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 39 — 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.)

How you get a dofollow backlink from LaunchVault

There are two paths:

Free launch — earn it

On a free launch you get a dofollow backlink from your listing when both are true:

1. You finish in the Top 3 for your launch day, and
2. You display our badge on your site.

So the free dofollow is a reward for a strong launch plus showing the badge — fair, and it keeps the links tied to real, engaged products.

Premium launch — guaranteed

A Premium launch includes a guaranteed dofollow backlink regardless of ranking, and no badge required. If the backlink is the main thing you want and you don't want to depend on hitting Top 3, that's the direct route.

So why display the badge?

Because it's how you qualify for that free DR 39 dofollow — and it's the same "Featured on…" convention you've seen in countless site footers. You put our badge on your site; if your launch lands in the Top 3, you get a real ranking-boosting link back. It's a straight value exchange, and it costs you nothing but a spot in your footer.

If you'd rather use a badge to launch sooner (a separate perk), see Launch sooner for free with our badge.

How to actually hit Top 3

The dofollow reward hinges on ranking, and ranking is driven by upvotes on your launch day. A quick playbook:

• Pick your date deliberately and line up your audience for that day.
• Tell your list, your followers, and your communities the morning you go live — early votes compound.
• Make the listing strong so visitors actually convert into upvotes: a clear tagline, a real description, a logo, and a cover image.

Bottom line

A dofollow backlink passes real ranking power; a nofollow one doesn't. A dofollow link from a DR 39 directory like LaunchVault is a quality vote for your product — and you can earn one for free by landing in the Top 3 and displaying our badge, or lock one in with a Premium launch.

Ready? Submit your product and plan your launch day.