When people talk about second tier backlinks, they are usually referring to links that point to your first-tier backlinks rather than directly to your money page. In that setup, one of the most common questions is whether those second tier links should be dofollow or nofollow, and what difference that actually makes.
The short answer is that both can have a role, but neither should be treated as a magic switch. What matters most is the quality, relevance, and naturalness of the links, plus how they fit into a wider white-hat SEO strategy. If you are learning the basics of link building, this backlink building guide is a useful place to build context.
What Second Tier Backlinks Are
Second tier backlinks are links that point to another backlink, rather than pointing directly at your own website. For example, if a blog post links to your site, and then another page links to that blog post, the second page is acting as a second tier link. This approach is often discussed in tiered link building, but the same principles apply whether you are working with one link or a broader structure.
In practical SEO terms, second tier links are usually used to support the visibility, crawlability, and authority flow of the first-tier page. They do not replace strong first-tier backlinks, and they should not be used to compensate for poor content or irrelevant placements. If your goal is safer, more natural link building, it helps to understand Google-safe backlinks and why quality matters more than volume.
Dofollow vs Nofollow Explained
A dofollow link allows search engines to follow the link and pass authority signals, although the exact value passed is never something you can measure precisely. A nofollow link tells search engines not to treat the link as an endorsement in the same way. In simple terms, dofollow links are generally better for passing SEO value, while nofollow links are often better for natural diversity and risk control.
It is important not to view nofollow as useless. Nofollow links can still bring traffic, create discovery paths for crawlers, and make your link profile look more natural. Google has also become more nuanced in how it interprets link attributes, so a healthy backlink profile usually contains a mix rather than one single type.
What Matters Most for Second Tier Links
When second tier backlinks are supporting another backlink, the most important factor is not simply whether they are dofollow or nofollow. What matters more is whether they help the first-tier page get discovered, crawled, and trusted in a natural way. A relevant nofollow link from a real site can be more useful than a weak dofollow link from an unrelated or low-quality source.
Here are the key points to focus on:
- Relevance: links from related topics are usually more useful than random placements.
- Quality: real websites with genuine content are preferable to thin or duplicated pages.
- Anchor text: keep anchors natural and varied rather than exact-match heavy.
- Context: links placed within useful content generally make more sense than links dropped without context.
- Crawlability: if the second-tier page is never discovered or indexed, its practical value is limited.
If you are unsure how pages are being discovered or indexed, a free website SEO audit can help you spot technical issues that may affect crawl paths and link visibility.
Does Dofollow Always Beat Nofollow
No, not in every situation. A dofollow second tier backlink can help more directly with authority flow, but only if it comes from a sensible source and fits naturally into the page. A nofollow link may still be the better choice if it comes from a trustworthy platform, a visible community page, or a source that is useful for discovery and traffic.
For most website owners, the real question is not “Which attribute is best?” but “Which link looks natural, comes from a credible page, and supports the first-tier asset safely?” That mindset usually leads to better long-term SEO decisions than chasing one attribute on its own.
Checklist for Safe Second Tier Link Building
If you are building second tier backlinks carefully, use this checklist before placing or evaluating a link:
- Does the source page have real content and a clear topic?
- Is the second-tier link contextually relevant to the first-tier page?
- Is the anchor text natural and varied?
- Does the page look indexable and accessible to search engines?
- Would the link make sense to a human reader, not just a crawler?
- Is the overall profile balanced rather than overloaded with one link type?
If you want to understand safer outreach and placement workflows, the backlink building process explains how links are typically created in a more controlled, white-hat way.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Second tier backlinks can be misused if you focus too heavily on manipulating search signals instead of building real value. A few common mistakes are worth avoiding.
- Using spammy, automated links that add no real context.
- Chasing dofollow links only and ignoring relevance.
- Repeating exact-match anchor text too often.
- Building links to weak pages that are unlikely to be indexed.
- Assuming second tier links can rescue poor first-tier content.
- Overcomplicating the structure when a simpler approach would be safer.
For businesses comparing safer link options, it can also help to review high DR backlinks as an example of authority-focused link sourcing, though authority alone should never replace relevance or editorial quality.
Best Practices
The best second tier strategy is usually the one that looks least forced. Aim for links that support discovery and trust without creating an unnatural footprint. A balanced mix of dofollow and nofollow links is often more realistic than trying to engineer all one type.
Some practical best practices include:
- Use second tier links only where they genuinely support the first-tier page.
- Keep the content around the link useful and topic-relevant.
- Mix branded, generic, and descriptive anchor text.
- Prioritise pages that can be crawled and indexed naturally.
- Review whether the link adds value for visitors, not just search engines.
If backlink indexing is part of your workflow, backlink indexing can be relevant for understanding how search engines may discover supporting pages more efficiently, although indexing itself does not guarantee SEO gains.
Conclusion
In second tier backlinks, the dofollow versus nofollow question matters, but it is not the only thing that matters. Dofollow links may pass more direct SEO signals, while nofollow links can still support discovery, traffic, and natural link diversity. In practice, relevance, quality, anchor text, and indexability usually have a bigger impact than the attribute alone.
If you keep your second tier links natural, contextually relevant, and built with a white-hat mindset, they can support organic visibility without pushing your strategy into risky territory. For ongoing learning, Backlink Works can be a useful backlink building resource for website owners and marketers who want to understand safer link growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are dofollow second tier backlinks always better than nofollow ones?
Not always. Dofollow links can pass stronger SEO signals, but a relevant nofollow link from a trustworthy page may still help with discovery, traffic, and a natural link profile. The best choice depends on the quality of the source, not just the attribute.
Should second tier backlinks point to my money page directly?
Usually, no. Second tier links are typically meant to support first-tier assets such as articles, mentions, or contextual links. Pointing them directly at your main pages can make the structure look less natural and can reduce the usefulness of the tiered setup.
Can nofollow links help backlinks get indexed?
They can help indirectly if they come from crawlable, visible pages that search engines are likely to discover. However, nofollow does not guarantee indexing, and indexing is influenced by many factors, including site quality, internal links, and crawl accessibility.
What is the safest way to use second tier backlinks?
Use relevant content, natural anchors, and reputable sources. Avoid automated or spam-heavy methods, and focus on making the link profile look like something a real editor might publish. A balanced mix of link types is usually safer than forcing one attribute.
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