What is a link wheel in SEO?

A link wheel in SEO is a specific type of link building strategy used in SEO (Search Engine Optimization). It involves creating a network of interlinked websites or web properties with the goal of improving the search engine ranking of a target website. The concept behind a link wheel is to create a series of connected sites that all link to each other, ultimately leading to the main website that you want to rank higher in search engine results.

Here's how a basic link wheel works:

1. Main Website: This is your target website that you want to improve the search engine ranking for.

2. Web 2.0 Properties: You create a set of secondary websites on popular Web 2.0 platforms like Blogger, WordPress, Tumblr, etc. Each of these secondary sites contains relevant content related to your niche.

3. Interlinking: Each of these secondary sites links to the main website and to one or more of the other secondary sites in the network. This interlinking helps distribute link juice (SEO value) throughout the network.

4. Content Creation: High-quality and relevant content is posted on each of the secondary sites. This content can include articles, blog posts, images, videos, etc.

5. Linking Pattern: The linking pattern forms a circle or wheel-like structure, where each secondary site links to the main website and some other secondary sites, but not necessarily to every other site in the network.

The goal of the link wheel is to pass link equity and authority from one site to another, ultimately funneling this authority to the main website and helping it achieve higher search engine rankings. However, it's important to note that the effectiveness of link wheels has diminished over time due to search engine algorithm updates, which now place greater emphasis on high-quality, organic, and relevant backlinks.

Additionally, some forms of link wheels can be seen as manipulative and against search engine guidelines. If a link wheel is created solely for the purpose of gaming search engine rankings and does not provide genuine value to users, it can lead to penalties from search engines.

In modern SEO practices, the focus has shifted towards building natural and authoritative backlinks through content marketing, outreach, and genuine relationship-building. While link wheels might still have their place, they should be approached cautiously and ethically to avoid potential negative consequences.