Website Links Explained
Website Links information
Hi people. I’m still getting asked about links even though I thought I had put it as simple as I could in a previous blog.
In between creating content and working on your site, you may have read some of the (often conflicting) link discussions that do the rounds on the internet on a pretty regular basis. If you're asking yourself, "What's going on and what do I need to know about links?" Here for the last time I will explain it as simple as I can make it.
Internal links (links within your site)
Internal linking is your homepage linking to your "Contact us" page, or your "Contact us" page linking to your "About me" page. Internal linking (also known as link architecture) is important because it's a major factor in how easily visitors can navigate your site. Additionally, internal linking contributes to your site's "crawlability" -- how easily a spider can reach your pages.
Outbound links(sites you link to)
Outbound links are external sites that you're linking to. For example, google webmasters links to the domain google webmaster central blogspot. Outbound links allow you to surf the web, they're a big reason why the web is so exciting and collaborative. Without outbound links, your site can seem isolated from the community because each page becomes "brochure-ware." Most sites include outbound links naturally and it shouldn't be a big concern.
Inbound links(sites linking to you)
Inbound links are external sites linking to you. There are many website owners who (and I must admit I’m one of them) aren’t to preoccupied by the subject of inbound links. So why do some website owners care? It's likely because merit-based or volunteered inbound links may seem like a quick way to increase rankings and traffic.
The question you would probably ask me next is, "Are there methods to maximize my merit-based links for free?”
So that I don’t get inundated with requests for an answer to this question here is your answer.
Inbound links are links from pages on external sites linking back to your site. Inbound links can bring new users to your site, and when the links are merit-based and freely-volunteered as an editorial choice, they're also one of the positive signals to Google about your site's importance. Other signals include things like an analysis of your site's content, its relevance to a geographic location, etc. Maybe you know or don’t know but relevant, quality inbound links can affect your Page Rank (covered in a previous blog). Also quality links often come naturally to sites with compelling content or offering a unique service.
How do these signals factor into your sites ranking?
Let's say you have a site, example dot com, that offers users a variety of unique website templates and design tips. One of the strongest ranking factors is your site's content. Additionally, perhaps your site is also linked from three sources, - however, one inbound link is from a spammy site. As far as Google is concerned, you only want the two quality inbound links to contribute to the Page Rank signal in your ranking.
Given the user's query, signals (including the analysis of the site's content and inbound links as mentioned above) are applied to return the most relevant results to the user.
So how can you engage more users and potentially increase merit-based inbound links?
Many wealthy affiliate members have written about their success in growing their audience. From them I have compiled some ideas and resources that can improve the web for all users.
Create unique and compelling content on your site and the web in general
Start a blog: make videos, do original research, and post interesting stuff on a regular basis. If you're passionate about your site's topic, there are lots of great avenues to engage more users.
Teach readers new things, uncover new news, be entertaining or insightful, show your expertise, create short training video’s. In other words - Make your site a worthwhile site to visit.
Provide a useful product or service. If visitors to your site get value from what you provide, they're more likely to link to you.
You can if you have the time participate in blogs, forums and user reviews related to your topic of interest. Offer your knowledgeable perspective to these communities.
In other words - share, share, share, and you will get people coming back for more.
I hope I have explained the subject of Links a bit more clearer this time and you will go away and probably saying - why couldn’t he have said this in his first blog lol.
That’s ok as long as you leave a comment below.
Have a nice day people.
Robert Allan
Recent Comments
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Another question, Robert, I own and operate www.redriverbombs.com have had it for several years, I also own redriverseedbombs.com would WA allow me to link the two together? within my site here on WA! My idea to in starting here is to direct traffic from one to the online store on the other. Is that possible and allowable within WA? Thanks,
Hello Carolyn.
Your sites of course are your own online property but you didn't create them as a member of WA.
This being so you cannot link to them from within WA by any means Blogs, Your Profile Comments etc unless you have transferred the Domain Names to WA.
But once you have a WA website you can link to anything you want to from it.
If you create a Site Rubix site as a member of WA or if you have bought a new Domain Name and transferred it to WA Hosting for that Site Rubix one and transferred those other two sites Domain to WA Hosting then you can link those sites together.
You can also list them here within WA as your websites the same as anyone else.
That seems a rather long-winded explanation when all I need to tell you is.
If you transfer any Sites Domain To WA Hosting you are allowed to list them within WA for all the members to see and have a look.
Great post Robert! The information is very helpful! Sounds like you were scolding us a bit right off lol! Have a nice day. Keep up the great posts!
Hi Kimberely. You will find out for yourself that after you publish a blog as sure as shooting you will get request to explain in more detail this bit or that bit.
It can be really annoying sometimes but there you go you just have to grin and bear it.
Thank you for the comment and it is appreciated.
Robert
Very well-written, great information and tips on internal and outbound links, thanks so much, Robert. ;))
Hello Jewel. Glad to be of some help.
Lots more info where that came from so keep a weather eye open.
Robert
I'm not currently employing this strategy, but would a list building feature such as a sign up page for a free offer tend increase inbound linking if the sign up page included URL as part of the contact information?
Yes indeed, a good idea but would people only come for the freebie?
But you can try this out and see what response you get.
I just tend to put freebies on my sidebar and at least this way they take it or leave it.
Did you read my blog on a Contact Page.
I explained in it you could also have pics/images on it with links to offers or back to WA.
Have a nice weekend and thank you for the comment.
Robert
Great review and information. There is plenty to do just to get noticed which is a job in and of itself. I think I need a secretary!
Thank you for the comment and take it easy.
You can always copy and paste it into Word and print my blogs off and create a manual with all the blogs that are of interest and helpful to you.
Robert
I am not even bookmarking you anymore. I just go straight to your blogs and scan them when I need something!
Helen you are a sweetheart. You go right ahead and bookmark me as often as you like.
Have a glorious day.
Robert
What magic have you worked to get your blog notification sent out twice Robert?
Don't get me wrong, it's great content about the different types of links and all, but the system sent me a notice at 3:55 and again at 4:00 - both for your "Website Links Explained" blog.
Inquiring minds want to know!
Dennis
Double billing Dennis, it's costing Robert 94 bucks a month to have his blogs sent out twice...LOL
Mark
ps.......he's a Scot and getting very nervous about his next bill
Dennis
I don't know about you but I've been getting double emails on and off for a month now.
At first I thought I was just tiered then when it kept happing I realized it was coming from WA.
Are we having fun yet lol.
Wow. I have a hard time keeping up with all the emails I get from WA. I can't imagine getting double that number!
Dennis
They only seem to double up on 1 to 4 emails every other day or so.
Just enough to mix you up once and awhile.
Maybe you get a second notification after the writer edits his work and hits 'Publish' again. If so, you probably get heaps of notifications about my edits :-) ~Marion
I had actually included (unintentional) a link to a site I'm affiliated to and that is a big NO NO within WA so I deleted the whole blog and did it again.
So there you go, no great mystery. I believe it will do the same if after you have published you go back into it and edit.
have a nice day and thank you for your comment.
Robert
We Scots are not mean. We just like to hold on to our money for as long as possible lol.
Thank you for your comment and reason for double publishing with Dennis.
Robert
Hi. Double emailing is caused by the members themselves commenting on the same issues they offered advice/tips on with two different subjects that are actually linked within the WA system.
Put simply. You have commented and then you get an email.
Someone else has commented on a subject that you commented on so you get another email.
You can actually get more than 2 emails depending how popular the subject matter under discussion.
Do you follow this? No, oh well you will just have to be careful what you comment on.
have a nice day everyone.
Robert
I see that all the time but I also get duplicates of the exact same email taking me to the same spot with no updates in the thread once in a while.
But I'm working around it.
There are 6' long boxes laying quietly underground all over Scotland containing the mortal remains of many a parsimonious Scot and bundles of cash that they wanted to hold onto for as long as possible! LOL....
Have a great weekend Robert, and don't you be spending too much of that precious money of yours...hahahaha
Take care
Mark
Greetings Marion -
If that logic held true and additional notifications were sent out after each edit, I'd have brought the server farm at WA to its knees long ago!
Dennis
Its just the WA system and not a lot if anything you can do about it except untick the email box in your account.
Robert
Not at all. You can't take it with you as they say but I suppose many have tried lol.
Anyway my daughters make sure I don't have too much extra cash lol
Have a great weekend also.
Robert
Been there, done that.....pockets empty...hahaha!!
I just remembered Robert, that my first ever post office savings account was opened at Fisherrow post office, that's probably gone too in the name of progress I don't doubt!
Cheers
Mark
Fisherow is long gone I'm afraid. My granny used to work there gutting the fish as they came off the boats.
By the way Newhailes is a golf course now.
Robert
One of my earliest memories is of a school friend drowning near the harbour there, can't remember his name but will always remember his passing.
Mark
My but you're a cheery soul on as Sunday night.
Actually I was down at Musselburgh today having dinner with my youngest daughter.
Enjoy the rest of your Sunday.
I'm going to sign off soon.
Robert
Hahahaha....you brought up the harbour when you mentioned your granny and it just popped into my head..couldn't help it LOL's
Anyway, I'm just off to watch an episode of Rebus...another happy Scotsman! ;-)
Cheers Robert
Mark
See more comments
Hi Robert, would like to know whether too many "internal links" or even "outbound links" will get us penalised by Google and affect our Ranking? Are there any specific number of links incurred?
Hello and thank you for your comment.
Based on personal experience I would say keep your inbound links to a reasonable amount and always from relevant and ranking websites. Say 2 or 3 per page. If you have a 100 page website that is a lot of links but its per page and not all on one page.
Same goes for internal links.
Again in my experience google does like this practice because it makes for a better navigation experience for the visitor.
Have a nice day.
Robert
Thanks Robert for the invaluable feedback
No probs and to your success. Hope you do well.
Robert