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A dofollow backlink is an ordinary link with no rel attribute that asks search engines to ignore it, so it can pass ranking signals to your site. A nofollow link carries rel="nofollow" (or sponsored or ugc), which tells search engines not to count it as an endorsement; Google treats these values as hints. From launch sites, both kinds can bring real visitors, but only dofollow links are likely to help your search ranking. You can see which kind a page gives you with our free backlink checker.
What the words actually mean
There is no "dofollow" attribute in HTML. A link is dofollow simply because it does not say otherwise. Here are the two versions side by side:
<a href="https://example.com">Example</a>
<a href="https://example.com" rel="nofollow">Example</a>The first is a normal link, which people call dofollow. The second tells search engines that the site does not vouch for the target. There are also two more specific values:
rel="sponsored"marks links that were paid for or are part of an advert.rel="ugc"marks links in user generated content, such as comments and forum posts.
Google has said it treats nofollow, sponsored and ugc as hints rather than strict rules. In practice, you should assume that a link with any of these values passes little or no ranking value, and plan accordingly.
Why launch sites use nofollow
Any site that lets the public add links gets spam. Launch boards, directories and forums are obvious targets, so many of them add nofollow to every outgoing link. That is a reasonable defence, and it does not make the site useless to you. It just means the value is in visitors and visibility, not in ranking.
Some sites give dofollow links only to listings they have reviewed, to paid listings, or to winners. That is the approach we take on Product Launch Day:
- Free launches wait in the queue, and the listing link is nofollow. A free launch needs our badge on your site, which you can get from the badge page.
- Free launches that finish in the top three of the day get a dofollow link.
- Paid plans (Launch, Launch Plus and Spotlight, all one-time) skip the queue, let you pick your date and get a permanent dofollow link. See pricing.
Every listing is reviewed before it goes live, and paying never changes votes or rank.
What each kind of link is worth
Dofollow links
A dofollow link from a relevant, real page can help search engines discover your site and understand what it is about. One link will not transform your ranking. Search engines look at many signals, and the most important is still whether your pages answer what people search for. Think of a good dofollow link as one useful brick, not the building.
Nofollow links
A nofollow link can still be worth a lot. If it sits on a page that people read, it sends visitors. Visitors become users, users write about you, and those write ups often include normal links. A nofollow link on a busy launch day page can easily be more valuable than a dofollow link on a page no one visits.
What makes any link worth having
- The page is about something related to your product.
- Real people visit it.
- The page itself can be found by search engines (not blocked, not hidden behind a login).
- The link text describes you, usually your product name.
Links to avoid
Google's spam policies warn against links made mainly to manipulate ranking, such as large scale link exchanges, links bought in bulk from unrelated sites, and automated link schemes. A few relevant listings on launch sites and directories are normal for a new product. Hundreds of links from low quality lists that accept anything are not, and they can do more harm than good. Choose relevant places from our directory list and add them gradually.
Be wary of any service that promises a fixed number of dofollow links for a fee. The links are usually on pages built only to hold links, which nobody visits.
How the badge works for free launches
A free launch on Product Launch Day needs a small "Launched on Product Launch Day" badge on your site, linking to your listing. It is the price of a free spot in the queue, and it also gives your visitors a way to find your launch page, vote and comment. Place it somewhere visible, such as the footer of your home page, and leave it in place. The badge page gives you the code to copy.
How to check your own backlinks
- Open the backlink checker and enter the page that should link to you plus your domain.
- It reports whether the link is there and which rel values it carries.
- Repeat for each launch site and directory you submitted to, and keep a simple list.
- Check again a month later. Some sites remove or change links over time.
You can also inspect a link yourself: right click it in your browser, choose Inspect, and look for a rel attribute on the a tag. Also make sure your own site is not blocking search engines, which you can test with the robots and sitemap checker.
Putting it together
For a new product, the right mindset is simple: launch where your users are, accept nofollow links happily when they bring people, and collect a modest number of relevant dofollow links over time. Pair that with pages that clearly explain what you do, and search traffic tends to follow. For the bigger picture of where to list, see Product Hunt alternatives, and for the steps around launch day, the launch checklist.
Questions people ask
Do nofollow links help SEO at all?
Not directly in most cases, since search engines are told not to count them as endorsements, and Google treats the attribute as a hint. They help indirectly by sending visitors, some of whom will mention or link to you in ways that do count.
Is a dofollow link from a launch site safe?
A relevant listing on a real launch site or directory, reviewed by a person, is a normal part of launching a product. The risk comes from large numbers of links from unrelated or low quality pages built only to hold links.
How do I see if a link is dofollow?
Use a backlink checker, or inspect the link in your browser. If the a tag has no rel attribute, or one without nofollow, sponsored or ugc, it is a normal dofollow link.
Do I keep the dofollow link after launch day?
On Product Launch Day, paid plans include a permanent dofollow link on your listing page, and free launches that finish top three of the day get one as well. The listing page itself stays up after the day ends.
