Link Juice
Definition
SEO slang for the authority and ranking power that flows from one page to another through hyperlinks. More link juice means more ranking potential.
What is Link Juice?
Link juice is informal SEO terminology for the value or authority passed from one page to another through links. When a page links to another page, it shares some of its ranking power with the destination page.
The concept comes from how Google's original PageRank algorithm worked: pages with more links from authoritative sources rank higher because they receive more "juice" from those links.
How Link Juice Flows
When Page A links to Page B, some of Page A's authority transfers to Page B. The amount depends on:
- Page A's authority: Links from high-authority pages pass more value
- Number of outbound links: If Page A has 100 links, each gets less juice than if it had only 5
- Link type: Followed links pass juice; nofollow links don't
- Relevance: Links from topically related pages may carry more weight
Internal vs External Link Juice
External Links
Backlinks from other websites bring new authority into your site. A link from a major news site passes significant link juice.
Internal Links
Internal links distribute existing authority around your site. Strategic internal linking ensures your most important pages receive enough juice to rank well.
Link Juice and Nofollow
Adding rel="nofollow" to a link tells search engines not to pass authority through that link. Common uses include:
- Sponsored or paid links
- User-generated content
- Links you don't want to endorse
Maximising Link Juice
Focus on earning quality backlinks, then use strong internal linking to distribute that authority to your key pages. Avoid leaking juice through excessive links to low-value external sites.