When it comes to SEO and backlinks, many people wonder how iframes fit into the picture. Do iframes pass link equity? Do they affect the link profiles of the pages they are on? These questions come up a lot, especially when trying to build strong backlink strategies that help websites rank better on Google and other search engines.
In this article, we’ll explore how iframes work with link equity, what backlink analysis tools like Majestic show about them, and why understanding this can help you with your SEO campaigns. We’ll also explain some of the technical details you might not have heard before, all in simple terms you can follow easily.
Table of Contents
What Are Iframes and Why Do They Matter?
An iframe is a way to embed one webpage inside another webpage. Think of it like a window on your page that shows another page from somewhere else. You see the content from that other page, but it is actually loaded separately inside the frame.
People use iframes for many reasons, such as showing videos, maps, or even content from another site without having to copy it. But when it comes to SEO, the big question is: Does the page inside the iframe pass any link value to the page that holds the iframe? And does the page that holds the iframe pass any link value back to the iframe?
How Link Equity Works with Iframes
Link equity is the value or “power” that a link passes from one page to another. When a page links to another page, it passes some of its authority or trust, which helps the linked page rank better in search engines. But with iframes, the situation is a bit more complex.
According to insights from Majestic, a popular backlink analysis tool, iframes do count as backlinks. That means when a page contains an iframe that loads another page, this is seen as a backlink from the page with the iframe to the page inside the iframe.
However, this backlink is often shown with an empty anchor text. This means there is no clickable text associated with the link—because the iframe itself is not a traditional link with words you can click on. Instead, it is just a frame embedding content.
Interestingly, Majestic also groups iframes with other types of backlinks that don’t have anchor text, such as embedded images without alternative text or redirects. So, if you see a backlink labeled as an “empty iframe anchor,” it means it’s an iframe or something similar without descriptive anchor text.
Empty Anchors and Their Impact
Empty anchors are backlinks without anchor text. For example, if you have an image that links to a page but doesn’t have alternative text, it counts as an empty anchor. The same applies to iframes because they don’t have clickable words.
While anchor text is important for SEO because it tells search engines what the linked page is about, empty anchors still pass some link equity. They may not be as strong as links with good anchor text, but they still contribute to the overall backlink profile.
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Bidirectional Link Equity: How Iframes Pass Value Back and Forth
One of the more surprising things about iframes is that they don’t just pass link equity one way. From what has been tested and studied, iframes can act like bidirectional do-follow links.
This means:
- The page containing the iframe passes some link equity to the page loaded inside the iframe.
- The page inside the iframe also passes some link equity back to the page that holds the iframe.
This back-and-forth flow of link equity is unusual because most links pass value only one way—from the linking page to the linked page. But with iframes, there’s some “bleed” of link equity in both directions.
“It’s almost like a bidirectional do-follow link,” explains Bradley Benner from Semantic Mastery. While he is not an expert in patents or the legal language behind Google’s algorithms, he has done extensive testing that supports this idea.
This means iframes could be a useful way to share link equity between two pages, especially if you want both pages to benefit from each other’s authority.
Why Does This Matter for SEO?
Understanding how iframes work with link equity helps you make smarter choices when building backlinks or structuring your website. If you rely on iframes to show content from other pages, you might actually be passing some link value both ways, which can help improve rankings.
On the other hand, because iframes often show up as empty anchors in backlink tools, you need to be aware that these links might not carry the same strength as traditional text links with good anchor text. So, it’s a good idea to use iframes as part of a broader link-building strategy, not the only method.
Using an @ID Page with Iframes
Some SEO experts use an “@ID page” when they work with iframes. This is a special page designed to be embedded inside an iframe. The purpose is to control the content and links inside the iframe more carefully.
By using an @ID page, you can:
- Ensure that the iframe content is optimized for search engines.
- Make sure the right links and keywords are included inside the iframe.
- Better manage how link equity flows between the iframe and the main page.
This tactic can help prevent link profile issues or ratio problems on the pages in the iframes. It also allows you to keep your backlink profiles clean and targeted.
How Majestic Analyzes Iframe Backlinks
Majestic is one of the most trusted backlink analysis tools, and it treats iframes in a specific way:
- It counts iframes as backlinks, just like any other link.
- It labels them as empty anchors because they don’t have anchor text.
- It groups iframes together with other backlink types like image links without alt text or redirects.
Because of this classification, when you look at your backlink profile in Majestic, you might see a category called “empty iframe anchor text.” This helps you identify which links are coming from iframes or similar sources.
Knowing this can help you understand your backlink profile better and avoid confusion when analyzing your link sources.
Summary: What You Need to Know About Iframe Backlinks
- Iframes do pass link equity and count as backlinks in tools like Majestic.
- The backlinks from iframes appear as empty anchors because there is no traditional anchor text.
- Iframes act like bidirectional do-follow links, meaning link equity passes both ways between the iframe and the hosting page.
- Using an @ID page inside an iframe can help control link ratios and improve how link equity flows.
- Majestic groups iframe backlinks with other links that have no anchor text, helping you track these links easily.
Frequently Asked Questions About Iframe Backlinks
Do iframes pass SEO value like regular links?
Yes, iframes do pass SEO value, but the link is counted as an empty anchor without anchor text. They can pass link equity both to and from the hosting page, acting like bidirectional links.
Should I rely only on iframes for backlink building?
No, while iframes do pass link equity, they usually don’t carry as much strength as traditional text links with good anchor text. Use iframes as part of a diverse backlink strategy.
What is an @ID page and why use it with iframes?
An @ID page is a specially designed page used inside iframes to control content and links. It helps manage link profiles and improve how link equity flows between pages.
How does Majestic treat iframe backlinks?
Majestic counts iframes as backlinks but labels them as empty anchors because there is no clickable anchor text. It groups these with other links like image backlinks without alt text or redirects.
Can link equity flow both ways with iframes?
Yes, testing shows that link equity can flow both from the hosting page to the iframe content and back from the iframe content to the hosting page, making iframes act like bidirectional do-follow links.
Final Thoughts
Iframe backlinks are often misunderstood in the SEO world. They do pass link equity, but in a unique way that differs from regular text links. Knowing that iframes act like bidirectional links can help you use them more effectively in your SEO campaigns.
Keep in mind that tools like Majestic will show these links as empty anchors, so don’t be alarmed when you see that in your backlink reports. Instead, use this knowledge to craft smarter link-building strategies that include iframes alongside other types of backlinks.
By understanding how iframes work with link equity, you can improve your website’s rankings and build stronger backlink profiles over time.