What is Follow Link?

Follow links are backlinks, also known as inbound links, that instruct search engine crawlers to follow the hyperlink to the linked site. These links indicate to the crawlers that the linked content is relevant and valuable. Essentially, the author is endorsing the linked page and signaling to readers, "Hey, I came across this useful page."

What's the TLDR?

  • Boosts SEO: Follow links improve search engine rankings by passing on SEO value to the linked site.
  • Visibility: Higher rankings from following links increase a site's visibility to potential visitors.
  • Reputation: Links from reputable sites act as strong endorsements for the linked content.
  • Difference from No-Follow Links: Follow links pass SEO value, while no-follow links do not.
  • Best Practices: Incorporate proper references that are powerful and use an accurate anchor text.
  • Fun Fact: Backlinks are one of the top three factors Google uses to rank websites.
  • Strategic Use: Effective use of follow links is essential for optimizing online presence.

Tell Me More

Importance in SEO

  • Enhances Search Engine Rankings: When you follow links, it affects the linked site positively by providing “link juice” or SEO value which helps in improving search engine rankings.
  • Boosts Visibility: With higher search engine rankings, it becomes possible for potential visitors to notice the linked site.
  • Endorsement by Reputable Sites: High-quality follow links from reputable sites are seen as strong endorsements by search engines.
  • Credibility: Follow links from authoritative sources add credibility to the linked content.
  • SEO Strategy: Integrating follow links is a key part of an effective SEO strategy, contributing to better search engine performance.

How Follow Links Differ from No-Follow Links

There is importance in separating follow links from no-follow links where search engine crawlers are directed by the former to follow the destination while the latter does not. They include a tag that tells search engines not to transfer SEO value to the linked site. No-follow links are often used for paid advertisements, user-generated content, and any links that a site owner doesn’t want to endorse fully.

Best Practices for Using Follow Links

It is crucial to utilize credible and authoritative sources when you use follow links; this will not only increase the credibility of your content but also add value for your readers Avoid linking to low-quality or spammy websites because it can damage your SEO efforts as well as ensure that your anchor text is descriptive and relevant to the content of the page it links to. Rewrite the text using simpler terms and making it more interesting keeping in mind the number of words and HTML tags.

Fun Facts and Stats

Google has more than 200 ways of determining the rank given to websites in their search results, and linking back is one of the three main ways. According to research findings, the greater the number of incoming links that point towards a webpage, the better it ranks on search engines. That is the information from Moz’s survey on 50 top results in which 99.2% have an external follow link to their websites.

Related Glossary Terms