Hello SEO Experts out there! I’m wondering if using the structure described below will look spammy to search engines. In my home page I have multiple sections each with links in this way: (h1)Home Page Title (NO LINK HERE) (h3) Blue Widgets For Sale (Link to main blue widget page) <h4)State Area Blue Widgets (Link to main blue widget page) Picture Of A Blue Widget (Link to main blue widget page) Quick Description of this Section (1 Content Link to main blue widget page with keyword “main city blue widgetâ€) Then some quick links like: 1. Find Blue Widgets (Link to main blue widget page) 2. Vintage Blue Widgets (Link to vintage blue widget search result page) 3. View all Blue Widgets (Link To all widget search result page) I have 4 sections like this in my home page. The page has some introductory content which also has links to blue widgets and other sections when the introduction mentions blue widgets. I also have a footer with links to all these main sections. So there are two questions here basically: 1. Is having too many links to 1 page in your home page (or any page for that matter) bad for SEO? I think I have between 4 and 8 links to every main section in my home page (including the 1 picture link) but all have different keywords. 2. I was also wondering if linking my header tags was bad (h3 and h4 as links). Oh one more thing, since I put links in all my main keywords, will this mean that my site will lack real text content for these keywords? Or are links still counted for keyword density? My website was created in a way so that all of this actually looks professional and helps the user experience because they can go to the different main sections easily from a number of points in the site. Some people will click the image, others will click the h3 or h4 and so. I think it helps. Thanks for taking the time and responding.
I don't think you'll get penalised for something like this. People do this sort of thing all the time without actually intending to manipulate the SERP's However, it should be noted that multiple links coming from one domain will only be counted as 1 actual link. If it weren't the case then people could easily get 1000 links by putting 1000 links up on a page they own straight to their homepage.
Thanks T, What do you think of using header tags as links? I almost never see this in other sites. I'm not planning to do this in the h1 tag, but I will do it in all other tags if it doesn't created any SE problems. I've keep researching and it looks like site content is regarded as content even if it's linked or not. So having my main keywords as links shouldn't decrease keyword density.
How about magazine type of wordpress theme ? it does have a lot of link, would it be bad for serp/pr ?
Hmm, tbh, I'm none the wiser on this one as I've not ever monitored the effects. As far as I can tell, Google will still count it as part of your overall text. I think this one is really answered by asking yourself if it's what your users want.. if so, go ahead (I can't see it harming your rankings). If not then don't bother.
The reason why you do not encounter many hyperlinked header elements is, because it is wrong. You should regard the header elements of a webpage in the same manner as the header elements of a book (you know, the stack of paper sheets with text on them). Each chapter in a book has only one title and the same goes for the <H1> header element of a webpage. And, like a book, the <title> element of a webpage is not necessarily the same as the <H1> element. Each chapter is then divided into one or more sections, one or more subsections and perhaps even one or more subsubsections. You should create a webpage in the same manner: use only one <H1> element to describe the main topic, then one or more <H2> elements for the section headers, one or more <H3> elements for the subsection headers, etc. Note that it is not correct to use <H1> and <H3> elements, but not <H2> elements, or <H2> and <H4> elements, but not <H3> elements, etc. Like books, you shouldn't put links inside the text of a header element. I'm sure that by now search-engine algorithms have figured out that this is a way to inflate the ranking of the webpage that is linked to. The Scottish web design company Hobo Creative wrote a nice article about the proper use of header elements, which I suggest you to read. Another thing: forget about the keyword density. It is irrelevant. Instead, you should focus on writing compelling natural content that reads like a normal book or newspaper. Focus on themed webpages, where each webpage is about a different topic. So, if you want to rank webpage 1 for keyword X and webpage 2 for keyword Y, then you should use keyword X only on webpage 1 and link webpage 2 from webpage 1 using keyword Y in the anchor text. Remember how the Google bomb using the query "miserable failure" worked?
Currently there is no limitations on using the H1-H6 tags and any SEO combination you can think of. Although Google likes the H1 tag, we have used links inside it and outside it. After the dust settled, we found no advantage. As for proper "Document" creation and proper header use, the concept will not generate a Google #1 SERP.
Thanks Guys, I personally just wanted to do it for the benefit of the user, not for SEO, but I was concerned that it could affect my rankings. I've decided to link my h tags and we'll see how it goes.