Every now and then, you come across a website that draws you in. You start out reading one page, then stumble across a hyperlink to another relevant page. That link leads to even more intriguing pages, like a maze of information. Before you know it, you’ve got 10 tabs open, and you’ve immersed yourself completely in your topic. 

No, you haven’t been hypnotized by the internet. You’ve just been lured down the rabbit hole by internal links. These hyperlinks create an intricate network of related content, designed to guide visitors through a website. By using internal links strategically, businesses can significantly improve user navigation. 

Internal links also play a key role in search engine optimization (SEO) performance. Learn about how internal linking works and strategies for using these connections effectively.



How Internal Links Work

An internal link is a hyperlink that connects to another page within the same website. It allows users to navigate from one area of your site to another without returning to a search engine.

Businesses often add internal links to relevant keywords in the body of their content. For example, if you’re writing an article about oil changes, you could hyperlink the phrase “Schedule an oil change” directly to your appointment scheduler. That way, visitors don’t have to search for a link to take the next step. 

That leads us to two key questions: How do search engines work, and how do they use internal links to rank content? Platforms like Google and Yahoo have search engine crawlers that automatically search the internet and index their content. Think of them as an army of robots that skim and categorize web pages. 

Adding internal links helps these crawlers find and interpret all the web pages on your site. Once they understand this content, they can accurately index it, increasing the chances that it will appear in search engine results pages.



Types of Internal Links

There are several types of internal links with different purposes, including: 

• Contextual links direct visitors to web pages with supplementary information. For example, if you’re writing a blog post about electric vehicle maintenance, you might add contextual links to posts about different EV models.
  
• Navigational links help users locate key content on your website. They’re typically placed in menus and sidebars.
  
• Footer links appear at the bottom of websites and link to core pages, such as contact information and resources.
  

Many businesses combine all three types to make their sites more accessible and informative. 

For example, you could include a sidebar with navigational links to core pages like “Appointments” and “Services.” Meanwhile, individual web pages may feature contextual links to help users understand common vehicle issues and other related topics. By including a variety of links, you can connect your clients to the information and services they need. 



Best Practices for Internal Linking

While there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to internal linking for SEO, following these guidelines will help you use this strategy more effectively. 

This may seem obvious, but internal links should always connect to relevant content that adds value. Avoid sneaking in links to underperforming pages in an attempt to manipulate search engine rankings or sell products. This deceptive approach can backfire by damaging user trust and increasing bounce rates.

You should also avoid going overboard with your internal links. So just how many internal links per page for SEO should you include? While there’s no hard limit, aim for four to six contextual links per 1,000 words. That way, you won’t risk getting penalized by search engines for excessive linking.

Maintaining a clear internal linking structure is crucial, too. Visitors should feel like they’re on an intentional journey, not clicking through random links. Consider grouping web pages into topic clusters that are logically connected. For example, you might create one cluster for general auto maintenance and another for troubleshooting mechanical issues.

You should also use descriptive alt text for images with internal links. These short descriptions provide essential context for search engines, and they'll improve your SEO. They also help people using assistive devices like screen readers navigate your website.

Speaking of accessibility, make sure your internal links are easy for all users to spot. Underline them or use a different font color that people with color blindness can see.



Analyzing Your Internal Linking Strategy

It’s not always easy to measure the impact of your internal links on SEO and the user experience. Sure, you put a lot of thought into them, but how can you tell if they’re actually making an impact? 

Evaluate your strategy with internal linking tools like Ahrefs and Yoast SEO. They help you track key metrics like click-through rate and link equity, which refers to the authority one linked page passes to the next. These measurements will help you understand how users interact with your links and fine-tune your approach. 



FAQs About Internal Links for SEO

Level Up Your SEO Performance With Optimize Digital Marketing 

Modern websites and SEO work together to help businesses reach the right customers. By developing an effective internal linking strategy, you can boost your search engine rankings and drive more traffic to your website. Plus, you’ll make your site more accessible and user-friendly. It’s a win-win scenario for you and your customers.

Of course, many business owners don’t have time to perfect their SEO performance. That’s where Optimize Digital Marketing comes in. Our experienced team will help you develop internal links and improve your website’s visibility. Contact us today for a free consultation!