Let’s start from the beginning.
What's internal linking?
An internal link is a hyperlink that connects one page of a website to another page on that same website.
Why internal links matter
Let’s get straight to it: internal links are like the street signs of your website.
They guide your users from one page to another, making sure they find exactly what they’re looking for.
But it’s not just about user experience.
These links also help search engines, like Google, understand your site’s layout and content.
Internal links are a big deal because they distribute your website’s authority across all your pages.
You might have heard some SEOs calling this authority “link juice” or “PageRank”
When one page links to another, it passes some of its authority along, giving that linked page a better shot at climbing the search results.
Types of internal links you should know about
Before we dig into how to use internal links, let’s break down the different types you’ll be working with:
Navigation links
These are the links you find in your website’s menus, navigation bars, or sidebars.
They’re like the main highways on a map, helping users jump from one major section of your site to another.
Whether it’s your homepage, a product page, or a blog, navigation links are the backbone of your site’s structure.
Contextual links
Contextual links are embedded directly into the content on your pages.
These links provide extra info or direct users to related content on your site.
Think of any Wikipedia page you’ve ever been on — those blue links in the middle of a paragraph?
Yep, those are contextual links.
They’re gold for keeping users engaged and spreading authority around your site.
Internal anchor links
Also known as anchor text links or jump links, these bad boys point to specific sections within the same page.
They’re your go-to for long-form content, letting users skip straight to the part they care about.
If you’ve ever clicked on a Table of Contents link to jump to a chapter, you’ve used an internal anchor link.
They make life easier for your users and keep them on your page longer.
Image links
An image link is exactly what it sounds like—a link embedded in an image.
Click the picture, and you’re whisked away to another page on the same site.
These are great for visual navigation or when you want to make your calls-to-action (CTAs) pop.
Footer links
These links hang out at the bottom of your page in the footer section.
They’re like the emergency exits of your website, providing quick access to important pages like your privacy policy, terms of service, or contact info.
But don’t just throw any old link down there — use your footer to link to key resources or pages that matter.
Pagination links
Pagination links are the bread crumbs that help users navigate through a series of related pages, like blog posts or search results.
You’ve seen them before: “Next,” “Previous,” or a set of numbered page links.
These links keep users engaged with your content by making it easy to explore everything you’ve got to offer.
How to use internal links like a pro
Now that you know the types of internal links, let’s talk strategy.
Find internal linking opportunities on Google
You don’t need fancy tools to spot internal linking opportunities — Google’s got you covered.
Here’s the play:
Step 1: Go to Google:
Open up Google, the simplest tool in your SEO kit.
Step 2: Use search operators
Type this search operator into Google’s search bar to hunt down internal link opportunities: site:[yoursite.com] + “keyword”.
For example, if I’ve just finished writing a killer guide on SEO for SaaS companies, I’d Google this: site:[yourdomain.com] + “SaaS”.
This search will pull up all the pages on your site that mention SaaS.
Skim through the results and find pages where it makes sense to drop a link to your new guide.
Keep anchor text descriptive and SEO-friendly
Anchor text is the clickable part of a link, and it’s crucial for both users and search engines.
User experience: Descriptive anchor text tells your users exactly what they’re clicking on. No surprises. Just clear, straightforward guidance on what they’ll find on the other side of that click.
SEO: Search engines use anchor text to figure out the context of the linked page. If your anchor text is spot on, it gives search engines a better idea of what your page is about, which can bump up its ranking.
Fix orphan pages
Orphan pages are the black holes of your website — no internal links point to them, which means no one, including search engines, can easily find them.
These pages might get lost because of:
- Content removal: Pages that used to have links pointing to them but don’t anymore.
- Incorrect URL structure: URLs that were mistyped or set up wrong.
- Site architecture changes: A redesign or a tweak in your site’s structure that left some pages stranded.
- Poor internal linking: Pages that were published but never properly linked to.
Find these orphan pages and bring them back into the fold by internally linking to them from relevant pages.
Internal linking is a simple yet powerful way to brush up your website’s user experience and SEO.
By internally linking where it makes sense, you guide users through your content and help search engines understand your site better.
So, roll up your sleeves, get those links in place, and watch your website’s performance take off.
That’s all, folks. That’s all he wrote.
Until next time, peace.
