What is link juice?

Link juice is an SEO term that refers to the value or authority that is transferred from one web page to another via a hyperlink. Every time a page links to another page with a dofollow link, some of that value flows through. This is also known as link equity mentioned.

Google has been using this principle since the introduction of the PageRank algorithm: pages that receive many valuable links are seen as more relevant and trustworthy.

How does link juice work?

You can think of link juice as water flowing through a network of pipes.

• Each link is a pipe that transmits value.
• The more value (authority) the source page has, the stronger the link juice.
• The value is spread over all outbound links on that page.

Example: If a highly authoritative page has five outbound dofollow links, each link gets a portion of the total link value.

Factors that influence link juice

Not every link is equally powerful. The amount of link juice that is transmitted depends on several factors:

• Source Page Authority (e.g. a link from a reputable newspaper weighs much more than a small blog).
• Relevance of the content: a link within your field provides more value than an irrelevant link.
• Dofollow or nofollow: only dofollow links transmit link juice.
• Number of outbound links: the more links on the page, the thinner the link juice is distributed.
• Link placement: links in the main content count more heavily than in the footer or sidebar.

Why is link juice important for SEO?

Link juice largely determines the authority of a page. If your website receives a lot of quality link juice, Google sees your content as reliable and valuable. This often leads to higher positions in search results.

In addition, internal link structure helps you distribute the link juice smartly. By strategically placing internal links, you can pass value on pages that you want to score extra.

Examples of link juice in practice

• A backlink from a university that refers to your research.
• An authoritarian blog that links to your guide or manual.
• An internal link from your home page to a new landing page that you want to push.

In all these cases, link juice flows to your page, making it stronger in Google's eyes.

Common mistakes with link juice

• Add too many external links on one page, which disperses the value.
• Focus only on external link juice and ignore internal links.
• Wasting link juice on irrelevant or low-quality pages.
• Over-optimizing anchor texts, which looks unnatural and involves risks.

My advice as an SEO specialist

See link juice as a tool that you can use strategically. Focus on quality backlinks, but don't forget your internal links either. Through a smart internal structure, you can build your own network of water pipes, as it were, that transmits value to the most important pages.

Be careful with outbound links to low-quality websites and pay attention to the placement and relevance of your links. This way, you ensure that the link juice is used optimally.

Conclusion

Link juice is a fundamental principle in SEO. It's not just about collecting links, but especially about smartly distributing and using the value that is transmitted via those links. By combining quality, relevance and strategy, you build a powerful link profile that helps your website grow sustainably.