Should I use internal links for SEO?
Why internal links matter
Internal links connect pages on your own site. They help search engine crawlers find new content and understand the relationship between pages. They also pass link equity (authority) from one page to another.
Good internal linking can improve rankings for important pages and keep visitors on your site longer. It's a fundamental SEO practice that's often overlooked.
How to use internal links
Link from relevant pages to your key pages using descriptive anchor text. For example, if you have a page about 'SEO audits,' link to it with text like 'SEO site audit' rather than 'click here.'
Aim for a natural flow. Don't force links. Also, avoid linking every other word—too many links can dilute value. Focus on linking to pages that need a boost or that are relevant to the current topic.
- Use descriptive anchor text
- Link from high-authority pages to important pages
- Keep links relevant to the content
- Don't overdo it—a few per page is fine
- Fix broken internal links regularly
Internal links vs. external links
Both are valuable. External links to authoritative sources can boost credibility. Internal links, however, are fully under your control and help you sculpt your site's authority. A strong internal linking structure can help new pages rank faster.
Think of internal links as the roads that connect your content. Without them, search engines might not find or value all your pages.
Common mistakes
- Ignoring internal links and focusing only on backlinks.
- Using generic anchor text like 'read more' instead of descriptive phrases.
- Linking too many times on a single page, which can look spammy.
