Nofollow vs dofollow links explained
Almost every startup directory, including this one, marks its links "nofollow." Here is what that actually means, why it exists, and whether it should change where you choose to list your startup.
What the terms actually mean
A link on the web can carry a small HTML attribute, rel="nofollow", that tells search engines not to treat it as an editorial endorsement or pass ranking credit through it. A plain link with no such attribute is sometimes informally called "dofollow," though that is not a real HTML attribute — it just describes the absence of nofollow.
Why directories use nofollow by default
Google introduced nofollow specifically so sites that accept user-submitted content — forum posts, blog comments, and directory listings like this one — would not become an easy way to manipulate rankings by mass-posting links. A directory that let every submission pass full ranking credit would quickly fill up with spam trying to exploit exactly that. rel="ugc" (user-generated content) is a related tag for the same reason, and is usually combined with nofollow.
What this means in practice for your startup
- You still get real value from a nofollow listing. Real visitors click through, search engines still see and index the mention, and it is a genuine, honest signal that your startup exists and shipped.
- It is not a ranking-boost shortcut. Treat directory listings as discovery and traffic, not as an SEO growth hack — see why SEO matters for startups for what actually moves rankings.
- Paid "guaranteed dofollow" links are a red flag, not a bargain. Selling links that pass ranking credit is explicitly against Google's own guidelines, and a site or page caught doing it risks a manual action — a real penalty, not a theoretical one.
How Share Your Startup handles it
Free listings here are rel="nofollow ugc", in line with Google's own guidance for this kind of site. That is disclosed plainly rather than hidden — see the privacy policy and the about page for the full picture of how this site works.
Frequently asked questions
Are nofollow links completely worthless for SEO?
No. Google has said since 2019 that nofollow is treated as a hint rather than a strict instruction, and can still be counted as a ranking signal in some cases. More importantly, a nofollow link still sends real click-through traffic and still creates a public, crawlable mention of your site.
Should I pay for dofollow links?
Be cautious. Google's own guidelines classify paying for links that pass ranking credit as a violation that can trigger a manual action against a site, for both the buyer and the seller. A directory or ad that clearly discloses a paid placement as nofollow or sponsored is the compliant, lower-risk version of the same idea.
How does Share Your Startup mark its own listing links?
Every free listing link is rel="nofollow ugc" — user-submitted content, not editorially vouched for, exactly as Google's own guidance recommends for this kind of directory.