What is link juice?

"Link juice" is a term used in the field of search engine optimization (SEO) to describe the value or equity passed from one webpage to another through hyperlinks. When one webpage links to another webpage, it passes a certain amount of authority, relevance, and trustworthiness, commonly referred to as link juice, to the linked page.

The concept of link juice is based on the idea that search engines view links as votes of confidence or endorsements. When a webpage receives inbound links from other authoritative and relevant websites, it signals to search engines that the linked page is trustworthy, valuable, and worthy of ranking higher in search engine results pages (SERPs).

Key factors that influence the amount of link juice passed from one webpage to another include:

1. Authority of the Linking Page: Pages with higher authority, as determined by factors such as domain authority, page authority, and backlink profile, are capable of passing more link juice to the pages they link to.

2. Relevance of the Linking Page: Links from pages that are topically relevant to the linked page are considered more valuable in terms of passing link juice. Relevance helps search engines understand the context and significance of the link.

3. Anchor Text: The anchor text, or the clickable text of a hyperlink, provides context and signals to search engines about the content of the linked page. Descriptive and keyword-rich anchor text can enhance the relevance and value of the link.

4. Number of Outbound Links: The number of outbound links (external links) on the linking page affects the distribution of link juice. Pages with fewer outbound links are capable of passing more link juice to each individual link.

5. Nofollow Attribute: Links with the rel="nofollow" attribute do not pass link juice to the linked page. This attribute is commonly used for user-generated content, sponsored links, or links that the website owner does not endorse for SEO purposes.

In summary, link juice plays a crucial role in SEO as it helps search engines determine the authority, relevance, and trustworthiness of webpages, ultimately influencing their rankings in search results. Obtaining high-quality inbound links from authoritative and relevant sources is a fundamental aspect of link building strategies to boost a website's SEO performance.