Does Link Location Make a Difference?

Top of page, in paragraphs, near links, etc.

[frup]

Some people have been saying/hinting that Google takes link location into account. Links towards the top are better, links within paragraphs are better, surronding text matters, subject of linking page matters, etc.

Does anyone have any actual reason to think this is the case?

[mrwhy2k]

I have never thought about it before but I think there could be something to that.
Keyword prominence used to play a big factor in rankings and I don't see why hyperlink prominence COULD play some factor in rankings today.

Anyone have anything to back this theory up?

[zgb999]

With recent Google changes it makes sense to have a link in a place where it is not too far from surounding text about the subject of that link. Even more important: it makes sense for the visitor to do so.

[frup]

I'm not saying you're wrong, but do you have any reason to think that? And any reason to think this is more true after Florida?

[zgb999]

As Google seems to be more interested in what is on a page of a backlink it just would make sense to me. I have no hard facts on that.

[WebGuerrilla]

Shortly after the Dominic update, Danny Sullivan wrote an article that included some comments from Matt Cutts that suggested that determining how likely a link is to be clicked on may now be taken into account when determining how much importance the link should transmit.

He doesn't specifically mention location as the method used, but I would think that it would certainly be part of the equation.

[zgb999]

Thank you WebGuerilla!

This would probably also mean that a link on top of a page would be considered more important as it is more likely to be clicked.

[lazurus]

A link at the top of a page will most likley get more clicks, but does not mean it is more important. Just because the anchor text starts with "A" does not mean it's more important/relavent than one starting with "Z".

[internetheaven]

I think search engines are getting more street smarts these days. They still come up with ideas of how to improve their algorithms, but now have a better understanding of how people abuse those changes. Increasing the ranking of a site depending on the position of a link on the page is an obviously spammable system. Even if Google toyed with the idea, they will have rejected it by now. They need to focus on removing spam, not giving spammers more ammo.
By the way Google, if you want an advisor on what low-life spammers would do to any of your new algorithm ideas, I'll help you out in exchange for a few shares. I used to be a professional low-life spammer you know .... ahh, I miss the days ...

[dirkz]

> that determining how likely a link is to be clicked on may now be taken into account when determining how much importance the link should transmit

Not so easy to do with CSS. Do you think they go through the hassle?

It makes sense of course.

[internetheaven]

Good point, right now alot of webmaster use CSS to .... ummmm, actually I probably shouldn't finish that.
Point is, Google is finally starting to ask the question - 'If we add this to the algorithm, can it be abused?' For link positioning the answer is a very loud YES!