How to get dofollow backlinks for a new startup
What dofollow and nofollow links are, why a new domain needs a few good ones, and 8 practical ways for a startup to earn its first dofollow backlinks without buying spam.
By the SortLift team · Nov 5, 2026 · 4 min read
A brand-new domain is invisible to search engines. It has no history and no other sites vouching for it, so even a good page ranks nowhere. The fastest way out is a handful of links from established sites. This guide explains which links count, and how a small team can earn its first ones in a few weeks.
Dofollow vs nofollow, in one minute
A link is an <a href> tag. By default search engines treat it as a vote for the page it points to: that is a dofollow link (there is no actual "dofollow" attribute, it just means no restriction). A site can add rel="nofollow", rel="ugc" (user-generated content) or rel="sponsored" (paid placement) to say "we are not vouching for this". Search engines treat those as hints and mostly pass little or no ranking credit.
Nofollow links are not worthless: they still bring visitors, and a natural link profile has plenty of them. But the links that move rankings for a new site are dofollow links from sites that are themselves trusted.
How many do you need?
Fewer than people think. For a new product, ten to twenty links from relevant, real sites is enough to get indexed quickly and start ranking for your own brand name and long-tail searches. Quality beats volume: one link from a respected site in your niche is worth more than a hundred from pages nobody visits. Check a site's strength with our free domain authority check before you put time into it.
8 ways to earn dofollow links as a startup
1. Launch platforms and startup directories
The quickest wins. Launch sites and directories exist to list new products, many review submissions by hand, and a good share of them link with dofollow. Expect a few hours of form filling for 20–30 listings. These are free, dofollow listings from our directory list, best score first:
2. A badge or "featured on" swap
Some launch sites, SortLift included, give free listings a dofollow link once you show their badge on your site. It is a fair trade: they get a link, you get one back from an established page. Put badges in your footer rather than your hero.
3. Integration and partner pages
If your product works with another tool, ask to be listed on its integrations, marketplace or partners page. Those pages are often strong and exactly on topic. App stores for Zapier, Slack, Notion, Shopify and similar platforms belong here too.
4. Open source and free tools
A small free tool, template or open source library that solves one problem gets linked from lists, blog posts and "awesome" repositories for years. It is the most durable way to earn links that nobody had to be asked for.
5. Write the guide nobody wrote
Pick a question your customers ask that has no good answer online, and answer it properly with data, screenshots or a worked example. Then send it to the two or three people who write about the topic. One good article that others cite beats ten thin ones.
6. Founder profiles and podcasts
Indie maker communities, founder interview sites and small podcasts are always looking for guests. Most link to your product in the show notes or profile.
7. Testimonials for tools you use
Many companies feature customer quotes with a link. If you love a tool, tell them, and offer a short testimonial they can publish.
8. Your own launch, every time you ship
A big new feature is a reason to launch again: on launch sites that allow relaunches, in changelog roundups, and in the communities where you launched first.
What to avoid
- Link farms and "1,000 backlinks for $5" offers. Those links come from pages that exist only to sell links. At best search engines ignore them; at worst they hurt.
- Comment and forum spam. Those links are nofollow or ugc almost everywhere, and they annoy the communities you want on your side.
- Exact-match anchor text everywhere. Natural links mostly use your brand name or URL. Dozens of links all saying "best invoicing software" look engineered.
- Sites that list anything. Prefer directories and launch sites that review submissions and have real visitors. If a site accepts every product without a look, its links carry little weight.
Track what you get
Keep a simple sheet: site, date submitted, status, live URL, link type. Check it again after a month, since some sites take weeks to approve. Google Search Console's Links report shows which sites it has seen linking to you.
Launching something?
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