Links directly from content vs. links from sidebar...Difference?

[Buyseech]

Hi there,

I am wondering what your views are on the subject of backlinks coming via way of "contexual linking" so the anchor text is incorporated in the text itself, VERSUS sidebar links (same anchor) in lets say a "blogrol" or "related sites".

The PR flows evenly, there is no denying that. But what do you think Googles overall view is? Is there a difference?

Sincerely, Buyseech

[Nikolas]

Links from content are much better as Google understand semantics. So when a link comes from an article, google takes account of that content to rank the site linked.

Sidebar links should have less power as in the most cases are paid links or sitewide links which anyway Google wants to give less value.

[Buyseech]

Nikolas: Nicely put.

I agree that sidebar links should be worth less, especially because of the payed factor.

But another questions arises if the semantic part works the same "in the article" itself as well as lets say a signature on the bottom like with ezine etc.

[Nikolas]

I guess in the article is better than the signature. Also you should take note that in article links that are in the beginning of the article have more value than those in the end. But as for that I never actually test it, but I think it makes sense.

[strategic seo services]

Originally Posted by Buyseech

Hi there,

I am wondering what your views are on the subject of backlinks coming via way of "contexual linking" so the anchor text is incorporated in the text itself, VERSUS sidebar links (same anchor) in lets say a "blogrol" or "related sites".

The PR flows evenly, there is no denying that. But what do you think Googles overall view is? Is there a difference?

Sincerely, Buyseech

When the anchor text backlink is incorporated in related text, it carries more weight.

[danlew]

I think the difference between the two is that the links from content are very powerful and gives higher exposure than the sidebar itself. People tend to read the content first before checking out the links in the sidebar.

[rain21]

links with the content is surely the most valuable. I think what Nikolas said is true.

[SXI]

It's well known that Google loves links that are surrounded with Content so that makes the contextual links more popular than links in sidebar.

Cheers

[Richard Gordon]

Hi All,
I believe that Google WANTS webmasters to create sites purely with the user experience in mind. So side links SHOULD be designed to help users navigate the site... and then links within the content to be used to navigate from one piece of content to another (RELATED) piece of content. So do what Google WANTS!... Play into their hand, whilst at the same creating a user experience that people stay (AND come back for) time after time. After all, that's what we're all here for right?? The User?


Richard

[gearmonkey]

Originally Posted by Nikolas

Links from content are much better as Google understand semantics. So when a link comes from an article, google takes account of that content to rank the site linked.

Sidebar links should have less power as in the most cases are paid links or sitewide links which anyway Google wants to give less value.

Well said. Contextual links on a high PR page is like the holy grail. However, if you get a chance to get a high PR on a sidebar, definitely consider that as well.