Building dofollow backlinks shouldn’t turn into a numbers race. Google reads link patterns sharply now, and any whiff of forced schemes can drag a site down. So the safest path stays the ethical one, the one that gives readers something real. Below are the tactics for white-hat link building that usually age well:

  • Create High-Value Content: Nothing beats material that people want to reference. When you publish sharp guides, fresh research, odd insights, visuals, or tools that solve something specific, other writers pick them up. I’ve watched agencies drop a single data study, and suddenly every blogger in that niche cites it. Most of those citations arrive as dofollow links because editors treat them like standard references.

     

  • Guest Posting: Guest posting still carries weight, though people sometimes treat it like a tired trick. Most reputable outlets or niche blogs welcome outside contributors, and they usually give space for a short bio or a link inside the piece. Some mark it as nofollow, some keep it open. What matters is relevance. If the site speaks to the same crowd you’re trying to reach, the link feels natural and editors barely question it. I think the part that many forget is that the article must actually help the readers. Briefly, ensure that your guest post is well-written and provides value to the host site’s audience

     

  • Digital PR and Outreach: This involves getting your brand mentioned in press releases, news articles, or expert roundups. Some news sites give dofollow links when they mention a company or source; others might nofollow them, but either way, it’s great exposure. For example, a software company might publish an insightful report and reach out to tech journalists or bloggers who could cover it, including a link. White-hat outreach is about suggesting genuine value (not paying for the link). When done right, it results in organic, dofollow links from authoritative sources.

     

  • Resource Link Building: Identify “resource pages” or listicles in your niche (e.g., “Top 10 Tools for Digital Marketing”) and see if your website/content could fit as a valuable addition. You can politely pitch the site owner or editor to consider adding your link. If your content is truly relevant and high-quality, some webmasters will include it. An editorial link usually lands as dofollow since the site treats it like part of its own content. I’ve noticed outreach works better when it feels personal instead of scripted. Tell them straight why your piece strengthens their page; it comes off as collaboration, not some quiet attempt to buy a spot. Editors sense the difference fast.

     

  • Engage in Communities (Carefully): Jumping into forums, Q&A threads, or blog discussions can nudge attention your way, though I’ve seen most of those links get tagged as nofollow to keep spam from piling up. Still, when you give sharp answers or add something useful, people sometimes check your profile or your site on their own.

     

  • Local and Niche Directories: Listing your site on real directories, the ones that actually matter in your city or your industry, can hand you clean dofollow links. Focus on respected directories or listings relevant to your region or industry. For example, a US business should ensure it’s listed on business directories or chambers of commerce sites that allow website links (some of these links are dofollow and can help local SEO). Similarly, a European company might get listed on EU trade organization websites or local business indexes. Be selective – many free-for-all directories are low quality (and those links can be harmful or ignored by Google).

     

  • Get Featured in “Best of” Lists: Being featured in “Top 10” or “Best of” list articles in your industry can yield excellent backlinks. Think of articles like “10 Best CRM Tools for Small Businesses” or “Top Travel Blogs to Follow this Year.” If you can get your website, product, or content included in such a list, you’ll typically receive a dofollow backlink from that article, along with exposure to readers. On the other hand, it often comes with a traffic boost, since readers of that list may click through to learn about you.

In summary, focusing on content quality, relevance, and ethical outreach will naturally attract dofollow backlinks over time. 

Conclusion

White-hat link work feels slower than the flashy tricks people chase, yet it pays off in ways that stick. I’ve seen how steady focus on relevance, clean outreach, and content that actually helps readers pulls in dofollow links without forcing anything. Publish pieces on your own site that people genuinely want to cite. Join conversations on strong publications through PR, guest features, or small collaborations. Dig through competitor backlinks or broken links, and you’ll spot openings others ignore.