Backlinks are like votes from other websites. Some votes matter more than others. DoFollow backlinks are the ones that pass SEO value to your site. If you care about ranking higher on Google, you need to know how to find and check them. This guide walks you through the process step by step. It is simple. It is clear. And yes, it can even be fun.
TL;DR: DoFollow backlinks help boost your site’s rankings by passing SEO value. You can check them using tools like Google Search Console and third-party SEO platforms. Filter your backlinks to see which ones are DoFollow, then review their quality. Always focus on strong, relevant, and trustworthy links.
What Are DoFollow Backlinks?
Let’s keep this simple.
A backlink is a link from another website to yours.
A DoFollow backlink tells search engines: “Hey, this site is worth checking out.”
There is also something called a NoFollow link. That type does not pass ranking power.
Both types have value. But DoFollow links are the real SEO juice.
Why You Should Check Your DoFollow Backlinks
You would not drive a car without checking the dashboard. Right?
Same thing here.
Checking your backlinks helps you:
- Understand your SEO strength
- Spot spammy or harmful links
- Find new partnership opportunities
- See which content attracts links
- Track progress over time
Backlinks can help you grow. But bad ones can hurt you.
So let’s learn how to check them.
Step 1: Use Google Search Console
This is the easiest place to start.
It is free. And it comes straight from Google.
How to Do It:
- Log in to Google Search Console.
- Select your property (your website).
- Click on “Links” in the left menu.
- Look at “Top linking sites.”
You will see which websites link to you most.
But here is the catch.
Google Search Console does not clearly label links as DoFollow or NoFollow.
So this is just your starting point.
You will need a more advanced tool for deeper analysis.
Step 2: Use an SEO Tool
This is where things get exciting.
Third-party SEO tools give you detailed backlink reports.
Popular tools include:
- Ahrefs
- SEMrush
- Moz
- Majestic
These tools show:
- Whether a link is DoFollow or NoFollow
- Domain authority
- Anchor text used
- First seen and last seen dates
- Spam score
How to Filter DoFollow Links:
- Enter your domain into the tool.
- Go to the Backlinks section.
- Use the filter option.
- Select DoFollow.
- Apply filter.
Done.
Now you see only the backlinks passing SEO value.
Step 3: Check Link Quality
Not all DoFollow links are good.
Some can hurt your rankings.
This step is very important.
Look at These Factors:
- Domain Authority: Is the site trustworthy?
- Relevance: Is the site related to your niche?
- Traffic: Does the site get real visitors?
- Spam Score: Does it look suspicious?
- Anchor Text: Is it natural or stuffed with keywords?
If a website looks shady, be careful.
If it looks clean and professional, great!
A few strong backlinks beat hundreds of weak ones.
Step 4: Manually Inspect the Link
Tools are helpful.
But sometimes you need your own eyes.
Click on the linking page.
Find your link.
Right-click and choose Inspect (in Chrome).
Look at the HTML code.
If you see:
<a href="yourwebsite.com">
And there is no rel="nofollow" attribute…
It is a DoFollow link.
If you see:
rel="nofollow"
Then it is not passing link juice.
This may sound technical. But after trying it once, it becomes easy.
Step 5: Monitor New Backlinks Regularly
Backlinks change over time.
New ones appear.
Old ones disappear.
Some get switched from DoFollow to NoFollow.
You should check your backlink profile:
- Once a month for small sites
- Every week for bigger sites
Most SEO tools allow you to set alerts.
Use them.
Stay informed.
Step 6: Identify Toxic DoFollow Links
Yes. Even DoFollow links can be toxic.
Watch out for:
- Links from gambling or adult sites (if unrelated to you)
- Foreign language spam sites
- Link farms
- Sites with zero real content
If you find harmful links, you have options:
- Contact the site owner and request removal.
- Use Google’s Disavow Tool.
Be careful with disavowing. Only do this if necessary.
Step 7: Analyze Anchor Text
Anchor text is the clickable part of the link.
It matters more than you think.
Healthy backlink profiles include:
- Branded anchors (your company name)
- Generic anchors (click here, website)
- Natural phrases
Be cautious if you see:
- Too many exact keyword matches
- Repeated commercial keywords
This can look unnatural to Google.
Keep it balanced.
Step 8: Compare with Competitors
Here is where strategy kicks in.
Check your competitors’ DoFollow backlinks.
Ask yourself:
- Where are they getting links?
- Can I get links from the same sites?
- What content attracts their backlinks?
This is like seeing the answer sheet.
Most SEO tools allow competitor backlink analysis.
Use it.
Bonus Tip: Export and Organize Your Data
SEO tools allow you to export backlinks into CSV or Excel files.
Do it.
Create a simple spreadsheet.
Add columns for:
- Linking Domain
- Page URL
- DoFollow or NoFollow
- Domain Authority
- Anchor Text
- Status (Good, Review, Toxic)
This keeps everything organized.
It also helps when reporting to clients or your team.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Let’s save you some headaches.
- Only counting number of links. Quality matters more.
- Ignoring relevance. A pet blog linking to a law firm? Strange.
- Panic over NoFollow links. They are normal.
- Never checking backlinks. Set reminders.
- Buying cheap backlinks. Risky move.
SEO is a long game.
Play it smart.
How Many DoFollow Backlinks Do You Need?
There is no magic number.
It depends on:
- Your industry
- Your competition
- Your domain age
- Your content quality
A local bakery may need only a few strong local links.
An online tech store may need hundreds.
Focus on steady growth.
Final Thoughts
Checking your DoFollow backlinks is not scary.
It is actually empowering.
You get to see who supports your website.
You understand your strengths.
You spot weaknesses early.
Remember this:
Strong backlinks build strong rankings.
Start with Google Search Console.
Move to an SEO tool.
Filter for DoFollow links.
Check quality.
Monitor regularly.
Clean up toxic links.
Improve your strategy.
And most importantly?
Keep creating content worth linking to.
Because the best way to get great DoFollow backlinks…
Is to deserve them.
