Every internet marketing strategy sets out to drive traffic to their website. As a result, they implement several tactics to help get the most of their SEO. And when it comes to SEO, the number of tactics might seem overwhelming. From content development to backlinking, you can improve your rankings using any method that suits your operation mode. And amongst them all, contextual links are priceless. But what are contextual links, and how do they work? This article provides the answer to that question.
What contextual links are
In simple terms, a contextual link is a clickable text located in the body of a write-up. It redirects visitors to another web page that relates to the topic at hand. This link can either be natural, which means they link to another website voluntarily, or artificial, which suggests a manual insertion.
You can find a contextual link embedded in the text of an article, a write-up, or as in this case, a website content. And this being the primary section, decides the originality and significance of the web page. So, by adding links from the main section, URL importance is given to linked pages using the main page as a reference point. Contextual links assist search engines in determining the authority for both the linking and the linked pages.
Depending on how it is used, a contextual link can either damage SEO or boost it, increasing its significance and page rank on SERPs.
Types of contextual links
Contextual links are most beneficial to a website when used right. That said, there are three types of Contextual links you should know. The external, internal, and reciprocal links. But what are they? Here is a brief overview of the types of contextual links.
External links. These are embedded links on a web page that redirect users to the content on another site. They are also known as outbound links.
Internal links. These refer to those links inside a web content that points elsewhere within that same website.
Reciprocal links involve the exchanging of links between two websites or more to improve their SEO ranks. Although it often takes place as a way to return contextual link favor, many view it as a quid pro quo.
How contextual links work
Linking implies that the web page doesn't have all the answers. It also shows that the reader's interest is taken into account by directing him to a page to find out more about the context in a written paragraph.
Using a link properly on the web page encourages the user to delve in and explore what the link page is all about. For information that cannot fit together on a single page or URL, contextual links provide an alternate route to bridge them together. Thereby, bringing several subjects from different internet sources. Yes, it remains a top means of enriching one's content. And as such, it offers higher quality, which generates more traffic.
And this, in turn, leads to increased on-site engagements. Furthermore, it can help generate sales if the site is designed for marketing goods or services.
Best practices for contextual linking
Contextual links are no doubt essential for a solid SEO. Hence, to get better results, these links must be optimized. Consider some practices for a good linking structure.
1. Link with websites that add to the relevance of your web-page
A website or web page discussing a topic in line with your page's content should be the most preferred option to link up with. It does not necessarily have to be in the same category but should have a form of relationship to the discussed content.
Unconnected web pages should be avoided. It brings no form of relevance to your page and renders your embedded link pointless.
2. Link with sites with top editorial standards
Professionals usually refer to domain authority (DA) or domain rating (DR) metrics when assessing a site's quality. It is often better to obtain a link from a top-quality web page than obtaining fifty links from a web page with no relevance. Linking with a top-quality web page is usually the smart step in SEO. The higher the quality of a text, the higher the text gets rated and subsequently featured.
3. Anchor texts should be the main key phrase.
Key phrases are exactly what should make up the anchor text of the page's write-up. Doing this enables search engines to understand the significance of the URL that was linked. Whenever an important query is made, the web content can be given a good ranking.
4. Use descriptive Phrases
Although the anchor text is made up of the main key phrase, stuffing your contextual link with these keywords is largely frowned upon by most search engines. Rather, incorporating the use of a long descriptive phrase showing the main keyword naturally is advised.
How to build contextual links
The above practices focus on how you can build high-quality contextual links on your own. But apart from that, there are other major ways to obtain contextual links. Here are some of them.
Guest posts
A contextual link can be obtained with guest-posting. When posts are written for a website, a link can be included in the post that allows readers or users to visit a page when clicked upon.
Guest posting has become one of the main parts of contextual link building, and it helps to have more control of what page is linked to and what the anchor text is. It is a natural form of linking
Niche-focused authority links
Getting links from top-quality websites that relate to the specified web content is one of the best ways to get contextual links. They are difficult to earn but they add a lot of value to a web page.
Broken backlinks
This process is more complicated than the two mentioned above. Broken backlinks are first sought out from top-quality web pages. Then the site or web page with the broken backlink is contacted and notified about the backlink. The user can then ask for the replacement of the broken backlink with a relevant link to his content.
Interviews.
This is a very good way to earn a contextual link. It involves seeking websites or high authority outlet that offers interview sessions. This can be an interview of people or businesses such as a news report outlet or a well-known business corporation. And it is also good for branding.
Why build contextual links?
Knowing the benefits of contextual linking is crucial for making the most of it. Although affiliating with the wrong websites can lead to an effect opposite from the desired intention, it is worth stating the impact of good contextual linking. Below are some advantages of the proper implementation of a good contextual linking strategy:
They help increase awareness and generate traffic on a website, which increases conversion opportunities.
Contextual linking increases the quality of a web page when linked to a top-quality information source. And this results in an improved SEO rating (DA or PA) and more backlinks from relevant websites.
Contextual linking breeds recognition on different levels. It gives attention to the website or brand and its author. And in turn, it leads to higher shares across social media platforms, giving the website more recognition from the Search Engine.
Ultimately, contextual linking increases the website's rank in the SERPs, thanks to increased significance and credibility.
Contextual linking admits to the user that the website does not carry enough information to satisfy the user's query at a particular time. This can improve the reliability of the web page.
Better UX. A contextual link provides a preview of what the connected page is all about thereby, providing a good user experience to the page visitor. It also helps the flow of link juice. As a result of this, web developers and webmasters employ the use of such links.
Better credibility. Search engines are designed to keep user experience in consideration. As a result, they tend to bring out the best and most vital link in their search results. They utilize the linking method to filter out less credible links or links of zero importance.
Conclusion
Contextual links are necessary for a well-optimized website. They have become a vital factor in SERPs rankings. And in the years to come, they stand to gain more attention from search engines.
To stay ahead of the times, one must start incorporating the use of contextual linking. As seen above, contextual links can be obtained by either building or earning them. While building contextual links can prove difficult at times, it is a valuable option and the most advised strategy by top SEO communities. By building and using contextual links of great significance and value, you impact credibility to the search engines with a reward of higher traffic.