Sitelinks are links to pages on a website that appear in the search engine results page snippet. These links are located below the page description and allow users to quickly navigate to different sections of the website. The sitelink block increases the size of the snippet, sets it apart from other results, and attracts user attention. For search results on mobile devices, Google may display up to 6 sitelinks in addition to the main link, and for desktop search, up to 4.
Snippets with sitelinks are typically obtained by authoritative and popular resources. For example, if users search for the online store Amazon, they will receive a link to the homepage of the platform, a title, and a page description, as well as quick links to the categories of the product catalog. With these links, the user can immediately navigate, for example, to the section with smartphones, and will not have to search for this category on the homepage. The set of sitelinks may vary depending on the type of website. If the website provides certain services, the sitelinks may include pricing, features, and so on.
There are several types of sitelinks, which differ in their method of display in the snippet. Let's consider each option in more detail.
- One-line sitelinks. This is the simplest type of sitelinks, which can appear for a wide variety of search queries. They do not take up much space on the organic search page and can be displayed immediately for multiple search results.
- Expanded sitelinks. These are primarily displayed for branded queries, i.e., those related to a specific company search. This type of sitelinks are available only for the first search result. They take up the most space on the organic search page.
- Search box. The search engine results page snippet may include a search box that searches the site, which is also considered a sitelink.
- Links to page sections. If a link in the search results leads to a page that is divided into sections with its own links, they may appear in the snippet.
Sitelinks have a significant impact on a website's performance in organic search. They expand the snippet, making the search result more visible and informative. This leads to an increase in the site's CTR and traffic. Advanced sitelinks, especially on mobile versions, can take up almost the entire user's screen, pushing competitors aside. Additionally, sitelinks simplify user navigation on the site and can help them reach the desired location on the site immediately. This is why website owners strive to obtain sitelinks in their snippet.
There is no guaranteed scheme for obtaining sitelinks because their display remains at the discretion of the search engine. But the website owner can create favorable conditions for their appearance. This can be done by oneself or with the help of an SEO specialist. To obtain sitelinks, you need to:
- create relevant and high-quality content on the website;
- build a logical and user-friendly site structure;
- do proper internal linking between the pages of the site;
- provide the title, description, and alt tags for the pages.
