Link structure

Atom · 10-15-2003, 03:50 AM

I'm planning on making several sites using subdomains. For a large system of subdomains, is it better to link each page to the main domain, to each other, or to both?

I just finished reading John Scott's article on link architecture and link weight, http://www.internet-marketing-resear...chitecture.php
and am now questioning the way to set up my link structure.

Great article by the way :-)

PhilC · 10-15-2003, 04:26 AM

It depends on what the links are for. It's good for visitors if each page links to relevant pages around the sub-domains. If the links are for PageRank/linkpop, then you need to decide which page(s) are the most important for each of your important searchterms, and link accordingly.

Atom · 10-15-2003, 02:10 PM

What I was really wondering about is, say you have 100 inbound links, but only 5 of them are from high pagerank sites, does this dilute your link weight? Is it better not to have inbound links from low pagerank sites?

Jazzee · 10-15-2003, 02:12 PM

It is my understanding that it does not hurt to have links from low PR pages.

Atom · 10-15-2003, 02:24 PM

If low pagerank links don't hurt, then I guess I just don't know what "link weight" is exactly. Could you explain that to me?

John Scott · 10-15-2003, 02:31 PM

Links from other sites to your site can only add PR and link weight; they do not hurt your link weight.

Think of it as money. Sure, you'd rather have more $100 bills; but nickels and dimes do not hurt. Get enough of those nickels and dimes, and it adds up.

Atom · 10-15-2003, 02:37 PM

I guess what I was confused about is, what your article said about "internal links". How does it hurt having a lot of them on your pages?

John Scott · 10-15-2003, 02:53 PM

It doesn't hurt unless you want to channel link weight.

Take www.suzuki-bikes.com for example.

http://www.suzuki-bikes.com/jr80.php

That page targets the search term "Suzuki JR80". It has only one link, from the index page. No other pages link to it.

That page is #1 for the search term, "Suzuki JR80", so why waste more link weight on it? Can't get higher than #1.

If you notice at the bottom of the pages, there are links to other pages. I have 59 pages linking to this page: http://www.suzuki-bikes.com/hayabusa1300.php

It targets the search term "Suzuki Hayabusa".

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&i...uzuki+HAYABUSA

As you can see, it's number 7 for that search term. Without the 59 pages linking to it, it wouldn't even be in the top 30.

This is channeling link weight. A.K.A, channeling pagerank.

You use it to put the most link weight on the pages that need it (those pages targeting more competitive search terms), and conserve link weight by not linking excessively to pages which do not need the added link weight.

Hope that helps.

Atom · 10-15-2003, 03:09 PM

ok .. I've got it pretty straight in my mind now except for one thing ... ... how is it advantageous, to "conserve" link weight?

John Scott · 10-15-2003, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atom

how is it advantageous, to "conserve" link weight?

It's kind of hard to channel link weight if you haven't conserved it in the first place.

Atom · 10-16-2003, 12:10 AM

I think I see John .... by "conserving" link weight, I would basically be "utilizing it more effectively"? Is that correct?

John Scott · 10-16-2003, 12:31 AM

Yes. Like, outbound links. Outbound links just leak link weight, so why allow it? Phil's site is very good at this - most of the outbound links are in javascript, so they don't leak pagerank/ link weight.

And, no need to be throwing link weight on pages that don't need it. Conserve link weight for pages that need it.

Gede · 10-16-2003, 02:52 AM

But your Nr1 for Suzuki Hayabusa 1300

Cause you link it like that from your main page.... I suppose...

Wich brings me to my question...

Anchor Text Dillution...

Suppose I want to be found on both "Bali Property" and "Bali Villas"..

What would be the best?

Have All anchors like Bali Property Bali Villas

Or divide half in Bali Property and half in Bali Villas ?

John Scott · 10-16-2003, 03:15 AM

Google definately puts weight on the anchor text like that. It's best to use your keywords only, IMO.

So, "Suzuki Hayabusa" would be ideal, but I don't think it hurts your ranking to have links using other anchor text.