Internal linking is the practice of linking from one page to another within your own website. These links help users navigate your site, establish information hierarchy, and distribute page authority throughout your site for better SEO performance.
Why Internal Linking Matters
Internal links guide visitors to related content, keeping them engaged longer. They help search engines discover and understand your site structure. Links pass authority from one page to another, boosting rankings. They establish relationships between content, helping search engines understand context and relevance.
Types of Internal Links
Navigation links - Main menu, footer, and sidebar links. Contextual links - Links within body content pointing to relevant pages. Related content links - “You might also like” sections. Breadcrumb links - Showing page hierarchy. Call-to-action links - Directing users to key pages like contact or pricing.
Internal Linking Best Practices
Use descriptive anchor text that tells users and search engines what they’ll find. Link to relevant pages where it adds value for readers. Ensure important pages receive multiple internal links. Keep deep pages within 3 clicks of the homepage. Regularly audit for broken internal links. Avoid excessive links that overwhelm readers.
Strategic Internal Linking
Important pages should receive more internal links to signal their value. Create hub pages that comprehensively cover topics and link to detailed subtopic pages. Use contextual links within blog posts to connect related articles. Link from high-traffic pages to pages you want to promote.
Anchor Text Optimisation
Anchor text should be natural and descriptive. Avoid generic phrases like “click here” that provide no context. Include relevant keywords naturally, but don’t over-optimise. Make links visually distinct so users recognise them as clickable.
Common Internal Linking Mistakes
Orphan pages with no internal links pointing to them become invisible. Too many links on a page dilutes their value. Using the same anchor text repeatedly looks manipulative. Links in footers or sidebars count but carry less weight than contextual content links. Broken internal links harm user experience and SEO.
Measuring Internal Linking Success
Monitor bounce rate and pages per session to see if internal links keep visitors engaged. Check which internal links get clicked most in analytics. Identify orphan pages that need more internal links. Track improvements in search rankings for targeted pages as you strengthen their internal link profile.