What is Internal Linking?
Internal linking refers to the practice of creating hyperlinks that connect one page of a website to another page on the same domain. These links help users navigate a site and allow search engines to discover and index more content efficiently.
Internal links typically appear within the main content of a page, in navigation menus, or in related content sections.
Why Internal Linking Matters
Internal linking is essential for both user experience and SEO. It helps distribute page authority throughout a website, which can boost the visibility of less-prominent pages. It also guides visitors toward relevant content, encouraging them to stay longer and engage more deeply with your site.
Key benefits of internal linking include:
- Improving site navigation
- Helping search engines crawl and index pages more effectively
- Establishing a clear content hierarchy
- Spreading link equity (ranking power) across pages
- Increasing time on site and reducing bounce rate
An effective internal linking strategy uses descriptive anchor text and links to related, high-value pages.
Example in Use
A blog post on “SEO Basics” might include a link to another article titled “How to Conduct an SEO Audit.” By linking these two pages, the site provides value to the reader and signals to search engines that the content is related.
This not only enhances usability but also helps both pages rank better in search results.