## **📋 Overview**

If you ran a press release through Search Atlas and noticed that all the links pointing back to your site are marked as **nofollow**, this is completely expected. It is not a bug, a platform error, or a result of publication dates. Press release distribution links are **nofollow by industry standard**, and this applies to every press release distributed through any major PR network — not just Search Atlas.

This article explains why that is the case, what SEO value press releases still provide, and how to use Search Atlas tools to acquire dofollow backlinks as part of a complete link-building strategy.

## **🔗 Why Are Press Release Links Always Nofollow?**

When a press release is distributed across a wire service or syndication network, the publications that pick it up apply **nofollow attributes** to outbound links automatically. This happens for several reasons:

- **Google guidelines:** Google has long advised that links in press releases and other large-scale distributed content should be nofollow to avoid appearing as manipulative link schemes. Reputable publications follow this guidance to protect their own domain authority.
- **Editorial policy:** News sites and wire publishers treat syndicated press release content differently from editorially placed links. Because the content is paid or distributed rather than independently written, links are tagged accordingly.
- **Network-wide enforcement:** PR Newswire, Business Wire, PRWeb, and every other major distribution network apply nofollow to outbound links by default. This is a network-level decision, not something Search Atlas or individual publishers control on a per-release basis.

There is no setting, upgrade, or workaround that changes press release links from nofollow to dofollow. Any tool or service claiming otherwise would put your site at risk of a Google manual penalty.

## **📊 Do Press Releases Provide Any SEO Value?**

Yes — press releases contribute to your SEO strategy in meaningful ways even without passing direct link equity.

- **Brand visibility and indexing:** Press releases published on high-authority news domains help Google discover your brand name, products, and URLs more quickly.
- **Referral traffic:** Readers who see your press release on a news site can click through to your site, generating real visits regardless of link attribution.
- **Earned media opportunities:** Journalists and bloggers who find your press release may independently cover your story and link to you with a fully editorial, dofollow link — which carries full SEO weight.
- **Brand authority signals:** Consistent press coverage builds topical authority and brand recognition, which indirectly supports rankings over time.

Think of press releases as **awareness and credibility tools**, not direct link-building vehicles.

## **🛠️ How to Acquire Dofollow Backlinks With Search Atlas**

If your goal is to build dofollow backlinks that directly pass link equity to your site, Search Atlas has dedicated tools for that purpose. Press release distribution and link building are complementary strategies — not the same thing.

1. **Link Building Tool:** Use the Link Building module to identify prospects, manage outreach campaigns, and track placements. These are editorial or placement-based links that can be dofollow.
2. **Prospecting and Outreach:** Search Atlas lets you research high-authority domains in your niche and build targeted outreach lists for guest posts, resource links, and partnership placements.
3. **Backlink Analyzer:** Monitor your existing backlink profile to understand your current dofollow-to-nofollow ratio and identify gaps to address in your link-building plan.
4. **HARO and Digital PR integration:** Combine your press release strategy with reactive PR tactics. When journalists cite your press release and write original coverage, those inbound links are often dofollow.

A strong SEO backlink strategy typically uses press releases for reach and visibility while relying on dedicated link-building outreach for dofollow acquisition.

## **⚠️ Common Misconceptions to Avoid**

- **"My press release links are broken."** Nofollow links are not broken links. They are functioning links with a specific attribute that tells search engines not to pass PageRank through them.
- **"This is a 2021 policy change."** There was no date-specific policy change affecting press release link attributes. Nofollow on press release links has been the industry norm for over a decade.
- **"I can republish the release to get dofollow links."** There is no republish feature that converts nofollow links to dofollow links. This is not a supported function in Search Atlas or on any PR distribution network.
- **"Nofollow links are worthless."** Nofollow links still drive traffic, support brand indexing, and can trigger earned media coverage that results in dofollow placements.

## **✅ Quick Reference: Press Releases vs. Link Building**

- **Press releases →** Brand awareness, media pickup, referral traffic, indexing signals, nofollow links
- **Link Building Tool →** Targeted outreach, editorial placements, dofollow backlinks, direct link equity
- **Best practice →** Use both together for a complete off-page SEO strategy

If you need further assistance, open the chat widget in the bottom-right corner of the platform and type **human teammate** to be connected with a member of our team.