SEO terminology
What is linkjuice and how do you use it wisely?
Linkjuice is an informal SEO term for the value or signals a link can pass to another page. Google does not use the term as an official unit of measurement.
- No official score: Linkjuice is a model for explaining how links work, not a Google metric.
- Internal distribution: Navigation and contextual links make important pages accessible and understandable.
- Relevance first: A natural, useful link is more valuable than a large random volume.
Linkjuice within your own website
Internal links help search engines discover new pages and understand relationships between topics. A hub can link to detailed articles and services, while those pages link back to the central context.
- Use descriptive anchor text
- Link from relevant pages
- Avoid isolated pages
- Keep important pages within a short click path
External links and link spam
An external reference can support discovery, reputation and traffic. However, links bought or scaled mainly to manipulate rankings may fall under Google’s spam policies.
- Assess editorial relevance
- Request verifiable placement URLs
- Label paid relationships appropriately
- Avoid guarantees based on link counts
What an internal link actually does
An internal link has at least three practical functions. It helps a visitor find a next step, gives a crawler a reachable path and makes the relationship between two URLs clearer through the source page, anchor text and surrounding text.
This does not mean every extra link automatically adds ranking value. A link without an editorial reason can make navigation less clear. Check that the destination logically fits, has a working canonical URL and is reachable through a normal href.
- Use a real crawlable href
- Describe the destination in natural anchor text
- Place the link where the editorial relationship is explained
- Check the destination’s status and canonical
Use link attributes for the actual relationship
Link attributes describe the relationship with the destination. Use sponsored for paid or sponsored placements, ugc for links in user-generated content and nofollow when the other values do not fit and you do not want to endorse the relationship normally.
The choice should describe the real relationship, not distribute a fictional amount of link value internally. At every substantive update, check wording and implementation again against the search engine’s current policies.
- sponsored for paid or sponsored relationships
- ugc for links in user-generated content
- nofollow when the other values do not fit
- Do not use an attribute as a hidden ranking guarantee
An internal link audit in six verifiable steps
Start with core commercial and informational URLs, then export all crawlable internal links with their source, destination and anchor text. Mark pages without an editorially relevant incoming link and check whether knowledge hubs link to deeper material while relevant articles link back to a service or central context.
Add links only where the surrounding passage explains the relationship. After publication, check status, canonical, href, anchor text and clickability. This is a method for navigation and site structure, not a secret PageRank calculation or a guarantee of a position.
- Record core URLs
- Export source, destination and anchor text
- Mark isolated pages
- Check the editorial context of hub links and return links
- Add relevant links
- Verify the live implementation again
Frequently asked questions
Is linkjuice an official Google term?
No. It is informal terminology, not a public score or a guaranteed Google calculation.
Do I lose linkjuice by linking externally?
Do not think of link value as a fixed glass that drains away. Link where a reliable source or logical next step helps the user.
How do I improve internal links?
Map your main commercial pages and knowledge hubs, add relevant contextual links and check that important pages are not isolated.
How many internal links should a page have?
There is no universal ideal number. Add links that improve navigation and editorial coherence, and check that important pages are accessible without overcrowding the text.
Is a footer link as strong as a contextual link?
Do not treat this as a fixed value ratio. A contextual link can explain the editorial relationship more clearly, while navigation and footer links mainly support broad accessibility.
Should I use exactly the same anchor text everywhere?
No. Use descriptive anchor text that fits the passage naturally. Variation should follow context, not an artificial percentage.
Can I measure linkjuice with DR or DA?
DR and DA are metric models from external providers, not public Google scores or direct measurements of internal link value.
Primary sources
By SEOJuice editorial team, Linktool B.V.. Content last updated: .
Have your internal links checked