Explore the fascinating world of sitewide links; understand what they are, why they are significant, the various types, real-life examples, efficient tips about them, and more. Embark on this enriching and enlightening journey.
What is a sitewide link?
A sitewide link refers to a link that appears on each page of a website. It could be featured in places like the header, footer, or sidebar. These links are mostly used for navigation purposes, providing visitors with quick and direct access to important or relevant sections of the website. They are deemed a brief and comprehensive way for users to maneuver across large websites. Sitewide links can be internal or external. An internal sitewide link directs users to different pages within the same website, like an 'About Us' page or a 'Contact Us' page. On the other hand, an external sitewide link typically leads to a different website altogether, often indicating a partnership, sponsorship, or some form of collaboration.
While often overlooked, sitewide links play a crucial role in user experience (UX) and search engine optimization (SEO). Their strategic implementation could allow a lot of benefits in terms of accessibility, navigation ease, and even a boosted search engine ranking. But, using them inappropriately might risk your website’s reputation and standing due to ‘link spam’ accusations.
Why are sitewide links important?
Sitewide links can determine how users and search engines interact with your website. They guide site visitors, increase discoverability of other pages, contribute to your SEO strategy, and are a potential medium for brand partnerships.
Guiding visitors
Sitewide links make it easier for visitors to navigate across a website and access crucial information. They ensure there are no ‘dead-ends’ on a site and enhance the user experience by offering easy accessibility and navigation. This contributes to more time spent on the website and lower bounce rates.
Enhancing SEO
Sitewide links play a role in Google’s algorithm for search engine rankings. When sitewide links are used correctly, they can help your website gain visibility on search engine results pages (SERPs). The anchor text used for sitewide links also help with SEO strategies, provided they are in line with Google’s guidelines.
Commercial opportunities
Appropriately placed external sitewide links can lead to lucrative commercial opportunities. They can indicate partnerships or affiliations between websites, providing an additional revenue stream. They also help in boosting brand visibility and recognition when executed correctly.
Types of sitewide links
Different types of sitewide links serve various purposes and add up to the functionality and features of a website. Let’s explore them further.
Navigation sitewide links
These are sitewide links found at the top, bottom, or side of the web pages. These typically include ‘About Us’, ‘Contact’, ‘Services’, or ‘Home’. Their purpose is to provide a seamless navigation experience.
Footer sitewide links
Footer sitewide links appear at the bottom of each page. Often, they include links to the company’s privacy policy, terms of use, site maps, or other important information. They provide visitors with easy access to these critical sections without overwhelming them with excess information on the main page.
Sidebar sitewide links
These sitewide links appear on the sidebar or widget areas of a website. These links can point to recent posts, categories, archives, or promotional offers. They assist in diversifying visitor interaction and promoting essential content.
Examples of sitewide links
Here are thirty examples that portray the usage of sitewide links.
Facebook’s main navigation bar
Facebook uses sitewide links on its main navigation bar. These include ‘Home’, ‘Watch’, ‘Marketplace’, and ‘Groups’. Regardless of which part of Facebook you’re exploring, these options remain present, providing easy access.
Amazon’s footer links
Amazon’s website features numerous footer sitewide links, such as ‘Conditions of Use’, ‘Privacy Notice’, and ‘Interest-Based Ads’. These links give essential information to customers who’d like to learn more about Amazon’s policies.
Microsoft’s sidebar links
Microsoft’s official blog uses sidebar sitewide links to showcase recent blog posts, categories, and archives. This encourages visitors to explore more content, improving user engagement and boosting the blog’s visibility.
Handy tips about sitewide links
Here are some tips to effectively use sitewide links to your advantage:
Audit your sitewide links
Regular audits of your sitewide links will ensure they are up to date and do not link to any non-existent or irrelevant pages. Keeping your links relevant and updated enhances user experience and boosts SEO performance.
Control your external sitewide links
If you’re linking to an external site, ensure that it’s an association you’d like to have with your brand. Linking to a non-relevant or harmful website could negatively impact your site’s reputation.
Don’t overdo it
To avoid being seen as a spam link, don’t overdo your sitewide links. Supply only necessary sitewide links that provide value to users and enhance user experience.
Conclusion
Sitewide links, when used strategically, prove to be functional and beneficial at enhancing the UX and SEO of a website. Be it guiding visitors around the site, improving navigational flow, enhancing the site’s visibility on SERPs, or opening doors for brand partnerships, sitewide links work wonders. While these links are crucial to the effective functioning of your website, one has to ensure they are relevant, updated, and not overdone, to prevent the ‘link-spam’ label.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a sitewide link?
A sitewide link is a link that is present on every page of a website typically in the header, footer, or sidebar. It’s usually used for navigation purposes for a smooth UX.
Why are sitewide links important?
Sitewide links guide site visitors, increase discoverability of other pages, contribute to your SEO strategy, and can be a potential medium for brand partnerships.
What are the types of sitewide links?
Typically, there are three types of sitewide links – navigation, footer, and sidebar sitewide links, each serving different purposes and increasing website functionality.