acquired, the source domain’s authority, and the target page. Review it quarterly to ensure links are still live. If a link drops, reach out to the webmaster to understand why.
7. Improves Click-Through Rates in Search Results
According to Backlinko’s analysis of 4 million Google search results, the number one organic result receives an average CTR of 27.6%. Position two drops to 15.8%, and position three falls to 11%. Every position you climb through dofollow link building translates directly into more clicks.
But there’s a secondary effect too. Pages with strong backlink profiles are more likely to earn rich snippets, featured snippets, and other enhanced SERP features. These visual enhancements make your listing stand out, further increasing CTR even at the same position.
For Singapore businesses, this is particularly relevant for local pack results. A strong backlink profile combined with solid Google Business Profile optimisation can help you appear in the coveted three-pack for local searches like “physiotherapy near me” or “best dim sum Chinatown.”
Actionable step: Monitor your CTR for target keywords in Google Search Console. If you’re ranking in positions four to seven with a low CTR, improving your backlink profile to push into the top three could double or triple your clicks without any changes to your content.
8. Strengthens Your Topical Authority in a Specific Niche
Google’s Helpful Content system and its emphasis on E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) mean that topical authority matters more than ever. Dofollow links from niche-relevant sites are one of the strongest signals of topical authority.
Here’s a practical example. If you run a pet grooming business in Singapore and you earn dofollow links from the Singapore Kennel Club, a veterinary blog, and a local pet adoption charity, Google builds a clear picture. Your site is a trusted resource in the pet care space. This makes it easier to rank for every pet-related keyword you target, not just the specific pages that received links.
Contrast that with random links from unrelated sites. A dofollow link from a cryptocurrency forum to your pet grooming page looks unnatural and provides minimal topical benefit.
Actionable step: Map out the “topical ecosystem” around your business. List 20 websites that are topically relevant to your niche. These are your ideal link targets. Prioritise outreach to these sites over generic directories.
9. Amplifies Your Content Marketing ROI
You’ve invested time and money creating a detailed guide, an original research piece, or a comprehensive how-to article. Without dofollow links, that content may sit on page four of Google where nobody finds it. With dofollow links, the same content can reach page one and generate traffic for years.
Content marketing and link building are not separate strategies. They’re two halves of the same coin. The best content naturally attracts links, and strategic outreach ensures that your best content gets the visibility it deserves.
I always tell our clients: don’t create content and hope links come. Create content specifically designed to earn links, then actively promote it. A well-researched piece on “GST changes affecting Singapore SMEs in 2026” is far more linkable than a generic “5 tips for small businesses” post.
Actionable step: Audit your existing content library. Identify the three pieces with the highest potential for earning links (original data, unique insights, comprehensive guides). Invest in updating and promoting these pieces first before creating new content.
10. Creates a Sustainable Foundation for Link Building Campaigns
Every dofollow link you earn makes the next one easier to get. This is the flywheel effect of link building. As your domain authority grows, your content ranks higher, which increases its visibility, which naturally attracts more links, which further increases your authority.
I’ve watched this play out repeatedly with Singapore businesses. A new site struggles to earn its first 10 quality backlinks. But once it crosses a certain authority threshold, links start coming organically because the site now appears in search results where journalists, bloggers, and content creators discover it.
Building this flywheel takes patience. Most Singapore businesses should expect six to twelve months of consistent effort before the compounding effect becomes noticeable. But once it kicks in, the results are remarkably durable.
Actionable step: Set monthly link acquisition targets. For a new site, aim for two to four quality dofollow links per month. For an established site, aim for five to ten. Track your progress against your domain rating to see the compounding effect in action.
The Dos and Don’ts of Dofollow Link Building
Dofollow links are powerful, which is exactly why they’ve been abused. Google has spent over two decades refining its ability to detect manipulative link building. If you cut corners, you’ll pay for it. Here’s how to stay on the right side of the line.
Do: Prioritise Relevance and Quality Over Volume
One dofollow link from a DR 60 site in your industry is worth more than 100 links from random DR 10 blogs. Google’s algorithms evaluate the relevance of the linking site, the authority of the linking page, the context of the link, and the anchor text used.
Before pursuing any link, ask yourself: “Would this link make sense even if search engines didn’t exist?” If the answer is yes, it’s a good link to pursue. If you’re only chasing it for SEO value, it’s probably not worth the risk.
Don’t: Buy Links from Link Farms or PBNs
Private Blog Networks (PBNs) and link farms are networks of low-quality websites created solely to sell backlinks. Google’s SpamBrain algorithm has become remarkably effective at identifying these networks. The penalty for getting caught ranges from individual page demotions to a full manual action that removes your entire site from search results.
I’ve seen Singapore businesses lose 80% of their organic traffic overnight after a manual penalty for unnatural links. The recovery process takes months and requires disavowing every toxic link, then filing a reconsideration request. It’s never worth the shortcut.
Do: Build Links Through Genuine Relationships and Valuable Content
The most sustainable dofollow links come from real relationships. Guest posting on a respected industry blog, contributing expert quotes to journalists through platforms like HARO or Qwoted, creating original research that others want to cite. These approaches take more effort but produce links that last.
In the Singapore context, consider contributing to local business publications like Singapore Business Review, The Business Times, or industry-specific portals. Offer genuine expertise, not thinly veiled promotional content.
Don’t: Over-Optimise Your Anchor Text
Anchor text is the clickable text of a hyperlink. If every dofollow link pointing to your page uses the exact same keyword-rich anchor text like “best renovation contractor Singapore,” Google will flag this as manipulative. Natural backlink profiles have diverse anchor text including branded terms, generic phrases like “click here” or “this article,” naked URLs, and occasional keyword variations.
A healthy anchor text distribution looks roughly like this: 30-40% branded anchors, 20-30% generic or naked URL anchors, 20-30% partial match keyword anchors, and only 5-10% exact match keyword anchors.
Do: Audit Your Backlink Profile Regularly
Links can become toxic over time. A legitimate site that linked to you three years ago might have been sold and turned into a spam site. A competitor might engage in negative SEO by pointing thousands of junk links at your domain.
Run a backlink audit at least quarterly using Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Google Search Console. Look for sudden spikes in low-quality links, links from irrelevant foreign-language sites, or links from pages that no longer exist. Use Google’s Disavow Tool to neutralise any toxic links you can’t get removed manually.
Don’t: Use Dofollow Links in Sponsored Content Without Proper Markup
If you’re paying for a sponsored post or advertorial, the links within it must use rel="sponsored" or rel="nofollow". Google’s guidelines are explicit about this. Passing dofollow links through paid placements without disclosure violates their webmaster guidelines and can result in penalties for both the linking site and yours.
This is particularly relevant in Singapore where influencer marketing and sponsored content are common. If you’re working with bloggers or content creators, make sure the link attributes are set correctly before the content goes live.
Do: Diversify Your Link Sources
A natural backlink profile includes links from a variety of source types. Editorial mentions in news articles, guest posts on industry blogs, resource page inclusions, business directory listings, social profiles, and citations from academic or government sources. If all your dofollow links come from a single type of source, it looks unnatural.
Aim for a mix. Some links from Singapore-based sites, some from international sites. Some from high-authority domains, some from smaller niche blogs. Some from content you created, some from content others created about you. Diversity is a hallmark of an organic, trustworthy backlink profile.
How to Check If a Link Is Dofollow
This is a question I get surprisingly often. There are three simple ways to check.
Method 1: Inspect the HTML. Right-click the link in your browser and select “Inspect” or “Inspect Element.” Look at the <a> tag. If there’s no rel="nofollow", rel="sponsored", or rel="ugc" attribute, the link is dofollow by default.
Method 2: Use a browser extension. Extensions like NoFollow, Link Redirect Trace, or MozBar will highlight nofollow links on any page, making it easy to identify which links are dofollow.
Method 3: Use a backlink analysis tool. Ahrefs, SEMrush, and Moz all show the dofollow/nofollow status of every backlink in their databases. This is the most efficient method when auditing your entire backlink profile.
Dofollow vs Nofollow: Do You Need Both?
Yes. A natural backlink profile includes both dofollow and nofollow links. If 100% of your backlinks are dofollow, that actually looks suspicious to Google because it suggests manipulation.
Nofollow links from social media profiles, forum mentions, Wikipedia citations, and press releases all contribute to a natural-looking profile. They may not pass direct link equity, but Google has confirmed that nofollow is treated as a “hint” rather than a directive since 2019. This means some nofollow links may still influence rankings, particularly from very high-authority sources.
The practical takeaway: focus your active link building efforts on earning dofollow links, but don’t stress about nofollow links appearing in your profile. They’re a natural and healthy part of any backlink portfolio.
Start Building Your Dofollow Link Profile the Right Way
Dofollow links are not a magic bullet. They won’t fix a site with poor technical SEO, thin content, or a terrible user experience. But for a well-built site with solid content, they are often the missing piece that separates page three from page one.
If you’re a Singapore business owner reading this and thinking, “I know I need better backlinks but I don’t have the time or team to do this properly,” you’re not alone. Link building is one of the most time-intensive parts of SEO, and it requires a combination of content creation, outreach, relationship building, and technical knowledge.
At bestseo.sg, we build dofollow link profiles for Singapore businesses using white-hat methods that hold up over time. No PBNs, no link farms, no shortcuts that put your site at risk. If you’d like us to audit your current backlink profile and show you exactly where the gaps are, reach out for a free consultation. No obligations, just a clear picture of where you stand and what it would take to move up.