Linking to root domain or specific sub-site

[Malarowski]

Hello,

When optimizing for multiple keywords, should I try to get links back to the root domain of the company I work with, or would it be better to link back to sub-sites specific to the keyword I am optimizing for? Does 'getting the root up' help all keywords I work with?

Cheers,

Mike

[andresgmontero]

Hi Mike, when you say sub-sites I guess you mean sub directories or pages like: domain.com/some-page/, so when building links, yes the links to your home page will help the entire domain link metrics, but won't necessary make you rank for other keywords targeted in the sub-pages, besides a site with links coming in only to the home page does not look very natural, you might raise a flag there.

I would advice to build links to your home page and to other important pages of your website that target other keywords.

[danrawk]

Mike,

How many keywords are you optimizing for?  If we're talking 100's/1000's, I would personally tend to lean towards pointing towards the most relevant content on your site. This will up "time on site" and lower "bounce rate" because the content the user just clicked the anchor text of will be more relevant than pushing them to your home page and having to search allover again. How many times have you clicked a random link only to be pushed to a home page and thought, "Well hell, I'm not going to bother!"

You should have a base set of "core" keywords you can target for your root domain.

Hope that helps,

dan

[Malarowski]

It is a few base keywords with expansions. Basically it is:

keyword

free keyword

keyword online

free keyword online

In this pattern. Overall I am currently going after maybe 10-20 keywords total. It isn't that all links will be going in to root.

And yes, I do mean sub directories. Sorry for using improper lingo.

[danrawk]

So you are optimizing 10-20 keywords each with those expansions? if the base keyword is the same you would probably want to minimize this and sectionalize where-ever you can.

ex:
grapes section
   free grapes subsection
   how to order grapes online subsection

a warning, if you're building sections on those expansions individually you are going to have a tough time building content and earning relevance as you are kind of competing with your own keywords, against SERPS that are targeted with relevant content.

you may be better off just targeting "free grapes" in 1 section with some keyword mix in the content and having 1 good relevant page instead of 10 low quality pages.

hope that helps.

dan

[Malarowski]

Total of 10-20. That includes the pre- and suffices. I am using only about 4 base keywords (very competitive though). Thanks for your advice, will target some sub-directories to get those up individually. The root is quite solid already, just was wondering if boosting it up even more would help all other keywords.

[danrawk]

read up on "keyword cannibalization" - it will give you a better view of how you can compete with yourself on keywords.

best of luck!
dan