How to use links effectively

Links can be a great way to give users extra context/content within an article and as an added bonus it could rank us higher within search engines. Below are some of Google's recommendations on using links on a page.

Google SEO Link Recommendation

1. Use descriptive anchor text: Rather than using generic text like "click here" use descriptive text that accurately describes the content the link points to. This helps both search engines and users understand what the linked content is about. For example, "Read more about the new scientific discovery" would be a better anchor text than "click here" or "link to scientific journal."

2. Keep URLs clean and simple: Use simple, descriptive URLs that accurately reflect the content of the page. Avoid using complex, dynamic URLs that include parameters and numbers, as these can be difficult for search engines to crawl and index.

3. Use hyphens to separate words in URLs: When creating URLs, use hyphens to separate words rather than underscores or other special characters. This makes the URL more readable and helps search engines understand the content of the page.

4. Use canonical tags to avoid duplicate content issues: If you have multiple URLs that point to the same content, use canonical tags to indicate the preferred URL. This helps avoid duplicate content issues that can harm your search engine rankings.

5. Avoid using too many links: Don't overuse links on a page, as this can make the page look spammy and harm your search engine rankings. Instead, use links judiciously to provide additional information and context for your readers.