Same Page Links = Negative Impact?

Do intra-page links have a negative impact on search rankings?

[ablu272]

Does it negatively impact search rankings for page to have hyperlinks in the body content that link back to itself?

For example: I have a page that has tabs, which describe different products on each tab [ex: website.com/product.html#tab3]. All the tabs contribute to the on-page content. Each tab has unique and targeted content.

So, if the tabs include links back to the product.html page without the #tab, will that have negative impact? Or can I link between the pages both with and without the #tab as much as the content requires?

[Kpederson]

I don't think so, it seems that you have organize all this for user's convenient, so it is fine

[phranque]

as long as you are linking to the canonical url, the links will all be self-referential, which is not inherently a problem.
using fragment identifiers to provide a structure to navigate within a document is normal and usually helpful to the visitor.

[ZydoSEO]

To add to what phranque said...

If you think about it, pages linking to themselves already occurs naturally for those pages linked to in your top navigation, footer links, sidebar widgets (recent posts, etc.) and even in breadcrumbs if the webmaster made the last node (current page) in the breadcrumbs clickable.

[ablu272]

Thanks! That confirms my initial thoughts, but with better insight to the explanation.

[bhartzer]

pages linking to themselves already occurs naturally for those pages linked to in your top navigation

And one of the secrets that SEOs have used for years is to place a link to your home page of your site on your home page of your site (using your favorite keyword in the anchor text).

Internal linking like that hasn't been a problem.

[lucy24]

And one of the secrets that SEOs have used for years is to place a link to your home page of your site on your home page of your site (using your favorite keyword in the anchor text).

I am sorry to hear that search engines like this. As a user I hate it. "Uh... isn't this the page I was already on?"

Matter of fact I've only recently added a fistful of php so that shared navigation menus won't include active links to the page you're currently on. "Top of page", yes. "Go around in a circle", no. If your user is on dialup or satellite does their browser have to make a whole new request?

[phranque]

If your user is on dialup or satellite does their browser have to make a whole new request?

even if the visitor is on a T1 there is no new request because it is the same resource.
similarly the browser won't make a server request if the link goes to a fragment identifier on the same page as described in the OP.