What Is Link Juice in SEO? Everything You Need to Know

Dávid Fačko Dávid Fačko 6 min
What Is Link Juice in SEO

You’ve probably heard of link juice before. But what is it, really? More importantly, how does it affect your website’s ranking? Let’s break it down.

In simple terms, link juice refers to the value or authority a website passes to another through a hyperlink. Think of it as SEO currency. When a high-authority website links to your page, it shares some of its credibility with you. This boosts your chances of ranking higher on search engine results pages (SERPs).

But not all links are created equal. A link from a top-tier site like Hubspot is far more valuable than one from a random blog with minimal traffic. It’s quality over quantity.

Imagine SEO as a giant web of connections. When one site links to another, it’s like casting a vote of confidence. Search engines like Google interpret these links as endorsements.

Here’s an example:
A fitness blog writes about healthy diets and links to your smoothie recipe page. If the blog has a good reputation and a high domain authority, some of its SEO power flows to your site. That’s link juice in action.

link juice example

Likewise, when your website links to too many external sites, you risk losing link juice. Every outbound link you create shares a portion of your site’s authority with the linked pages. While linking to relevant and credible sources can enhance user experience and credibility, overdoing it can dilute the SEO value you retain. Think of it as pouring water from your cup into others—be selective to keep your authority intact.

It might sound simple, but how do you actually get more link juice for your website? Let’s dive into the details. These several factors determine how much link juice a link passes. Here’s what you need to know:

  1. Domain Authority:
    High-authority sites pass more link juice. A backlink from a government or educational site? Gold.
  2. Relevance:
    Is the linking site related to your industry? A backlink from a food blog is worth more for a restaurant than for a tech company.
  3. Link Placement:
    Links in the main content carry more weight than those buried in the footer or sidebar.
  4. Anchor Text:
    The clickable text matters. Descriptive anchor text signals relevance. “Best smoothie recipe” is better than “Click here.”

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Link juice isn’t just an SEO buzzword. It’s a critical part of your link-building strategy. Here’s why:

  • Higher Rankings: The more quality link juice you receive, the better your chances of climbing up the SERPs.
  • Increased Traffic: Higher rankings mean more clicks. More clicks mean more opportunities to engage your audience.
  • Trust and Authority: Backlinks from reputable sites build your credibility—not just with Google but with potential customers, too.

Here’s a common mistake: focusing only on backlinks from other sites. Internal links also pass link juice within your site.

For example, if your homepage has high authority, linking to a new blog post from it helps distribute link juice. This strengthens your overall SEO structure and keeps users exploring your site longer.

Why do some pages have more SEO value than others? It’s all about the source. The quality, relevance, and authority of the page linking to you determine how much link juice you get. Let’s look at where the best link juice comes from.

  • Pages that use a do-follow tag on their links to your site.
  • Pages with content that matches your site’s topic.
  • Pages with strong domain authority.
  • Pages with fewer outbound links.
  • Pages featuring high-quality, well-researched content.
  • Pages that rank well on search engine results pages (SERPs).
  • Pages with active user-generated content.
  • Pages frequently shared or mentioned on social media.

On the flip side, which pages don’t get links?

  • Pages that use a no-follow tag on their links to your site.
  • Pages with content unrelated to your niche.
  • Pages overloaded with outbound links, such as ads or site-wide footer links.
  • Pages that are not indexed by search engines.

link juice meaning

You might be wondering about the difference between Link Juice and Link Equity. Have you encountered these terms before, and are they the same?

Not exactly. While both terms are used interchangeably, some SEO experts prefer “link equity.” Why? Because it’s more technical and less… juicy. But at its core, it’s the same concept: authority passed through links.

So, call it what you like—link juice or link equity—just know how to use it effectively.

To analyze your website’s link juice, use SEO tools like Ahrefs or Semrush. These tools provide in-depth backlink reports, including metrics like domain authority, page authority, and link relevance. This helps you identify which backlinks pass the most SEO value to your site and where improvements are needed.

For internal link equity, leverage site audit tools to examine how link juice flows across your pages. Focus on optimizing internal links by ensuring high-authority pages link to lower-performing ones to distribute value effectively and improve overall SEO performance.

link juice checker

Want to maximize your link juice power? Here’s how:

One strong backlink beats 10 low-quality ones. Reach out to reputable sites for guest posts or partnerships.

2. Use Smart Internal Linking:

Link your high-authority pages to newer ones. It’s free, and it works.

Dead links waste link juice. Fix them or redirect them to relevant pages to preserve your SEO value.

4. Create Shareable Content:

People link to content they find useful or entertaining. Invest in guides, infographics, or case studies.

5. Leverage Guest Posting

Write quality guest posts for relevant, authoritative blogs in your industry. Include a natural link back to your site to gain link juice and expand your reach.

6. Optimize Anchor Text

Use descriptive and relevant anchor text for both internal and external links. Avoid overusing generic phrases like “learn more”—it doesn’t signal relevance to search engines.

7. Focus on Niche Relevance

Backlinks from sites related to your industry carry more weight. A tech site linking to a gadget review is far more impactful than a random lifestyle blog.

8. Promote Your Content

Share your content on social media, email newsletters, and industry forums. The more eyes on your work, the higher the chances of earning backlinks organically.

Final Thoughts

Link juice might sound like SEO slang, but it’s a powerful tool for improving your rankings. By focusing on quality backlinks, smart internal linking, and creating valuable content, you can build a site that search engines and users love.

Ready to turn your website into a link magnet? Start small. Build relationships. And let the juice flow.

Want the best links in your niche? Become part of our SEO community today!

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Dávid Fačko

Dávid Fačko

Dávid Fačko, founder of Profeo and a link-building expert, helps startups reach top spots in search engine results.