Mar 18 2009

Are In-Text Home Page Links User-UNfriendly?

We know from experience and based on common sense that links organically integrated in context and containing keywords work much better (in terms of transferring anchor text to the linked page) than links placed isolates (or in a list)  in other (sitewide) parts of the template (i.e. sidebar or footer).

It makes sense because in-text links look much more natural (surrounded by text on the same topic) and much less spammy (so they will secure you from any potential “over-optimization” penalty).

This basically means that while I am writing a post and when occasionally using the word combination “seo blog” I need to link it to the home page (and thus show Google once again which words I want my site to be ranked for). The only doubt I have is whether these links are actually “user-friendly”.

Here are my points:

  • Links are supposed to invite a person to learn more on the mentioned term or bring the user to the page with additional information or to the source of the quoted text or to the official reference, etc (but: home page is usually a place for the summarized information on the overall site topic with categories, subcategories and pages offering more detailed approach to each subtopic mentioned on the home page);
  • Links take the user’s precious time: the visitor either clicks them or hovers over to see where they are going to bring them;
  • People with disabilities often tab from one hyperlink to the next one; so each link should make sense and be an important part of the page navigation (links to home page are expected to be in the heading and clearly state “Home”).

Am I missing anything? What value do these in-text keyword-rich links offer to the user?

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More Posts By Ann Smarty

We know from experience and based on common sense that links organically integrated in context and containing keywords work much better (in terms of transferring anchor text to the linked page) than links placed isolates (or in a list)  in other (sitewide) parts of the template (i.e. sidebar or footer). It makes sense because in-text links look much more natural…
  • It can certainly be over done, yes. But wasn't Wikipedia built on internal linking just like you're talking about? Like most things we do it's a balance between aesthetics and functionality.
  • Winooski
    ...while I am writing a post and when occasionally using the word combination “seo blog” I need to link it to the home page...

    Ann, nice example of having your cake and eating it, too. By demonstrating the technique in your post, you (theoretically) reap the benefit of increasing SearchEngineJournal.com's homepage's relevance for [seo blog].

    Is the usability issue you raise obviated by your own use of the technique? I'd say "Yes", but I tip my hat to you for clever meta-marketing.
  • If the link adds value to the article and the user experience as well as anchor text value why would any issue arise at all for Google or any other search engine… I don’t think Google needs to filter anything, I think webmasters and contentment writers need to smarten up and optimize in a fashion that will benefit all. There is nothing wrong with having a link pointing to your home page if that link is help full to the reader, relevant to the article and ads more relevancy to the overall message of the article. The SEO properties should be secondary but they still can be a factor…
  • "Into my work, I really like to use both techniques." Just do what makes the most sense. Ultimately, 'just' getting good Google is not enough to convert.

    You can have a number one spot in the SERPs that does not convert to sales (or whatever desired response is for you) because it is not effective for the reader.

    People can smell "commission breathe" a mile away. If you tacky up your pages with endless loops of links that don't make sense, are not effective for the reader, and are only there to anchor your good search engine results...then really, shame on you.

    You won't do so well. I hate spammy sites. I would just as soon move on to anther website that shows they really care about me and my needs than use a #1 site that is, well, misleading.

    DO what makes sense. Don't over do anything. Anything out of balance is too much. Stick to common sense and good webmaster rules when incorporating the best of both worlds.
  • I really like to use links to internal pages. This is what users want, more and more relevant content.

    But we know that for SEO this sometimes don't work if you are trying to rank for a strong keyword.

    Into my work, I really like to use both techniques.
  • Very Good Point Ann!

    All the time everyone send a link to the index page just to get best positions in SERPS, but it doesn´t help the users. Nowadays, I really believe that this anchor to the index is helping the websites in SERPs, but maybe Google can make filters to try avoid more weight in these links!

    Congratulations for the post!
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