If you’ve got a website, you want people to find it. That’s where search engines like Google come in. Think of them as the librarians of the internet, sorting through all the information to help people find what they’re looking for. But these librarians have a bit of a unique way of doing things – they use little robot helpers called “crawlers” to do the heavy lifting.
What Are Crawlable Links?
These crawlers are like tiny explorers, venturing out into the vastness of the web and following links from one page to the next. The paths they can follow are called “crawlable links.” If a link isn’t crawlable, it’s like a hidden trail that the crawler can’t find. And if the crawler can’t find your page, neither can anyone else searching on Google.
Now, you might be thinking, “So what? I’ve got links on my site. What’s the big deal?” But not all links are created equal. Some links are easy for crawlers to follow, while others are like a maze with dead ends.
Why does this matter to you? Because if you want your website to show up in search results, you need to make sure your links are crawlable. It’s like leaving a trail of breadcrumbs for the search engine crawlers to follow.
The Anatomy of a Crawler-Friendly Link
Alright, let’s get down to the details of what makes a link crawlable. It’s simpler than you might think!
The Golden Rule: Use HTML
The most important thing is to use standard HTML code for your links. That means using the <a> tag with the href attribute. Here’s what it looks like:
<a href="https://www.yourwebsite.com">Click here to visit my website</a>
This simple code tells crawlers, “Hey, this is a link! Follow it to find another page.”
Link Mistakes That Can Confuse Crawlers
When it comes to creating links for your website, there are a few common mistakes that can make it difficult for search engines to understand and follow them. Let’s take a look at what to avoid:
Is your link HTML?
JavaScript Links: Proceed with Caution
JavaScript can add cool interactive elements to your website, but it can also make it harder for search engine crawlers to understand your links. If you’re using JavaScript for links, make sure they also have a plain HTML version that crawlers can easily read. This way, even if the crawler doesn’t fully understand the JavaScript, it can still follow the HTML link and discover your content.
Broken Links: Don’t Leave Visitors (or Crawlers) Hanging
Broken links are links that lead to a page that doesn’t exist (usually resulting in a “404 Page Not Found” error). These are bad news for both your visitors and search engine crawlers. Visitors get frustrated when they click on a link and end up nowhere, and crawlers see broken links as a sign that your website isn’t well-maintained. Make sure to regularly check for broken links and fix them as soon as possible.
Links Hidden Behind Forms or Logins: Don’t Hide Your Content
If a crawler has to fill out a form or log in to access a link, it won’t be able to follow it. This means that any content behind a form or login won’t be indexed by search engines, and therefore won’t show up in search results. If you want your content to be found, make sure it’s accessible to crawlers without any barriers.
Too Many Redirects: Keep it Simple
Redirects are sometimes necessary, but using too many of them can make it difficult for crawlers to understand your website’s structure. Each redirect adds an extra step for the crawler, which can slow down the crawling process and even cause some crawlers to give up. Try to minimize the number of redirects you use, and make sure they are implemented correctly.
Nofollow Tags: Use Them Wisely
The “nofollow” tag tells search engines not to follow a specific link. This can be useful in some cases, like when you’re linking to an untrusted website or when you don’t want to pass on your website’s “link juice” to another site. However, you should avoid using nofollow tags on internal links within your own website, as this can prevent crawlers from discovering and indexing all of your content.
Low-Quality or Spammy Links: Choose Your Neighbors Carefully
Links from low-quality or spammy websites can actually hurt your website’s reputation in the eyes of search engines. Focus on building high-quality links from reputable sources. This will show search engines that your website is trustworthy and relevant, which can help to improve your search rankings.
| Mistake | Description | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| JavaScript Links | Links created using JavaScript which crawlers may not understand. | Ensure there’s a plain HTML version of the link. |
| Broken Links | Links leading to non-existent pages. | Regularly check for broken links and fix them promptly. |
| Hidden Links | Links hidden behind forms or logins. | Make important content accessible without barriers. |
| Too Many Redirects | Excessive redirects causing crawler confusion. | Minimize redirects and ensure they are implemented correctly. |
| Nofollow Tags | Tags instructing crawlers not to follow certain links. | Use nofollow tags judiciously, especially on internal links. |
| Low-Quality/Spammy Links | Links from untrustworthy sources. | Focus on building high-quality backlinks from reputable sources. |
Making Your Entire Website Crawler-Friendly: It’s Not Just About the Links
Creating crawlable links is crucial, but it’s just one piece of the puzzle. To make your entire website a welcoming place for search engine crawlers, there are a few more things you need to consider:
XML Sitemaps: Your Website’s Table of Contents
An XML sitemap is like a map of your website that you give to search engines. It lists all the pages on your site and provides additional information, such as when each page was last updated. This helps crawlers discover and index your content more efficiently. Make sure to create an XML sitemap for your website and submit it to search engines through their webmaster tools (like Google Search Console).
Robots.txt: The Bouncer at the Door
The robots.txt file is a text file that lives in the root directory of your website. It tells search engines which parts of your site they are allowed to crawl and which parts they should avoid. This is useful if you have certain pages or sections that you don’t want to be indexed (like admin areas or duplicate content). Make sure your robots.txt file is set up correctly so that crawlers can access the important parts of your site.
Internal Linking: Building a Network of Paths
Internal links are links that connect different pages within your own website. They are essential for helping crawlers discover all of your content and understand the relationships between different pages. Make sure to include relevant internal links within your content, using descriptive anchor text that accurately reflects the content of the linked page.
Page Speed: Don’t Keep Crawlers Waiting
Crawlers have a limited amount of time to crawl your website. If your pages load slowly, the crawler may not be able to access all of your content before its time runs out. This can result in incomplete indexing, which can hurt your search rankings. Make sure your website is optimized for speed by compressing images, minifying code, and using a content delivery network (CDN).
Mobile-Friendliness: Cater to Mobile Users (and Crawlers)
More and more people are using mobile devices to access the internet, and search engines have taken notice. Google now uses a mobile-first indexing approach, which means that it primarily uses the mobile version of your website for indexing and ranking. Make sure your website is mobile-friendly so that both mobile users and crawlers can easily access and navigate your content.
Comparing Link Types
Here is a table that clearly illustrates the differences between crawlable and non-crawlable link types:
| Link Type | Crawlable | Pros | Cons | Best Use Cases |
|---|---|---|---|---|
HTML (<a>) | Yes | Simple, universally supported, good for SEO | Limited functionality for complex interactions | Standard text links, navigation menus, most internal links |
| JavaScript | Sometimes | Enables dynamic interactions, better user experience | Requires careful implementation for crawlers, can slow down page load | Interactive elements, dynamic content loading, when HTML isn’t suitable |
| Image Map | Yes | Visually appealing, allows for multiple clickable areas | Requires alt text for accessibility, less SEO-friendly than text links | Interactive images, maps, diagrams |
| PDF Link | No | Links to external documents | Requires a separate crawler for PDF content, not ideal for SEO | Downloadable resources, when content is best presented in a PDF format |
Telephone Link (tel:) | No | Initiates phone calls directly from mobile devices | Not relevant for SEO | Contact information on mobile websites |
Email Link (mailto:) | No | Opens email client with pre-filled address | Not relevant for SEO | Contact information, newsletter sign-ups |
Anchor Link (#) | Yes | Jumps to a specific section within the same page | Doesn’t affect SEO directly | Long-form content, table of contents |
| Social Media Links | Yes | Directs users to social profiles | Not directly relevant for SEO, but can drive traffic indirectly | Sharing buttons, social media icons in the header/footer |
Button Links (Styled <a>) | Yes | Visually distinct, can be more engaging than plain text links | Requires proper HTML structure (<a> tag) | Call-to-action buttons, prominent links |
The Bottom Line
Think of your website as a conversation with search engines. You want to make it easy for them to understand what your site is about and find all the great content you’ve created. By following the best practices we’ve discussed, you can ensure that this conversation flows smoothly and your website gets the visibility it deserves.
Key Takeaways:
- Use plain HTML for your links: This is the most reliable way to ensure crawlers can follow them.
- Avoid JavaScript links or provide HTML fallbacks: Don’t let fancy features obscure your content from search engines.
- Regularly check for and fix broken links: Keep your website tidy and easy to navigate.
- Make sure important content isn’t hidden behind forms or logins: Don’t lock crawlers out of the good stuff.
- Use redirects sparingly and correctly: Avoid sending crawlers on a wild goose chase.
- Use nofollow tags judiciously: Don’t accidentally block crawlers from following internal links.
- Build high-quality backlinks: Earn the trust of search engines through reputable connections.
- Create and submit an XML sitemap: Give search engines a roadmap to your content.
- Set up your robots.txt file correctly: Guide crawlers to the right places.
- Use internal linking strategically: Help crawlers (and users) discover all your content.
- Optimize your website’s speed: Don’t make crawlers wait around.
- Make your website mobile-friendly: Cater to the growing number of mobile users.
Want to Dive Deeper?
If you’re hungry for more information, here are some resources to help you on your journey to crawler-friendly website mastery:
- Google Search Central Documentation: Google offers a wealth of information on how their search engine works and how to optimize your website for it.
- Linkilo: Tools like linkilo can help you identify technical link issues on your website and orphan pages, monitor your search rankings, and most importantly, look for link suggestions for your site. Try it for 30 days!
