Link, when used in the context of marketing, is a term used to refer to the physical and or logical connection between two entities. For example, a link can exist between a website and social media post, between two types of content, or between two text points in a website or article. Linking is also known as hyperlinking or interlinking and is a mainstay in the marketing world, especially with the rise of digital space.
Link: Definition
A link (also known as a hyperlink or interlink) is a reference object within a piece of digital content that points to another piece of content, such as another website or blog post. Clicking on a link typically redirects the user to the new content.
Within digital content, links are usually represented by blue-colored, underlined text. This is a standard visual cue that signals to the user that they can click on the words or phrase to be taken to a new page. Links are also sometimes represented by an image, such as a logo or button.
Importance of Linking
Link building, or the practice of creating incoming links to a website or digital content, is recognized as an important part of SEO. When another website or digital content links to your website or digital content, it is a sign of trust, which search engines (like Google) then view favorably. This means that your content is more likely to rank higher on SERPs (Search Engine Results Pages).
Link building is also important for driving traffic. By integrating links in your content from other digital sources, such as social media or other websites, you’re connecting a user to several source of complementary information. This allows them to become more connected to a brand or topic, increasing the likelihood of engagement or further activity.
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In addition, good link building strategies also increase brand visibility. Having your content linked to another website or blog can lead to more viewers and engagement, as the source website automatically brings in users who may not have found your content any other way.
Best Practices
When it comes to link building, it is important to practice good link hygiene. This means that only links to high quality websites and content should be posted or shared. It is important to avoid spammy links and link farms, as this can have a negative effect on the website’s reputation as well as its SERP rankings.
Another best practice is to use a variety of different link types. Links can be from other websites, from social media accounts, from other digital content on your website, and from other digital assets. Utilising a variety of links helps boost SEO performance, as the search engine can more easily notice the different links and increasing their visibility and recognition.
When creating links within digital content, it is best to use descriptive words and phrases for the links, such as ‘click here’, ‘learn more’, or ‘find out more’. Descriptive links can help search engines identify what they are linking to, as well as give a user an idea of where they are being redirected when they click the link.
Finally, when link building, the source, the target, and the context of the link should all be kept in mind. If the source content is not related to the target content, it may not be seen as beneficial to search engine performance. Similarly, the context of a link should be considered, as linking to irrelevant content can lower your website’s SERP rankings.