should I have a link to my homepage on every page of my site?

[kads]

I'm looking for advice from people with experience.

I have a 200 page website. Should every page on this site link back to the homepage, and should these be "do follow" links?

The thing is, I know internal link structure is very important, and I don't want to be creating too many "internal links" to feed link juice inappropriately.

but shouldn't the homepage be linked to at all times?

what is your take on this? does anyone have evidence to suggest one way or the other is better?

thanks in advance

[leadegroot]

All my pages link back to the homepage.
Visitors expect it.

Internal nofollows are no longer considered an appropriate technique to control flow of linkjuice in a site.
Don't worry about the flow of juice so much at this point - its not like its leaving the site when you are choosing between placing 2 internal links, it all just flows around and around :)

[kads]

thanks...I appreciate the reply

I read somewhere - I believe it was an axandra study (russian search engine) and posted on their blog, that having a link back to the homepage from every page of the site reduced rankings by 6 places?

Im not sure if that is accurate at all or if anyone has a take on that

personally, I think a link to the homepage would be expected, and adding a no follow wouldn't make a difference

I think Matt Cutts also mentioned not to worry about internal link juice sculpting and just to organise the site relevantly with proper internal links

[James2]

I'm new to SEO, but surely a way around this would be to have the top of each page to have a logo of the site or company that is clickable to return to the homepage?

[technoverma]

I think every web site have back link to home page not just because of google point of view,the reason reason is usability of your site.

[HuskyPup]

In nearly 17 years of site construction I have never even considered this as a question. Both the home page and logo should be linked "/"

[amitmax]

I think no need to ask.This is understood if you want SE or people visit your inner pages too.