Tier-1 and Tier-2: Link Levels in Simple Terms
First-level links (tier-1) lead directly to the promoted site. Second-level links (tier-2) point to first-level pages, strengthening them. The third level is built on the same principle above the second.
Why Multi-Level Linking is Needed
Publishing on a third-party service is just a regular page without weight and without links to it. If no one links to it, it is weak itself and can pass little. Second-level links solve this problem: they make the first-level page more noticeable to the bot, speed up its indexing, and add weight to it, part of which reaches your site.
How It Works for Us
| Level | Where the Link Leads | Task |
|---|---|---|
| First | To your page | Main effect |
| Second | To first-level publications | Strengthen and speed up donor indexing |
| Third | To second-level publications | Additional strengthening, included by tariff |
| Crowd | To top-level publications | Diversity of signals |
A detailed breakdown with numbers is in the article “Cascade Levels”.
Where the Term Comes From
The word “tier” comes from the English tier — “layer,” “level.” In Russian-speaking practice, both options have taken root: “tier-1” and “first level,” “tier-2” and “second level.” Sometimes you may encounter the notation “T1” and “T2.” They are the same, and confusion usually does not arise — it is only important to remember that the counting goes from your site outward, not the other way around.
What Multi-Level Linking Does Not Do
- Does not turn a weak site into a strong one: if a publication is not indexed, links to it will not help.
- Does not protect against penalties — this is a common myth about “tunneling.”
- Does not replace thematic relevance.
Practical Conclusion
One should look at the first level: where it is placed, whether it is indexed, whether it passes weight. How we measure this is discussed in the articles on selecting platforms and on weight transfer.