Successfully Deep Linking
Recently I wrote a guest post and sent an email the the blog’s owner stating that my post was complete and ready for review. The only thing I hadn’t done within the post was deep link.
When the response came back to me, I was surprised at my own jargon and the lack of recognition to the term “deep linking” and thought, now is a great time to talk about it.
But, just for the record, the response was “I’m not sure what deep linking is but the post looks great.”
Deep Linking: Linking within posts to internal pages on your blog.
It may be something you often do or something you rarely do. But today, let’s talk about why you should do it and how it’ll help you.
If you have read more than one blog post on I’m Blogging That, you’ll see that within my posts I often link to another post that is relevant to the current post’s topic. Because I’m Blogging That is a niche blog for how to tips for bloggers, most of my posts are a follow-up to a previous post or mention subjects I have previously talked about. This combination allows me to provide you with more relevant information on any subject. But it’s more than that.
Deep linking hasn’t always been a practice I considered or was even good at. But considering what it can do, by slightly modifying my thinking when writing it’s become just as natural to me as the act of writing itself. So, let’s get into all the reasons you want to deep link within your posts.
Credibility
Of all the reasons I’ll give you for deep linking within your posts, by far I believe this is the most important.
Those who visit your blog need to know what you’re about, what your niche blog covers, and grow to become a fan of your writing style. Most importantly, they want to know that you really understand what you’re talking about and that you have some sort of authority on the subject.
By deep linking, you’re constantly showing yourself off to readers. Sources for further information on similar subjects are great for showing your coverage of a subject, your comprehension of the subject, and your passion for writing. All of which will make you a better blogger.
Page Views
From the onset of deep linking in my posts I instantly saw an increase in page views. Apparently it’s pretty safe to assume that visitors like relevant information on subjects they enjoy reading. What a concept, right? By giving relevant sources of information within my posts, I was able to increase the page views per person.
Search Relevance
Most us know that the anchor text that is used to link to our blogs is just as relevant as the link itself. The anchor text or words you use to link in your post tells search engines what the page you’re linking to is generally about. As a result, when you often link to a post or blog with the same anchor text over and over it no doubt becomes a search term.
By deep linking within your posts, you help yourself with the search engines and can stop entirely relying on other people to link out to your good content.
Example:
I have often linked to my post How to Use All In One SEO Pack Plugin. In fact, a search on my blog returns seven results for this post. Google shows that I have only 3 external links to the post yet the post itself has a PageRank of 4 and ranks #11 with Google for “all in one seo pack.”
Are they the best numbers? Not really but I have a great deal of search traffic to this post. No less than 10 Google searches per day land visitors on that post. Clearly I’ve done something right and it’s mostly been done on my own with deep linking.
When to Deep Link
Assuming you proof read and edit your posts before publishing, look for ways you can link to other blog posts that are relevant and have natural anchor text. And don’t be afraid to modify your own words for optimal anchor text as long as you’re still getting your point across.
Ensure that you’re being helpful. Don’t just link because you’ve got a good opportunity. Linking to apples when you’re talking about oranges doesn’t do anyone good. It’s not helpful for your visitors and it doesn’t increase your credibility or authority.
Within your link structure, be sure to add the title tag so that you can give the exact post name for your visitors as well. This will help to provide as much information as possible for your readers before they click. And with a lot of readers being weary of clicking, you want to provide information that is going to tell them you’re attempting to be helpful.
Good Combinations
It’s been said over and over that we should like out to other bloggers for good networking practices, exposure, and credibility. Deep linking should work with your external linking to other bloggers. And don’t go over kill. A couple of each type of link or just one method within a post is more than enough. Remember, your first goal is to be relevant. I cannot stress it enough.
Your Strategy
Do you often deep link within your posts or are you missing the opportunity? If you deep link, have you noticed any changes to your visitors activity since you started the practice? And lastly, do you click the links when a blogger deep links within their posts?
| 2.5 |
June 5th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
Does linking to an entire category on your own blog have the same impact as linking to discrete, individual posts?
June 5th, 2008 at 10:56 pm
Lately I’ve gotten quite into deep linking. I’ve gone over all posts once now, I’m sure I’ll do it more.
Checking stats…bad me I know, I don’t do it nearly as much as I should but I also don’t want to turn into a “stat junkie”, checking every 15 minutes :-)
As for clicking deep links in other blogs…I read the whole article first, if I’m hungry for more then absolutely. The second reason I do it this way is because most bloggers have links open in the same window, and I don’t want to lose my place. :)
June 6th, 2008 at 8:18 am
Thanks for the great advice. Its funny because my last post I put in 3 deep links because they were called for and I didn’t even think about them being deep links and the benefits until I just read your post. I know I’ve read this advice before but I often forget it.
I post that I just wrote that I put the deep links in, you might all find interesting because it is about Internet Week which is going on in NY now. I attended one of the programs and wrote about it at http://connectwithyourteens.blogspot.com/2008/06/entertainment-culture-panel-during.html
Tonight there is a big networking party. Should be crazy but plan on handing out as many of my blog business cards as I have.
June 6th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
I am a big fan of deep linking! The stronger all of your pages are the stronger they make each other. Deep linking ties it all together and the seach engines really seem to love this.
June 7th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
@feefifoto: While I’m not entirely sure, I would presume that it does have the same impact with search engines. And certainly it would have the same impact for your readers.
@Dennis: I agree with you that I read the entire post first but I do tend to click through the post on something that catches my eye. I just make sure to hold the ctrl key so it’ll open in a new window. :o)
@Jennifer: You’re quite welcome! There was a time when I worked the same as you but since I’ve seen the difference that it makes for visitors and search engines alike, it’s something I’m sure to do as often as possible now.
@Tracy: Agreed!
June 11th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
Yes, search engines do love those deep links!
I am glad to see the general consensus here regarding new pages in a new window. I typically try to set my options for that, but only because it’s my personal preference. Now that I see others feel the same way, I will continue to make a point of opening new links in a separate window when I blog.
June 12th, 2008 at 11:27 am
@UptakeInOH: Agreed, they do.
I agree as well about links in a new window. Of course I work it slightly different and only have external links open in a new window while site-wide links open in the same window. Just a matter of keeping the visitor around a little while longer. :D
June 12th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
Is it possible to have TOO many? I just read somewhere that Google may penalize your blog like a link-farm if posts have too many links.
Any validity ot this in your eyes?
June 12th, 2008 at 11:40 pm
@Dennis: I think it’s possible to have too many. The point is to provide more relevant information to your readers. It’s quite possible to overwhelm your reader and turn them off. In that regard, limiting is good.
With regards to search engines, I’m sure they could view posts as link farms if they’re over done. But I think you’d kill your reader with that many links in a post before a search engine got to ya for it.
June 13th, 2008 at 12:18 am
Good point. You could have 15 opportunities in a post…even helpful ones, but that don’t make it smart.
I’ll go over mine again. Nothing serious if memory serves but maybe 1 or 2 more then I need :-)
June 13th, 2008 at 9:09 am
[...] various means of metrics but overall, it’s a really high number. I attribute this a lot to my deep linking within posts, my post trackbacks, and having a niche blog that focuses on just one [...]
June 13th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
I’ve been tormented with the new window/same window dilemma since I started blogging. After doing a poll both n and off my blog, I think ill stick to new windows all around…that seems to be the overall preference.
Besides, for external links it’s obvious, but even internally they still “stick around” but they don’t risk getting lost :-)
June 19th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
First time visitor and I am impressed with your blog. I have read this article and it was an eyeopener. I will try out some plugins and start using deep links.
June 19th, 2008 at 10:34 pm
[...] post by Chris Garrett on internal linking structure. It was a great post and a nice follow up to my deep linking post a couple of weeks [...]
July 3rd, 2008 at 4:27 am
Deep Linking is as good as external links ( or even more important then it). It will not only engage your reader with your blog but it will actually pass the page rank of that particular post to the post you are linking to which will result in batter page rank for that post as it happened for Katy’s All in one SEO pack post.
July 6th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
@Sunil: Very much agreed though I do take the standpoint that it is more important than linking externally. A normal internal “deep link” does good for yourself. External linking does good for others with possible networking good.