How to Get a Dofollow Backlink: Complete Guide for 2026

What Is a Dofollow Backlink?

A dofollow backlink is a hyperlink that passes SEO authority from one site to another. When a website links to yours without a rel="nofollow" tag, Google treats it as a signal that your content is worth referencing. That signal contributes directly to your rankings.

In practice, the difference is simple. A dofollow link tells search engines: follow this link and count it toward the linked site's authority. A nofollow link tells them: ignore this link for ranking purposes.

Not all backlinks are equal. A dofollow link from a relevant DR68+ site carries more weight than a dozen nofollow links from low-quality directories. This is why knowing where and how to get dofollow backlinks matters for any SEO strategy.

Why Dofollow Backlinks Still Matter in 2026

Link building has evolved, but dofollow backlinks remain one of the top three ranking factors in Google's algorithm. Here is what changed and what did not.

What changed: Google got better at ignoring spammy links. Relevance and topical authority now matter more than raw link count. A dofollow link from a site in your niche is worth ten times more than one from an unrelated directory.

What did not change: Dofollow links still pass PageRank. They still signal trust. A site with a strong dofollow backlink profile consistently outranks one without, all else being equal.

For a deeper look at what makes a backlink valuable, read our guide on what makes a high-quality backlink in 2026.

#1 Way - ShowMySites: Instant Dofollow Backlink From a DR68+ Site

The fastest way to get a dofollow backlink in 2026 is to submit your product to ShowMySites. Every listing on our platform includes a permanent dofollow backlink from a DR68+ site - completely free.

Here is why it works:

• Instant dofollow. Your listing page includes a dofollow link to your site from the moment it goes live. No waiting, no review process for the link itself.
• DR68+ authority. Our domain rating ensures the link carries real SEO value. A backlink from a DR68 site is significantly stronger than one from a low-authority directory.
• Permanent listing. Unlike launch platforms where your link disappears after the campaign, your ShowMySites listing stays indexed as long as your project is active.
• Free. Submitting your product costs nothing. You get the listing, the backlink, and the visibility without spending a cent.
• Category relevance. Your product gets listed alongside other SaaS, AI tools, and digital projects - creating contextual relevance that strengthens the link's value.

Create your account and submit your project. It takes about 5 minutes, and you walk away with a dofollow backlink that starts working for you immediately.

Launch Platforms With Dofollow Backlinks

Several launch platforms provide dofollow backlinks as part of their listing. These are particularly useful for new products that need both visibility and SEO value.

Smol Launch

A weekly launch platform for indie makers. The Premium tier ($29) includes a dofollow backlink from a permanent indexed listing. Products are featured for a full week, which gives more sustained exposure than a single-day launch.

Launching Next

Free directory listing with a permanent dofollow backlink. No paid upgrade required. A good addition to any launch stack for founders focused on SEO from day one.

TinyLaunch

Caters to micro-SaaS and side projects. Offers dofollow backlinks on paid tiers. The community is supportive and focused on smaller products, making it a good fit for early-stage launches.

DevHunt

Built for developer tools. Dofollow backlinks are available on paid tiers. If your product targets developers, the audience relevance makes this a strong pick.

Review Platforms With Dofollow Backlinks

Review and comparison platforms are some of the highest-authority sources of dofollow backlinks. The tradeoff: you need user reviews to maximize their value.

G2

The largest B2B review platform with a Domain Rating of 92. Your product page includes a dofollow backlink. Encourage happy users to leave reviews - each review improves your ranking on G2 and compounds the SEO value of your listing.

Capterra

Owned by Gartner. DR 91. Free basic listing with a dofollow backlink. Optimize your profile with keyword-rich descriptions and accurate pricing to get the most out of this listing.

SourceForge

One of the oldest software directories with 22.5 million monthly visits. Free to list with a dofollow backlink. Especially effective for developer tools and open-source projects.

Business Listing Platforms

These platforms are often overlooked for backlinks but provide consistent dofollow links with strong domain authority.

Crunchbase

DR 91. A Crunchbase profile is essential for investor visibility, and it includes a dofollow backlink to your site. If you are fundraising, this is non-negotiable.

Trustpilot

DR 93. While primarily a review platform, your Trustpilot profile includes a dofollow backlink. Plus, the trust signal influences purchasing decisions.

Guest Posting and Content Outreach

Earned dofollow backlinks through guest posting remain one of the most effective long-term strategies. The key is relevance - a dofollow link from a blog in your niche is worth more than any directory link.

Here is a process that works:

1. Identify 20 sites in your niche that accept guest posts. Look for blogs that have published guest content recently and link out to external sites.
2. Pitch specific topics. Send editors 3-5 topic ideas that their audience would find valuable. Include a brief outline for each. Personalize every pitch.
3. Write high-quality content. The article should be genuinely useful, not a thinly veiled promotion. Include your link naturally within the content or author bio.
4. Follow up. Editors are busy. A polite follow-up after 5-7 days increases your acceptance rate significantly.

How to Check if a Backlink Is Dofollow

Before investing time in a submission or outreach campaign, verify that the link will be dofollow. Here is how:

1. Open the page where your link appears (or the page you are targeting).
2. Right-click the link and select Inspect (or Inspect Element).
3. Look at the anchor tag. If you see rel="nofollow" inside the <a> tag, the link is nofollow. If the rel attribute is absent or shows something else, the link is dofollow by default.
4. You can also use browser extensions like SEOquake or Ahrefs SEO Toolbar to highlight dofollow and nofollow links visually.

Building Your Dofollow Backlink Strategy

You do not need 100 backlinks to see results. A focused strategy with 10-15 quality dofollow links from relevant sources will move the needle more than 200 low-quality links.

Here is a roadmap for 2026:

1. Start with ShowMySites. Get your first dofollow backlink in 5 minutes. Free, permanent, DR68+.
2. Add 3-4 launch platforms. Smol Launch, Launching Next, and DevHunt if your product fits.
3. Create profiles on review platforms. G2, Capterra, and SourceForge. Collect reviews over time to maximize value.
4. Pitch 5 guest posts per month. Earned dofollow links from relevant blogs compound your authority long-term.
5. Monitor your backlink profile. Use free tools to track which backlinks are dofollow and which sites link to you.

Consistency beats intensity. Five quality dofollow links per month adds up to 60 per year. Combined with strong content, that is enough to build meaningful authority for most niches.

For more context on how backlinks fit into your overall SEO, read how many backlinks you actually need to rank and our guide on optimizing anchor text.