Redundant links
- Started
- Last post
- 8 Responses
- SigDesign
In the process of designing for the web, I've had several clients who are constantly wanting multiple links to the same pages on the same page of their site (i.e. a homepage link at the top, and in the footer, and several links to the same page on the homepage).
From a design standpoint this makes me cringe, because, to me, it just doesn't make any sense. If there is a link to "Prices" in the header main menu, why place it in the footer as well? Many times people site SEO as a reason for linking keywords so many times, but from a usability standpoint it doesn't make any sense to me.
Do you guys run into this sort of thing a lot as well? This SEO stuff to a certain extent feels like spamming to me... aren't people concerned about how people use their site once they get there?
- pylon0
On more copy-heavy sites or ones that run pretty tall I'll usually replicate the top nav in the footer.
- designbot0
If the pages are really long, sometimes bottom navigation or redundant links make sense. Other than that, I think all they do is clutter up a page and make it more confusing.
Also like you said, there are SEO benefits to linking to the same page more than once. I know it's also beneficial to have redundant text links in the body copy.
- SigDesign0
So, if a site is pretty short... placing the links a second time in the footer might not be a good idea?
What brought this up for me is that, this person wanted to add all the links in their site in the footer, along with a sitemap, which links to all the other links in the site... o_O
- pylon0
I'd say it depends on the design, but personally I probably wouldn't include redundant footer links.
Legal / Terms of Use and so on I generally drop into the footer.
- jamble0
I don't think there are any SEO benefits to linking to the same thing more than once, search engines only need one link in order to spider content so I don't think this is the reason people do it.
Might be wrong though but search engine bots are a shit load smarter than they used to be so I'd be suprised if they give any weight to multiple / redundant linking.
- yeah, spiders find the page and rank it by how many pages from completely different servers are linking to it.richardkark
- anxiousarms0
i think anytime a user is required to scroll down thus hiding the top/main navigation from use they should be given another way to navigate the site quickly without having to scroll all the way back up and make their choice.
consider how people will be using your site. if they are on a huge monitor fine, all clear. but have you tested on a laptop? most project managers and corp clients are either on 15'' lap tops or smaller dell monitors so they don't usually get to see the site they way it was intended. those people will require a secondary navigaiton when their screen rez hides the main nav from them.
otherwise, there's no real point.
- ETM0
I don't think it's a viable SEO practice anymore. Way back in the day, when we used a lot of javascript based rollover image nav menus, some search engines had problems with them. Having pure text links in the page helped them index better.
I agree with the above about duplicating at least top level navigation in the footer of long scrolling pages for usability.
- BattleAxe0
it never hurts to have redundancy on a website . as stated above content will determine how useful it is.
take a look at how it is implemented on these sites
http://www.cnn.com/
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/
http://www.google.com/search?hl=…