Follow vs. No Follow: Which link benefits you the most?

Are you a UK business looking to understand how to create a link building strategy to help your SEO? If so, read on.

Understanding Follow V’s No Follow:

In the world of SEO, link building plays a crucial role in improving website visibility and authority. Understanding the distinction between follow and no follow links is essential for crafting an effective link building strategy. Here at CTO Digital, we have a wealth of experience in building link strategies that enable businesses to dominate in their business sector. Here we will delve into the knowledge of our SEO team in view of giving you a better understanding of follow and no follow links.

The Importance of Link Building:

Link building involves acquiring hyperlinks from external websites that direct users to your own site. It establishes connections, enhances credibility, and signals to search engines the relevance and authority of your website.

How To Obtain Backlinks:

For UK business owners, understanding how to obtain backlinks is crucial for online success. Backlinks play a vital role in search engine rankings, credibility, and visibility. Knowing how to acquire quality backlinks from reputable sources helps boost organic traffic, increase brand exposure, and establish authority in the digital landscape, leading to improved business growth and profitability.

a) Content Creation: Crafting compelling and shareable content attracts natural links from other websites.

b) Outreach: Actively reaching out to relevant websites and influencers to secure guest posts or collaborative opportunities.

c) Directories and Citations: Submitting your business to reputable online directories helps build authoritative backlinks.

d) Social Media Engagement: Engaging with your audience on social platforms can lead to link opportunities.

Follow Links: The Power of Link Juice::

Follow links are HTML tags that pass link equity from the referring website to your site. They contribute to your website’s authority and can positively impact search engine rankings. Follow links are particularly valuable when obtained from reputable, relevant, and high-traffic websites.

No Follow Links: Beyond Direct SEO Value:

No follow links contain HTML tags that instruct search engines not to follow the link. While they do not directly contribute to search engine rankings, they still hold considerable benefits:

a) Referral Traffic: No follow links can generate targeted traffic to your website.

b) Brand Exposure: Even without passing link equity, no follow links expose your brand to a wider audience.

c) Natural Link Profile: A mix of follow and no follow links appears more natural to search engines, enhancing your website’s credibility.

Balancing Follow and No Follow Links::

A well-rounded link building strategy should include a mix of both follow and no follow links. While follow links directly impact search engine rankings, no follow links provide diversification, referral traffic, and brand exposure. Striking a balance between the two types helps create a natural link profile and maximises the benefits derived from link building efforts.

Responding to Reviews:

Engaging with customer reviews is crucial for both SEO and website conversion. Responding to reviews, whether positive or negative, demonstrates that your business values customer feedback and is dedicated to providing excellent service. Responding promptly and professionally can turn dissatisfied customers into loyal ones and create positive brand experiences. Search engines also consider review responses as an indication of active business engagement, further enhancing your SEO efforts.

Link Building Best Practices:

a) Relevance: Focus on acquiring links from websites relevant to your industry or niche.

b) Authority: Seek links from authoritative and reputable sources to enhance your website’s credibility.

c) Quality Over Quantity: Prioritise quality backlinks over a large number of low-quality links.

d) Diversify Anchor Text: Use varied anchor text to avoid over-optimisation and maintain a natural link profile.

Some questions we regularly get asked about backlinks..

Should you use no follow links?

Absolutely! No follow links play a crucial role in your overall backlink strategy. While follow links are highly valued by search engines, no follow links shouldn’t be overlooked. They contribute to a natural link profile, diversify your backlink portfolio, and enhance your website’s credibility. Moreover, using no follow links demonstrates ethical linking practices, which search engines appreciate.

Why do people use no follow links?

People utilise no follow links for various reasons, including:

• User-generated content: Websites with user-generated content, like forums or blog comments, often implement no follow links to prevent spam and maintain quality.
• Sponsored content: When endorsing products or services through sponsored content, search engines require no follow links to ensure transparency and avoid manipulation.
• Untrusted or unknown sources: Linking to untrusted or unknown sources can potentially harm your website’s reputation. Using no follow links adds an extra layer of protection.

Should I use follow or no follow?

It depends on your specific goals and circumstances. Follow links are beneficial for organic search rankings and passing link equity. They are typically preferred for authoritative and trusted websites. On the other hand, no follow links are useful when you want to avoid passing link equity, maintain a balanced link profile, or adhere to search engine guidelines. Both types of links have their place in a well-rounded SEO strategy.

Do no follow backlinks help?

Absolutely! While no follow links may not directly impact organic rankings, they offer several advantages, including:

• Referral traffic: No follow links can still drive valuable traffic to your website, increasing brand exposure and potential conversions.
• Brand visibility: When your website is mentioned on reputable platforms, even with a no follow link, it boosts your brand’s visibility and authority.
• Natural link profile: A diverse backlink profile consisting of both follow and no follow links appears more natural to search engines, improving your overall SEO efforts.

So, to follow or no follow:?

Follow and no follow links each play a unique role in enhancing your website’s visibility and authority. While follow links directly contribute to search engine rankings, no follow links offer valuable benefits such as referral traffic and brand exposure. A well-rounded link building strategy should incorporate both types, focusing on relevance, authority, and diversification. By partnering with CTO Digital, a leading SEO and web design agency, you can harness the power of link building to boost your online presence and drive success for your SME in the competitive UK market.

Need help with your link building? Does your website require strength to improve rankings? Want more leads to your website? Book a consultation now with one of our Customer Account Managers for a free assessment of your backlink profile. Mention this article and get 10% off any link order for the next 12 months.