Link Type Chart
The Link Type Chart is a visual tool that shows you how different types of links are distributed across your content. This column chart gives you a clear picture of your content's link structure, helping you understand how your pages connect to each other and to external websites.
Why Understanding Your Link Structure Matters
The links within and around your content play a critical role in both user experience and search engine visibility. The Link Type Chart helps you:
- Assess your content connectivity: See how well your content pieces link to each other
- Identify imbalances in your link strategy: Spot if you're over-relying on certain link types
- Improve navigation for users: Ensure visitors can easily move through your content
- Support SEO best practices: Maintain a healthy balance of different link types
- Track changes over time: Monitor how your link structure evolves as you develop your content
Understanding Link Types
The Link Type Chart organizes links into four fundamental categories:
Internal Inbound Links
- What they are: Links from your own pages pointing to the content you're analyzing
- Why they matter: They help visitors discover more of your content and show search engines which pages are important
- Example: Your "Skincare Guide" page links to your "Moisturizer Comparison" page, creating an internal inbound link for the comparison page
External Inbound Links
- What they are: Links from other websites pointing to your content
- Why they matter: They bring new visitors to your site and signal trust and authority to search engines
- Example: A beauty blog mentions and links to your "Moisturizer Comparison" page
Internal Outbound Links
- What they are: Links from your content pointing to other pages on your own website
- Why they matter: They help visitors navigate to related content and create a logical site structure
- Example: Your "Moisturizer Comparison" page links to your "How to Apply Moisturizer" guide
External Outbound Links
- What they are: Links from your content pointing to other websites
- Why they matter: They provide additional resources for readers and show search engines that you reference trustworthy sources
- Example: Your "Moisturizer Comparison" page links to a dermatology association's website for skin type information
Understanding Follow Types
Each column in the chart may be divided into segments representing different "follow types":
Follow Links
- What they are: Normal links that pass along SEO value
- What they do: Tell search engines "this linked page is endorsed by us"
- When to use them: For most of your internal links and external links to trustworthy sources
NoFollow Links
- What they are: Links with a special tag that limits their SEO impact
- What they do: Tell search engines "we're linking but not necessarily endorsing"
- When to use them: For user-generated content, paid links, or less trusted sources
How to Access and Use the Link Type Chart
Finding the Chart
- Go to the Content Analysis page
- Look for the section labeled "Link Type"
Using the Controls
The chart has two simple dropdown menus:
- Project dropdown: Choose which project you want to analyze
By default, the first project will be automatically selected
Cluster dropdown: Choose to view:
- "All Clusters" to see link data across your entire project
- A specific cluster to focus on just one topic area
As you make selections, the chart automatically updates to show the link distribution for your chosen view.
Reading Your Link Type Chart
Basic Chart Elements
- Vertical columns: Each column represents one of the four link types
- Column height: Shows the total number of links of that type
- Colored segments: If present, these show the breakdown between follow and nofollow links
- Y-axis (vertical): Shows the count of links
- X-axis (horizontal): Shows the four link type categories
Common Patterns and What They Mean
Balanced Distribution
A relatively even distribution across all four link types often indicates:
- Good internal connectivity between your content pieces
- Healthy references to external sources
- Some recognition from external sites
High Internal Linking (Inbound and Outbound)
If your chart shows tall columns for internal links:
- Your content pieces connect well to each other
- Users can navigate easily between related topics
- Search engines can discover and understand your content structure
Low External Inbound Links
If your "External Inbound" column is much shorter than others:
- Your content may need more promotion to attract external links
- You might need to create more link-worthy, shareable content
- Consider outreach activities to encourage other sites to link to you
High External Outbound Links
If your "External Outbound" column dominates the chart:
- You're providing lots of references to external sources
- Ensure these links add value for your readers
- Consider if you could link to your own content more often
Using Link Type Insights to Improve Your Content
When You Have Few Internal Links
If your internal linking columns (inbound or outbound) are low:
- Identify connection opportunities:
- Look for natural places to link related content pieces together
- Create "related articles" sections at the end of content
Update older content to link to newer relevant pieces
Develop cornerstone content:
- Create comprehensive resource pages on important topics
- Link to these pages from multiple related articles
Use these pages to link out to more specific content
Improve navigation structure:
- Ensure your site menu highlights key content areas
- Consider adding sidebar navigation with related content links
- Implement breadcrumb navigation to show content hierarchy
When You Have Few External Inbound Links
If your "External Inbound" column is particularly short:
- Create more link-worthy content:
- Develop unique research, data, or insights others will want to reference
- Create comprehensive guides that serve as go-to resources
Produce visuals, tools, or templates others might link to
Promote your content:
- Share your best content with industry influencers
- Participate in relevant online communities where you can share expertise
Consider guest posting on reputable sites with links back to your resources
Monitor and reclaim mentions:
- Set up alerts for when your brand is mentioned online
- Reach out to convert unlinked mentions into actual links
- Thank those who link to you and nurture those relationships
When You Need to Improve Link Quality
If you want to enhance the value of your links:
- Audit your existing links:
- Ensure internal links use descriptive anchor text
- Check that external links point to current, authoritative sources
Verify that links point to the most relevant pages
Update your follow/nofollow strategy:
- Use follow links for content you fully endorse
- Apply nofollow attributes for paid links or user-generated content
Consider the relative importance of pages when creating internal links
Focus on relevance:
- Link to content that truly extends or supports your topic
- Avoid generic "click here" links in favor of descriptive text
- Ensure external links add genuine value for your readers
Common Questions
"What's the ideal distribution of link types?"
There's no one-size-fits-all perfect distribution, but a healthy content ecosystem typically has:
- Strong internal linking (both inbound and outbound)
- Strategic external outbound links to valuable resources
- A growing number of external inbound links over time
The right balance depends on your content goals, industry, and business model.
"Why do internal links matter if they're all on my site anyway?"
Internal links serve several critical purposes:
- They help visitors discover more of your content
- They keep people on your site longer
- They distribute SEO value throughout your site
- They signal to search engines which pages are most important
- They create a logical hierarchy and structure for your content
"Should I worry if I have very few external inbound links?"
External inbound links take time to build naturally. If your count is low:
- For newer content: This is normal and should improve over time
- For established content: It might indicate a need for more promotion or creating more link-worthy content
Focus on creating valuable content first, then implement strategies to attract more inbound links.
"What's the difference between follow and nofollow links?"
- Follow links (the default) pass SEO value and are a vote of confidence
- Nofollow links include a special tag that tells search engines not to count them as endorsements
Most internal links should be follow links. For external links, use nofollow for paid links, user-generated content, or sites you don't fully trust.