Dofollow backlinks are essential for search engine optimization (SEO). They are links from one website to another, passing on authority and signaling to search engines that your content is valuable. This boosts your domain authority, helps improve your site’s ranking in search engine results pages (SERPs), and drives organic traffic. But acquiring high-quality backlinks can be tricky, especially without paying for them. Luckily, there are effective ways to earn free dofollow backlinks without compromising quality.
In this guide, we’ll explore 10 actionable strategies that can help you gain free, high-quality dofollow backlinks and boost your site’s SEO performance in 2024.
1. Guest Posting on Industry-Relevant Blogs
Guest posting remains one of the most effective ways to earn free dofollow backlinks. It involves writing high-quality articles for other websites in exchange for a backlink, typically in your author bio or even within the body of the article.
Steps to earn backlinks through guest posting:
- Identify websites in your niche that accept guest posts. Use search operators like “write for us” or “guest post guidelines” to find relevant opportunities.
- Ensure the sites you’re targeting have decent domain authority (DA) and traffic, as these links will carry more weight.
- Pitch valuable content ideas tailored to their audience.
- Include natural, contextual dofollow links within the content or your author bio.
Tools for finding guest post opportunities:
- Google search operators: Use “intitle
post” + [your niche] to find blogs in your domain.
- Platforms: MyBlogGuest, GuestPostTracker, and PostJoint.
2. Leverage Niche Directory Submissions
Submitting your website to high-quality, niche-specific directories is an excellent way to earn free dofollow backlinks. While general directories may have lost their value over time, industry-specific directories are still regarded as credible sources of backlinks.
How to find niche directories:
- Perform a Google search for “[Your industry] + directory.”
- Look for high DA directories that allow you to submit your site with a dofollow link.
- Examples of niche directories include Clutch (for B2B services), DesignRush (for creative agencies), and GoodFirms (for tech services).
3. Create High-Quality Infographics and Visual Content
Visual content like infographics is highly shareable and can earn you free dofollow backlinks if designed correctly. By creating visually appealing infographics that convey valuable data, other sites may embed your infographic and link back to your website as the original source.
How to generate backlinks through infographics:
- Research popular, data-driven topics in your niche.
- Design an infographic using tools like Canva, Piktochart, or Venngage.
- Publish the infographic on your website along with an embed code.
- Outreach to websites and blogs that cover similar topics, encouraging them to share your infographic with proper attribution.
Infographics are powerful because they provide both value to users and a natural way for other websites to link back to your content.
4. Participate in Expert Roundups
Expert roundup posts are a great way to get featured on high-authority blogs, often with dofollow backlinks. In these posts, the blog compiles insights from various experts on a particular topic and provides links back to their websites.
How to get involved:
- Reach out to websites that regularly publish expert roundups.
- Offer valuable, unique insights that will stand out in their roundup.
- This not only provides you with a backlink but also introduces you to a new audience.
5. Answer Questions on Quora and Reddit
Quora and Reddit are platforms where people actively seek answers to various questions. If you provide value through well-researched answers, these platforms offer an opportunity to share your website as a resource.
Steps to earn backlinks:
- Find threads related to your niche on Quora or Reddit using keywords.
- Provide insightful, detailed answers, linking back to a relevant blog post or resource on your website (useful, not spammy).
- Be careful with Reddit, as the community can downvote or ban overly promotional content. Always ensure your links provide real value.
While some links on these platforms are nofollow, many high-traffic threads can get picked up by other websites, which may lead to organic dofollow backlinks.
6. Submit Press Releases to News Sites
If your business has noteworthy updates (product launches, events, partnerships), you can submit press releases to authoritative news sites. These press releases can include dofollow backlinks to your website.
How to submit a press release:
- Write a compelling, newsworthy press release that highlights your business’s achievements or announcements.
- Submit the press release to distribution platforms like PR Newswire, PRWeb, or Newswire.
- You can also pitch your story to industry-specific publications that cover your niche.
Not only will this help you earn dofollow backlinks, but press releases can drive significant traffic if picked up by major news outlets.
7. Create and Share Free Tools
Free tools or calculators provide immense value to users, which can encourage natural backlinking from other websites. If you create a tool that solves a specific problem in your industry, people will link to it as a resource.
Examples of free tools that earn backlinks:
- SEO tools: Keyword analyzers, backlink checkers, etc.
- Financial calculators: Mortgage calculators, budget planners, etc.
- Content tools: Blog title generators, social media post planners.
Once your tool is live, you can promote it by reaching out to blogs, communities, and influencers in your niche. Over time, as more people use and recommend your tool, you’ll naturally earn dofollow backlinks.
8. Broken Link Building
Broken link building involves finding broken links on websites in your niche and offering your content as a replacement. Many site owners are happy to replace broken links if you provide a relevant and high-quality resource.
Steps to earn backlinks through broken link building:
- Use tools like Check My Links (a Chrome extension) to find broken links on websites.
- Reach out to the webmaster, politely informing them about the broken link and suggesting your content as a replacement.
- Make sure the content you offer as a replacement is relevant and adds value.
9. Create Shareable Case Studies
Case studies are highly valuable content pieces that demonstrate the effectiveness of a product, service, or strategy. Other businesses and bloggers love to reference case studies, and they’ll often provide a dofollow backlink to your site.
How to create case studies that earn backlinks:
- Choose a topic that is relevant to your industry and that showcases real results.
- Use compelling data and visuals to make your case study both informative and engaging.
- Share your case study on social media, with clients, and through email marketing campaigns.
- Reach out to bloggers and industry influencers who might be interested in citing your case study in their content.
Case studies establish your authority and are excellent resources for earning high-quality dofollow backlinks.
10. Collaborate with Influencers and Bloggers
Influencer marketing isn’t just for products. Collaborating with influencers and bloggers can help you earn backlinks when they mention or review your brand on their blogs.
How to collaborate for backlinks:
- Identify influencers and bloggers who align with your brand’s values and audience.
- Reach out and offer to collaborate on content that provides value to both parties (e.g., guest posts, interviews, product reviews).
- Encourage them to link back to your site naturally when referencing your collaboration or product.
This strategy works well because influencers often have established audiences and websites with good authority.
Conclusion: Implementing Your Backlink Strategy
Building dofollow backlinks doesn’t have to be an expensive or time-consuming process. By implementing the strategies discussed above—such as guest posting, niche directory submissions, and leveraging expert roundups—you can steadily grow your backlink profile. The key is to focus on quality over quantity, providing value in every piece of content or collaboration.
Remember, building backlinks is a long-term process that requires consistency and persistence. With the right approach, you’ll start to see improvements in your domain authority and organic search rankings, driving more traffic to your site in 2024.
