Internal links question

[TheaterMania]

I've read that Google frowns upon large numbers of internal links.

We're building a site that helps users browse a list of shows via dozens of genres. If the genres are expose, say, as a pulldown menu as opposed to a list of static links, and selecting the pulldown option filters the list of shows, would those genres count against our internal links count?

[Ray-pp]

Google has dropped the 100 links per page rule;

http://searchengineland.com/googles-matt-cutts-we-dropped-the-100-links-per-page-guideline-but-we-may-take-action-if-it-is-too-spammy-178197

However, you only want to show links that are useful to the user. Look at your data and create an intuitive, easy to use navigation system and intra-linking architecture.

[David-Kley]

Depends on what you are trying to do. If you have very little content, but a lot of links then they may frown upon it, frowning meaning take action against your site.

If you just have a large menu with a lot of links, and frequently link to other pages then I doubt it will be counted against you.

I understand trying to abide by Google guidelines, but it's much easier to simply look at your paqge and say "Does this make sense?" Am I trying to add links to manipulate search engine rankings, or am I trying to help users find helpful/relevant/related information? Once you look at it from that standpoint, it becomes easier to see where you have problem areas.

Since you are doing a genre based site, think of how you can organize your URL and menu structure, to make your articles easier to find, and link to. (I would imagine you want people to share your content, right?)

As long as your pulldown menus are linking to individual articles, even if the link count is high I dount think you will run into any issues.

[WhoWuddaThunk]

There were two initial reasons for the 100 link "rule."

1. Google's crawl budget was limited

2. Each page has a given amount of authority it is able to pass on to internal pages.  Less links means more authority for each link.

The first part is out the door now.  Google has plenty of crawl budget for most sites, and will give plenty if your huge website has enough authority.

So, the problem that you need to evaluate is if you are spreading your authority too thinly across all of these pages.  Would you be better off limiting it to certain categories, or are you going to be a rock star at link building, and don't need to care?

After you consider that you will want to consider your users.  Are you giving them too many options, and causing choice overload?  Test different options, and see what performs better.  There is a Ted talk about Choice Overload that used jelly as an example. One test had over 20 jellies to choose from, and one had around 6.  At the end of the day people were more likely to actually buy the jelly when there were only 6 options.  What the study determined was that having too many choices overwhelmed shoppers, and led to less sales.

Moral of the story, don't give people too much jelly.