Glossary
What is link type in SEO?
Link type is whether a link is followed (dofollow) or carries a nofollow, sponsored or ugc value, which changes how search engines treat it. On directory profiles, link type tells you whether a listing can pass ranking credit. It's checked by reading the link's rel attribute on the live page.
The four types
| Type | rel value | Ranking credit |
|---|---|---|
| Followed | none | Yes |
| Nofollow | nofollow | Hint, usually little |
| Sponsored | sponsored | Hint, usually none |
| UGC | ugc | Hint, usually little |
Directory link types
Across 352 directories we checked: 214 dofollow, 79 nofollow, 19 mixed and 40 we couldn't confirm. "Mixed" usually means the free listing is nofollow and becomes dofollow with a badge or a paid plan. Our directory profiles show each one's type.
How to check
Open the live listing, inspect the link to your site and read its rel. Check again after a few months; directories change policies. SEO tools label link types in backlink reports, but they can lag behind changes.
Example
A founder's tracker shows link types for 40 listings: 26 followed, 11 nofollow, 3 that switched to followed after she added badges. She uses the column to decide which listings to keep badges for.
FAQ
Which link type is best?
For SEO, followed links from relevant sites. For visitors, link type doesn't matter.
Can a directory change my link type?
Yes, at any time. Recheck occasionally.
What does "link type unknown" mean?
The link couldn't be checked, for example because the listing wasn't public or the page is built by JavaScript.