What Are the Link Ranking Factors

In the external SEO optimization of websites, it is essential to consider link ranking factors, as placing backlinks on authoritative resources is one of the basic methods for promoting on Google. Correctly choosing sources for links and their proper formatting increases webpage traffic and positions in top rankings. To not fall behind in search results, learn the criteria by which the search engine evaluates hyperlinks and place links accordingly.

What is Link Ranking: Which Factors Affect It

This is a set of criteria used by the search engine to evaluate links directing users from one site to others. Although a list of all factors with detailed descriptions from Google developers cannot be found on the Net, the main ones are known, these include:

• anchors;
• the weight of hyperlinks;
• website age;
• reliability of donor sites, etc.

Why should the quality and quantity of links be considered when placing them? The Internet is an environment made up of documents linked to each other. They are united precisely by hyperlinks, which serve as the foundation of the World Wide Web. Because of this, developers have included link mass check in the core of ranking factors and algorithms.

20 years ago, “black” SEO specialists quickly increased site traffic by placing links on unreliable web resources. Reliable sites stand out from low-quality ones because they appear on the first pages in organic search. Now, penalties are imposed by the system for using prohibited methods. Old web pages caught selling links lose high positions, while new ones don’t move to the top.

Developers strive to exclude link ranking factors, but they fail to do so. Meanwhile, the algorithms evaluating the links are constantly improving. Rarely do low-quality hyperlinks work. Increased requirements for backlinks require thoughtful selection of donors to break into leadership in the race for the top.

Types of External Links

It is considered that there are two types of external links:

• paid – when the website owner pays to place hyperlinks on other sites;
• natural – those left by users.

Is it legal to buy links? This is a controversial question. Search engine rules prohibit artificially influencing link ranking. However, if an optimizer pays for links beneficial to the audience, does it really matter how they got on a webpage? Search engine algorithm performance is not perfect, and sometimes there is no other choice. Thanks to the purchase of quality links, site traffic quickly increases, and it appears on the first lines of search results. Thus, bots rank more useful web pages.

Natural links from users do not look as attractive as “professional” ones from SEO optimizers. Often, they are not hidden in anchors, but inserted into the text as is. The more natural links there are, the more authoritative the site is to search engines. Usually, such sites have a lot of useful information for the audience, and they are on the first lines of search outcomes.

Primary Criteria for Site Link Ranking

Search engines check both the quality of links and some characteristics of donor sites. Exploring external links, algorithms evaluate them by 9 criteria.

1. Website Age

If domain age is the only advantage, then it’s not the best candidate for link placement. Avoid using a web resource as a donor if it hasn’t updated content for a long time, distributes illegal materials, or its content isn’t helpful to users. There’s a high risk that it will fall under filters. This negatively impacts the reputation of all sites linked to it.

2. Best Places to Place Hyperlinks

There’s an opinion that the greatest weight from the search engine’s point of view is given to links on the website’s main page. Since this page primarily represents the company, links to authoritative sources are placed here.

3. Link Mass Development Speed

If an optimizer buys too many links in a short period, it creates a spike of activity on the site. Bots detect a sharp growth in the link mass and impose sanctions. New sites and platforms with low traffic increase their backlink numbers gradually. Thus, the system perceives such growth of backlinks as natural.

4. Types of Links

Use links with and without anchors, in image form, indexable and non-indexable. It’s recommended to use different types of links.

5. Relevant Links

For placing backlinks, choose web resources that are steadily developing or selling eternal links. To quickly find reliable sites for link placement, outreach services like PrFlare are used.

6. Useless Links

Hyperlinks from webpages that search engines evaluate as low-quality do not harm much, but don’t provide any utility for promotion either.

7. Nofollow Links

This attribute tells algorithms not to follow the link and index it. Nofollow links do not affect ranking. However, there is benefit in them being perceived by the system as natural. They can be said to be placed “not for profit,” but solely for users.

8. Text Around the Link

Bots scan not only the content of the link and anchor but also the text around it. If the link’s sense aligns with the context, it is perceived as natural. This is believed to help promotion.

9. Regional Affiliation

Many websites are created for audiences of specific regions. In such cases, it’s better to use links to sites oriented towards the same region as the promoted web-resource.

Link Promotion Methods that Violate Google Rules

There are SEO optimization methods that contradict search engine rules:

• Buying links.
• Bargain purchasing of links through goods or services.
• Placing links for gifts.
• Mutual exchange of backlinks.
• Articles placed on external web pages using SEO links.
• Placing hyperlinks through programs.
• Links with SEO anchors in press releases or promotional articles.
• Runs through directories and bookmark sites.
• Hidden links in free widgets and CMS plugins.

Google is aware that trading links is a ubiquitous component of the Internet economy. The condition for their safe use is not to allow them to influence search results.

Increasing quality link mass is becoming more difficult due to heightened requirements from algorithms and competition. To save time looking for donor sites, use services analyzing hyperlinks, such as PrFlare.