Without internal links, your pages will be strawberries and onions. No matter how juicy or sweet you make it with all those backlinks – the results are not up to the par!
Shocked? You’re not alone! Most SEOs invest their energy in building up an impressive list of famous sites that can send traffic instead of focusing on developing a clear internal linking strategy. Internal linking is the best way to make sure Google knows how your website is structured. They also help you rank higher on search engines when people use them as building blocks for their pages, posts or content with additional information about what’s inside it all around town!
What are internal links?
Internal links connect pages on the same domain by directing visitors from one page to another.
They help users navigate a website and find the information they want.
Internal linking is important for two reasons: first, it helps search engines understand your website’s structure and index your pages correctly; second, it helps users navigate your website more easily.
Internal linking could be a powerful tool for improving your website’s usability and search engine optimization.
Internal Links Vs External Links
Internal links are the links that connect pages within the same domain. External links, also called outbound links, are the links that point from your website to other websites.
Both internal and external links are important for SEO. Here’s why:
- Internal links help search engines understand the structure of your website, while external links show search engines that your website is a valuable resource.
- Internal links improve the ranking of your pages, while external links improve your website’s reputation.
- Internal links lengthen consumers’ visits to your website; however, external links increase the number of users visiting your website.
Why Are Links Important To Google?
Internal links are important for several reasons. Links are also a signal that a website is a valuable resource. The more links a website has, the more likely it is to rank high in the search results.
First, they help Google understand the structure of your website. You’re effectively creating a map for Google to follow by linking to other pages on your site. This is especially helpful if your site is large and complex, as it can be difficult for search engines to find their way around otherwise.
Second, internal links can help to improve your website’s SEO. By linking to relevant pages, you’re telling Google that those pages are important and should be given priority in the search results. Finally, internal links help to keep users engaged on your website. If they can easily navigate from one page to another, they’re more likely to stick around and explore your site further. As a result, taking the time to link your pages properly can pay off significantly.
Link Value
The value of a link is not constant. It can change over time and be different for different people. There are a few factors that can affect the value of a link:
- Age of the website: older websites have more authority than newer ones.
- The authority of the website: Sites with many backlinks from other high-quality websites are more likely to be valuable.
- Relevancy of the website: Links from websites that are relevant to your site will be more valuable.
- Several links on the page: A page with fewer links is likelier to have each link be of higher value.
Internal linking also has benefits beyond SEO; it can help users navigate your website more easily and keep visitors engaged by providing them with additional information on related topics.
Internal Linking Building Strategy
When it comes to internal linking, there are a few things you need to keep in mind to make the most of it. Here are a few internal linking building tips:
1. Make sure your links are relevant.
The first and most important internal linking rule is to ensure your links are relevant.
That means linking to pages that are closely related to the page you’re currently on.
For example, if you’re writing a post about dogs, it would make sense to link to other posts about dogs, such as a post about the different breeds of dogs or a post about how to train a dog.
2. Use keyword-rich anchor text.
Make sure to utilize keyword-rich anchor text when linking to other pages on your website. The text you click on to go to another page should contain the SEO keywords you’re targeting. You’ll not likely be penalized for using exact-match anchor text, but it’s still best to vary your anchor text somewhat.
3. Don’t overdo it.
One of the biggest mistakes you can make with internal linking is to overdo it. Don’t link to too many other pages on your site.
A good rule of thumb is to limit your internal links to a maximum of 5 pages. Any more than that, and you risk coming across as spammy.
4. Use internal links sparingly.
Finally, it’s important to use internal links sparingly. That is, don’t go overboard with your internal linking.
A few strategically placed links will do the trick. There’s no need to link to every single page on your site.
5. Boost the Ranking of the Target Pages
Internal linking can be a helpful strategy if you want to increase the ranking of a particular page on your site.
You can improve that page’s ranking in the search results by connecting to it from other pages on your website.
Pro Tip:
The point is at least two or three internal links from every new piece of information. These should come from an authoritative page in the field and those within that topic cluster.
The Results Of Link Building
A successful link-building campaign will increase traffic from organic search and referral sources. One of the various SEO strategies used to raise a website’s rating is link building.
Link building could be difficult and time-consuming, but it’s often worth the effort as it can be a major factor in determining a website’s success. There are many benefits to link building, including:
- Increased traffic: Link building can increase the number of visitors to your website as your site will rank higher in the search engine results pages (SERPs).
- Improved search engine ranking: Link building can improve your website’s ranking in the search engines as links are one of the many factors used to determine a site’s ranking.
- Improved brand awareness and recognition: Link building can help to improve your website’s brand awareness, and recognition as links from high-quality websites can give your site more credibility.
- Referral traffic: Link building increases referral traffic to your website as people who see your links on other websites are more likely to visit your site.
Rounding Up
It’s time to put the knowledge into practice! Always keep the user in mind when creating links – they should be helpful and relevant, not disruptive or irrelevant.
Start internal linking like a pro!