What Is a Dofollow Backlink — and Why One From LaunchVault Is Worth It

If you've looked at our pricing, you've seen the line "Dofollow backlink…" and maybe wondered: what's a dofollow backlink, and is it actually worth anything? Short answer: yes — a dofollow link from an established site is one of the most direct ways to lift your own search rankings. Here's the plain-English version.

A backlink, in one sentence

A backlink is just a link from another website to yours. Search engines treat each one a bit like a recommendation: if reputable sites link to you, Google assumes your site is worth showing to more people. (For the full primer, see What Are Backlinks?.)

But not all backlinks count the same — and the single biggest factor is whether the link is dofollow or nofollow.

Dofollow vs. nofollow: the difference that matters

Every link can carry a small HTML attribute that tells search engines how to treat it:

• Dofollow (the default) — passes "link equity," sometimes called link juice. It's a real vote that helps the destination site rank higher. No special attribute; it's just a normal link.
• Nofollow — carries rel="nofollow" (or ugc / sponsored). It tells Google "don't pass ranking credit through this link." A nofollow link can still send you visitors, but it doesn't move the SEO needle.

<!-- dofollow: passes ranking power -->
<a href="https://yoursite.com">Your Product</a>

<!-- nofollow: does NOT pass ranking power -->
<a href="https://yoursite.com" rel="nofollow">Your Product</a>

So when a directory advertises a "dofollow backlink," that's the meaningful kind — the one that can actually help you rank. A lot of directories quietly hand out nofollow links, which look the same to a visitor but do nothing for your SEO.

Why the source of the link matters

A dofollow link isn't worth a fixed amount — it's worth more when it comes from a site that itself has authority. The common shorthand for that authority is Domain Rating (DR), a 0–100 score. A dofollow link from a DR 40 site passes far more weight than one from a brand-new blog with no history. (More on this in Domain Rating vs. Domain Authority.)

LaunchVault currently sits at DR 46 — an established product directory, not a fresh domain. A dofollow link from a page here is a genuine, quality signal pointing back at your product, which is exactly the kind of link Google rewards. (Why directories specifically? See How product directories get you high-quality backlinks.)

What this actually gets you: a shot at page one

A dofollow link from a ranking site isn't abstract "SEO points" — it buys two concrete things, and they're worth separating:

1. Link equity flows to your domain. That dofollow vote helps your own site climb Google over time — the slow, compounding kind of benefit.
2. Your LaunchVault listing ranks on its own. Our project pages get indexed by Google, so when someone searches your product by name, your LaunchVault page can surface on the first page too — extra search real estate you didn't have to build.

Here's what #2 looks like in practice — a listing sitting near the top of Google for a product's name:

A quick, honest caveat: a dofollow link plus an indexed listing gives you a chance at page-one visibility — strongest for your own product and brand-name searches, where competition is low. Ranking for competitive, high-intent terms like "[your product] review" or "alternative to [big tool]" takes a dedicated, optimized article — that's a separate job, and what our SEO Growth Package is built for. No one can promise rankings; anyone who tells you otherwise is selling smoke.

How LaunchVault handles dofollow links

There are two different link directions, and they matter for different reasons:

Free launch — you link to LaunchVault first

Launching free requires a dofollow backlink to LaunchVault on your site. Add our badge, verify in one click, and your listing goes live and stays permanently indexed. That requirement is what keeps the directory tied to real, engaged products.

The free path is backlink-gated: your dofollow link qualifies the launch, and LaunchVault gives you a permanent, Google-indexed listing page. It is the no-payment route, not the guaranteed dofollow backlink-from-LaunchVault route.

Premium launch — LaunchVault links to you

A Premium launch includes a guaranteed dofollow backlink from LaunchVault to your product, and no backlink to us required. If the backlink from a DR 46 directory is the main thing you want, that's the direct route.

So why link to LaunchVault?

Because it's how you qualify for a free launch — and it's the same "Featured on…" convention you've seen in countless site footers. You put our dofollow badge on your site, we list your product free and keep it indexed. It's a straight value exchange, and it costs you nothing but a spot in your footer.

Prefer a guaranteed DR 46 dofollow backlink back to your own domain? See Premium launch.

How to choose the right path

• Choose Free if you control your site, can add the badge, and want a no-payment launch with a permanent indexed listing.
• Choose Premium if you do not want to add a badge, need a faster paid slot, or want LaunchVault's guaranteed dofollow backlink to your product.

Either way, make the listing strong: a clear tagline, a real description, a logo, and a cover image help visitors understand why they should click through.

Bottom line

A dofollow backlink passes real ranking power; a nofollow one doesn't. Free LaunchVault submissions are backlink-gated: you add a dofollow backlink to LaunchVault, verify it, and get a permanent indexed listing. If you want the dofollow link flowing the other way — from LaunchVault's DR 46 domain back to your product — lock it in with a Premium launch. And when you want to rank for the competitive terms that actually convert, that's what the SEO Growth Package is for.

Ready? Submit your product and plan your launch day.