SEO or search engine optimisation has been no stranger to the world of content on the internet. It is a promising strategy that aims to increase traffic at a particular link on the web. Search engine optimisation means using specific keywords in an article.
After researching the most search terms from any search engine, an SEO company finds these keywords. Using these words exactly as given can help the search engine find the page quickly among all the other web pages and present it to the searcher.
The best part about SEO writing is that it is effective for most search engines and the diversity of the content.
But, since this strategy is so effective, how can we not expect other competitors to be aware of it? Yes, now almost all the content posted on the web is optimised. Hence, the competition has become more severe.
How Does Linking Make a Difference?
There are ways you can make your content stand out. We call it “linking”. And, not many content producers are aware of it.
As the name suggests, linking refers to adding additional links to your content. There are mainly five types of linking that content writers can use:
- Internal links
- External links
- Natural links
- Manually obtained links
- Self-created links
In this article, we will be focusing mainly on internal links. Internal linking links the article with another webpage of one’s own website.
To understand it better, here is an example. Suppose you have visited a website and found another link at the bottom of the content.
It could be a link for redirecting the searcher to another section of the same webpage, popularly known as internal linking.
What are Shallow Links?
A shallow link is a type of internal link. Shallow links might seem like a new type of linking, but they can be beneficial for improving traffic to a significant extent. These links can direct a user to more specific information on your webpage.
But before you start using shallow links, let’s first understand all the reasons why they make a crucial contribution to your link building strategy. Below are several advantages associated with shallow linking.
Advantages of Using Shallow Links
One of the most common advantages of shallow linking is that it provides a direction to the searcher.
For instance, a searcher has opened a web link of an NGO. They spent quite some time on the webpage reading about everything and now want to find more details.
In that case, shallow links can help them come back to the homepage, where they can get one-stop answers to all content related to their interest.
It also keeps a visitor engrossed in the website. There is always something that a keen searcher can find with the help of a weblink mentioned as a shallow link.
Once the visitor comes back to the home page, or the website’s main page, they can find other related topics if they’re interested in the topic and content.
Shallow links can result in increased traffic to the website homepage. Since most users are directed towards the homepage, more users are likely to check out the content available there.
So, if your homepage needs some work, it is better to get that fixed before you use shallow links.
Thinking from a website visitor’s point of view can also save time. If a searcher has read all the content on a particular webpage and now wants to go to other webpages, they can quickly navigate through the shallow links and find anything they want from the main web page.
Limitation of Shallow Links
Apart from all the advantages, there is also a factor that a content writer must be aware of while using shallow links.
Using shallow links has only one limitation: it might affect your website’s SEO ranking.
As we all are aware, Google ranks the web page, not the website. Hence, using a website/ homepage link can affect the position of the webpage.
How to Use Shallow Links
We know all the impact shallow links can have on a webpage. But, if you want to enjoy the fruits of your labour, you must learn how to use them in the best way possible.
It is always recommended to use shallow links only after much research and rechecking on the webpage.
Since the link is supposed to direct the reader to a more specific page that can help them derive more relevant information, it is essential that a writer only uses shallow links where appropriate.
After mentioning the links, the writer must also recheck if the link is accurate and functional or if the link happens to be malfunctioning, providing no benefit.
Moreover, you should not use the link too much. This will present it as more of a promotion for the website rather than aiming to guide the reader.
Incorrect usage of shallow links can misguide the reader and may cause a loss of interest. After all, you don’t want to lose a prospective subscriber or customer either.
Conclusion
Shallow linking has its own set of advantages and limitations. It is an essential element in any web design project and can add value to the content for readers interested in a web page’s topic.
It is the responsibility of a content producer to understand the nature of the information they are including and then mention relevant external and internal links accordingly.
Taking a note of all the pros and cons and characteristics of shallow links, we can conclude that shallow links can play an integral role in link-building strategy.
Careful usage of shallow links can work wonders for generating new traffic and getting more attention.
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