Internal links point from one page to another on the same website. In the image below, the source page shares the domain of the destination page.

Internal linking is a crucial aspect of SEO (SEO). It improves the page’s discoverability. Google uses internal links to find and rank your website’s pages. Second, internal link building offers Google a picture of your site structure (how each page relates to another) and gives sites with more internal links a higher value.

Internal linking and SEO improvements also improve user experience (UX).

In this blog, we look at internal links and how to build them into an SEO internal linking strategy. Coverage:

• Internal linking in SEO Features is superior to functions.
• Dos and don’ts of internal linking

Internal linking in SEO Features is superior to functions.

Internal linking Your posts and pages will have a greater possibility of ranking higher in the search results if you optimize them with SEO. This scenario appears to be comparable to the implications that external linking can have on destination pages. Therefore, what is the key distinction between the two?

Internal Links v/s External Links

Using the PageRank algorithm, external links can convey the link equity or ranking power of authority source pages to yours. Google gives backlinks a lot of weight when ranking websites in SERPs (SERPs).

Search engines value what others say about you more than what you say about yourself.

But don’t avoid them. Consider how to control link positions. Internal linking helps you link to your most important pages. You pass link value to your site’s secondary, relevant pages.

Good internal link development helps Google crawlers find your pages. Establish an SEO internal linking plan to boost your ranking.

Here are some variables to consider:

1. Define Your Site Structure

In a perfect world, the pages that make up your website should be organized in the shape of a pyramid (Yoast, 2020). Your homepage should be at the top of the list, followed by categories, subcategories (for larger websites), and then individual page listings.

Because the structure of your internal links reaffirms the hierarchy of your pages, it only makes sense that the majority of your internal links lead back to your homepage. In a similar vein, your homepage ought to link to the high-level sites and category pages that you have. This flow is designed to make it easier for users to navigate your site while also providing a rational path for search engine crawlers to follow.

2. Leverage Navigational Links

As previously said, your homepage should include links to all relevant sections and pages for your visitors and search engines alike. Internal links can be put in the header, footer, or other prominent places, like the banner section, as shown in the next example.

This navigation system is simple, but you can improve it using these strategies:

• John Mueller said Google counts the number of clicks from the homepage to a page. If you want top-tier pages to rank well, aim for two to three clicks.
• Use user-focused anchor text in navigation headers. This relies on your internal link analysis. If you’re a mobile app developer, replace the About heading with “World-Class Mobile App Developers.”

3. Bolster Contextual Links

Contextual links are internal links like this article. The link to relevant website content. Contextual link building helps your most valuable sites rank in SERPs. It affects page views, time on page, and bounce rate.

By mapping out your internal linking strategy, you can give emphasis to content links over navigational links. Studies show users click the former. Ensure your b matches the user journey. You can write multiple pieces of material about a topic and link them to one comprehensive page. Your internal links checker names this encompassing content the pillar page or cornerstone content, which links to all cluster content. The figure below demonstrates cluster interlinking:

4. Optimize Your Anchor Text

The part of the link that is visible and can be clicked on is referred to as the anchor text. Its primary function is to explain to users what the topic of the destination page is, assisting them in deciding whether or not to click the link.

<a href=”http://www.example.com”>example anchor text</a>

                                                          Target Link                                  Anchor Text

Internal SEO best practices recommend using only a few forms of anchor text. Here’s more:

• Use phrase-match anchors for improved content fit and organic flow. This anchor type matches your target keywords exactly.
•  Use relevant anchor text. Google bots are smarter and place more weight on the context around anchor text, so keyword stuffing no longer works.
• Use meaningful anchor text. Generic links like “Click here” or “Read more” don’t provide the reader with adequate context.

Use a link analysis tool during a site audit to track external and internal links and anchor text. You can also reevaluate your no follow internal links.

Dos and Don’ts for a Successful Internal Linking Strategy

When putting your strategy for developing internal links into action, you should avoid doing some of the following, among other things:

1. Avoid Link Spamming

Now that you know how to establish internal links, you may want to determine how many to put on your website or content. Moz says that a source page with 150 links (both internal and external) can still be crawled.

Consider:

John Mueller said Google may appreciate one or two internal links for SEO, but 20 links will be weighted differently.

2. Limit internal No-follow links

To make matters worse, the “rel=nofollow” tag should be removed from all of your internal links. Why? The links that go to spam comments initially have a no-follow attribute attached to them. So, the fact that there are internal links with the label “nofollow” tells Google that the links can’t be trusted.

Why would you want to destroy your link structure by requesting Google not to crawl a link or pass PageRank on to it?

3. Include Related Posts

Another way to place your internal links on a page, typically a blog page, is to suggest more entries that are related to the one being viewed. It’s possible that the content management system (CMS) or link analysis tool you’re using lets you install plugins that automate recommendations for you. If your plugin does not select the correct posts in an exact manner, you will need to do it manually.

4. Point to Popular Posts

If you have a recent or popular post, link to it on the homepage to increase its visibility. This strategy not only increases the number of viewers but also improves their level of involvement, resulting in more pages being viewed and longer sessions being recorded.

5. Use an Internal Links Checker

When conducting site audits and conducting link analysis as part of your technical SEO routine, having access to an internal link checker can be really helpful. You can check for areas that could be improved, such as poorly built anchor text or misplaced nofollow tags, for example.

Internal Linking Done Right

In this article, we discussed SEO internal linking variables. We also gave advice on how to distribute internal links on your website.

If you’re beginning from scratch, collaborate with specialists to monitor, analyze, and maintain your links. Internal linking is just one SEO component. Page speed, duplicate content, and other factors affect search rankings. This game requires more than a link analysis tool.

Thrive is a winning online marketing firm. We offer a comprehensive SEO solution while focusing on internal linking. Internal link analysis and technical SEO strategy formulation are our specialties.

Help with internal linking strategy. Ask one of our marketing professionals about your next step to start optimizing your internal links.

Also Read: Improving Brand Awareness And CTR With On-SERP SEO