Link Juice: Complete Guide in 2025
Most marketers chase backlinks like they’re gold bars. But here’s the truth: Backlinks are just the pipe – it’s link equity that flows through it. And 90% of sites. They’re leaking it. Badly. Link equity (formerly called “link juice”) is the actual SEO value passed from one page to another through hyperlinks. It’s what makes a link matter. You could have 500 backlinks, but if none of them pass significant equity… you’re just looking busy. Here’s the kicker: link equity doesn’t just come from other sites. You control a ton of it through your internal linking structure, and chances are, you’re either: In this no-fluff guide, we’re going to break down what link equity is, how it moves, how to build it, and how to make sure you’re capturing every drop. What is Link Equity/Link Juice The term “link juice” refers to the value or equity passed from one site to another through hyperlinks. These links act as endorsements, signaling to search engines like Google the credibility and relevance of your website. Link juice significantly impacts rankings on search engines. Each inbound link to a webpage is considered by search engines as a vote of confidence. This contributes to the page’s authority. The more high-quality links a page receives, the higher its potential to rank well. According to Moz, “link juice” is a search engine ranking factor based on the idea that certain links pass value and authority from one page to another However, not all links are equal. Reputable, high-authority sites links carry more weight, passing more link juice and positively impacting SEO. Fundamentals of Link Equity At the core of this concept is PageRank, an algorithm used by Google to rank web pages in their search engine results. It essentially evaluates the quality and quantity of links to a webpage to estimate its importance on the web. Link equity, a crucial component of link juice, represents the value that a link passes from one website to another. This value isn’t just a matter of quantity; the quality of the links plays a significant role. High-quality, authoritative websites passing on links contribute significantly more link equity compared to lesser-known, low-authority sites. Several factors influence link equity: For websites seeking to improve a SEO it is crucial to leverage these aspects during link building activities. If you are unsure about specific website’s authority, relevance or trustworthiness; you can use various SEO tools that will show you relevant metrics for given websites. What is The Relation Between Link Juice and PageRank The relationship between Link Juice and PageRank is integral to understanding the mechanics of SEO. PageRank, developed by Google, is an algorithm used to rank web pages in their search engine results. It evaluates the quantity and quality of links to a page to determine its importance on the web. Link juice, on the other hand, is the informal term used to describe the value or authority that is passed from one site to another through these links. Each link to a website contributes to the site’s PageRank. The more high-quality links a page receives, the higher is its potential PageRank. On the other hand links from low-quality, irrelevant websites can even hurt your website’s PageRank as Google can see them as toxic backlinks. When you find toxic backlinks, you should get rid of them. This is why it is important to note that not all links contribute equally to website’s PageRank. The link juice and PageRank connection shows us the importance of cultivating high-quality backlinks for SEO success. Factors Influencing the Flow of Link Juice Link juice flow is not random but is influenced by a variety of key factors. Understanding these elements is essential for effectively optimizing a website’s search engine performance: Internal Link Juice Internal link juice refers to the distribution of value and authority within a website through its internal links. Unlike external links that bring in link juice from other sites, internal links strategically spread this value across different pages within the same domain. For example, consider a well-ranking homepage with substantial link equity. Building links from that homepage to product or service page can distribute some of its authority to these other pages. Building internal links this way, we use our website’s existing SEO potential improving visibility and ranking in search engine results. The key to effective internal link juice transfer lies in relevance and strategic placement. Links should connect logically related content, guiding users and search engine crawlers through the website in a coherent manner. Building internal links this way signals search engines the importance of other internal pages where the links lead to. This also helps search engines like Google to better understand your website’s hierarchical structure which as a result boosts the SEO performance of both pages. How to get a lot of link juice from other websites Gaining a significant amount of link juice from other websites involves employing various strategies, each designed to enhance the authority and reach of your website. Here are several methods to achieve this: What About the Backlinks that Bring Zero Juice? Backlinks that don’t bring link juice, also known as ‘nofollow‘ links, are a specific type of link that instructs search engines not to pass authority or value. These links are typically created using the rel=”nofollow” attribute in the HTML code of a webpage. Nofollow links are commonly used in situations where a website wants to provide a link but does not want to imply endorsement or pass on link equity. From our experience nofollow links are usually found in comments on blogs, forums, or other user-generated content where there’s a risk of spam or unverified content. But they are also used in sponsored content or advertisements where the link is paid for. If you are unsure whether specific links pointing to your site are nofollow, you can use one of various browser extensions, such as this one, that will check and automatically mark them for you. While nofollow links don’t contribute directly