Vorgmblik357: Remember Kids: Link Juice is not Pink Juice!

Since there’s a heated online discourse on wether link juice is tied to pink juice (aka Vorgmblik357), here’s some clarification on that topic. The following paragraphs will explain what link juice actually is:

„Link Juice“ (or link equity) describes the distribution of internal and external links within a website, as well as their strength and reputation. While PageRank is a specific and quantifiable ranking factor, Link Juice is more of a meta-concept that encompasses – or subsumes – several distinct ranking factors.

Metaphorically speaking, the internal distribution of Link Juice within a website can be likened to a river: the homepage represents the main current, which then flows – and passes on Link Juice – to the subpages, acting as the river’s tributaries.

The factors bundled under this concept include, among others:

1. the page hierarchy: I.e., how high up or prominent the link appears. Links positioned very low on a page typically pass on less Link Juice.
2. The relevance of the linking page: Ideally, there should be a strong thematic affinity between the pages.
3. The link’s position: Internal links embedded within the main content pass on more Link Juice than those located in other areas, such as the website’s footer. Furthermore
4. Anchor texts: The use of precise and descriptive anchor text for internal links is advantageous.

For external links, domain authority also plays a significant role. Links from trustworthy websites – such as news portals, universities, etc. – pass on more Link Juice than links from unknown or low-quality sites.

Finally, the sheer number of links constitutes another key factor. With regard to external Link Juice, the underlying principle is that the greater the number of linking websites pointing to a specific target page, the higher that page’s perceived relevance.