16 replies to this topic

[LeafsRule]

No it won't hurt your position on Google and done right could be helpful. IMO, The main concern should be whether the links are helpful or interesting to your users. Approached on that basis does it really matter what Google thinks about them if they improve your site for users?

[Jill]

If you have a lot of outgoing links that are not reciprical, will this hurt your position in Google?

Just curious why you have the impression that reciprocal links are preferred over non-reciprocal links?

Jill

[Jill]

So, the question then is simply will lots of outgoing links hurt your site? Is that correct?

If that's the question, then the answer is no.

Jill

[OldWelshGuy]

This is just my speculative argument not fact so please take it as such.

A site that has incoming links from respected PR pages, and also some relatively high PR pages of content itself, which also provides an abundance of on topic links, to deep links as well as core domains should be treated as a hub of information.

Have you noticed how homepages of sites like www.freewebhosting/users/uk/bughunting.htm have suddenly appeared in the Serps? could it be that Google is thinking 'hang on if someone is deeplinking then this MUST be a good page' How many link mongrels (in joke) sorry link MONGERS ask you to deep link to their site?

[headmonger]

Hi Oldwelshguy,

What is a deep link?

[OldWelshGuy]

A deep link is when the link points to a page in the structure of the site such as www.mydomain.com/widgets/design.htm .

If I was writing an algo then i would treat incoming links this deep as REAL votes of confidence.

oh i forgot to say welcome :-)

[rohgan03]

From what I read about google page rank and how it is distributed, each pages loses page rank to each of the out going link. So if there are lots of outgoing links the PR being distributed internally to the site will be less and thus will have some effect on the PR of the site and its ranking.

[LeafsRule]

Incorrect, the page loses no PR. The PR passed is lower.

[rohgan03]

I also remember reading its best to concentrate the outgoing links at one place...preferably at a lower PR page ( or deep page). Ofcourse you have to ensure that usability is not affected.

[rohgan03]

LeafsRule: If I have a page that has a link to my home page and has 10 outogin links, my home page will get less PR from that page than from a same PR page that has no outgoing links. Please do correct me if I am wrong?

[OldWelshGuy]

The way i understand it is this, each page has a % value of its own pr that it can pass on, if it has one link from it, then this page gets 100% of the value of a link from the linking from page. 2 links would get 50% each and on and on.

[rohgan03]

OldWelshGuy: I agree its something on those lines. That would mean too many outgoing links will decrease the PR distributed internally and inturn lead to less PR--> less ranking( to whatever extent PR makes a difference). Reciprocal links on the other hand do tend to bring some PR back. My reading is that one benefits the most from incoming non-reciprocal links, loses the most to outgoing non-reciprocal links. For Outgoing non-reciprocal links one should be choosy and ensure that they are relevant and add value to user as far as possible.