Link churn refers to the process of continuously adding and removing links on a website. It typically occurs when website owners or administrators constantly modify the list of outgoing links on their site, either by adding new ones or removing existing ones. This can happen for various reasons, such as updating outdated information, improving user experience, or incorporating new partnerships or affiliations. Link churn is an important aspect of website maintenance and SEO (Search Engine Optimization) as it affects the visibility and credibility of the site.
Link churn can also refer to the phenomenon of links becoming inactive or broken over time. This can happen when a website that was previously linked to no longer exists or when pages on a website are moved or deleted without proper redirection. When users encounter broken links, they may become frustrated and lose trust in the website's content. Moreover, search engines like Google consider broken links as a negative signal for ranking purposes, so it's crucial for website owners to regularly check their links and ensure they are all functioning properly. This process is known as link maintenance.
Another aspect of link churn is related to the practice of link building. Link building is the process of acquiring backlinks from other websites to improve a website's search engine visibility and authority. However, in certain cases, the quality of these acquired links may not meet the desired standards or could be from spammy or irrelevant sources. In such situations, website owners might engage in link churn by actively disavowing or removing these low-quality or harmful backlinks to prevent any negative impact on their website's ranking or reputation. By regularly monitoring and managing the links pointing to their site, website owners can ensure that they maintain a healthy and authoritative link profile.