Linking to own homepage with keywords as link text

[netzkern_AG]

I recently discovered, that previous SEO work on a client's website apparently included setting links from subpages to the homepage using keywords as link text that the whole website should rank for.

i.e. (fictional example) a subpage about chocolate would link to the homepage via "Visit the best sweet shop in Dallas and get a free sample."

I am dubious about the influence this might have - anybody with any tests? I also think that it is quite weird when considering user friendliness - at least I would not expect such a link to take me to the homepage of the very site I was just on, probably browsing in a relevant page.

So, what about such links: actually helpful, mostly don't matter or even potentially harmful?

Looking forward to your opinions!

Nico

[netzkern_AG]

Thanks, guys, for confirming my thoughts on this! I shall surely change those links and make something more useful out of them.

Regards

Nico

[fiberglass]

This likely has little to no effect on negative or positive rankings.  If this is something in your breadcrumbs, it's just silly is all.  It's not going to hurt you, not going to help you either.

I would remove this, and simply set up your internal links in a user-friendly way that makes sense and does not look spammy.  That said, you're right, it has very little influence.

[antonioaraya]

Maybe doesn't have any impact at all, would be different if another site links in that way the homepage.

But, Internal Linking is one of the multiple SEO signals (with little impact). Instead linking back the homepage, I would recommend link other subpages from any page ONLY if that link will be helpful to the visitor to check other products/similar topics/related info/etc (you are right about friendliness) If not, avoid to link only thinking about rank.