Website Domain Rating DR84:
That’s an excellent and very specific question! The short answer is: yes, but not for the SEO reason you might think, and their value is limited compared to other link types.
Here’s a breakdown of why a blog comment backlink from a high-authority site (like DR80+) is still valid, but with a big asterisk:
1. The “NoFollow” Factor is Key
The vast majority of blog comment links, especially on high-authority websites, are tagged as “nofollow,” “ugc” (User-Generated Content), or “sponsored.”
- What this means: These tags tell search engines (like Google) not to pass on the full “link juice” (PageRank or authority) to your site. They are essentially a suggestion to the search engine to discount the link for ranking purposes.
- What this doesn’t mean: Google has stated that they treat “nofollow” and “ugc” as hints, not directives, but for the most part, a comment link is unlikely to directly boost your Domain Rating or significantly improve your organic search rankings.
2. The Real Value: Traffic, Branding, and Diversification
So if they don’t pass a lot of SEO value, what’s the point of targeting a high-DR site?
- Referral Traffic: A comment on a high-DR site means that site gets a lot of visitors. If you leave a genuinely thoughtful, insightful comment that includes a link to a relevant resource on your site, you can drive targeted, qualified traffic directly to your page. This is arguably the most valuable benefit.
- Brand Awareness & Authority: Having your name/brand appear on an authority site, even in the comments, exposes you to a new, relevant audience. It helps establish you as a contributor in your niche.
- Link Profile Diversification: A healthy, “natural” backlink profile should consist of a mix of “dofollow” and “nofollow” links from various sources (guest posts, resource pages, social media, comments, etc.). A few high-quality, relevant comment links contribute to this natural mix.
3. Best Practices for Blog Comments
If you decide to pursue this strategy, focus on quality over quantity:
- Relevance: Only comment on blogs that are highly relevant to your niche.
- Genuine Engagement: Don’t post generic comments like “Great post!” Write a thoughtful reply, add a unique perspective, or ask a follow-up question.
- Natural Linking: Only include your link when it genuinely supports or adds context to your comment. Avoid keyword-stuffed anchor text and use your real name or brand name instead.
- Prioritize DoFollow (If Available): Some niche, smaller, or older blogs may still offer “dofollow” links in the comments. While harder to find, these are the only ones that will offer direct SEO benefit.
The takeaway is this: A blog comment backlink on a DR80+ site is valid for driving traffic and improving brand visibility, but it is not a primary link building strategy for boosting SEO authority and organic rankings.