Story Based Question
You’ve been focusing on improving your website’s content and on-page SEO. However, after analyzing your site’s performance, you realize that while you have lots of valuable content, some of it isn’t getting the attention it deserves. You start thinking: How can I connect my content better, so both users and search engines can easily find and navigate through it?
Exact Answer
To create an internal linking strategy, identify your most important pages, link related content together, use descriptive anchor text, and regularly audit your links to ensure they stay relevant.
Explanation
An effective internal linking strategy is like creating a roadmap for your website. It ensures that both search engines and users can find important pages, navigate easily, and discover related content. Here’s how you can build a solid internal linking strategy:
- Identify Your Key Pages: The first step in creating an internal linking strategy is identifying the pages that are most important to your website’s success. These might include cornerstone content (like cornerstone blog posts or product pages), high-converting pages (like landing pages), or pages you want to rank higher.
Example: If you run an online store, your product category pages (e.g., “Running Shoes”) or your best-selling products should be the focus of your internal linking efforts. These pages are likely to drive the most traffic and sales, so you’ll want to make them easily accessible. - Link Related Content Together: Once you know which pages are most important, you can start linking them to related content. Linking contextually relevant pages helps users find additional valuable information while also boosting the SEO of the linked pages.
Example: On your fitness blog, if you have a post about “How to Start Running,” you can link to other posts like “Best Running Shoes” and “How to Prevent Running Injuries.” These internal links guide users to more content and help search engines understand the relevance of each page. - Use Descriptive Anchor Text: The anchor text (the clickable text in a hyperlink) should clearly describe the content of the page you’re linking to. This helps both users and search engines understand what to expect when they click the link. Avoid generic anchor text like “click here”—instead, use specific phrases that relate to the linked page’s topic.
Example: Instead of linking to a page about budgeting with anchor text like “click here,” use “learn more about budgeting tips for beginners.” This not only tells users what they’ll get but also helps search engines understand the content of the target page. - Ensure Links Are Natural and Useful: Make sure your internal links aren’t forced or irrelevant. They should enhance the user experience by providing additional useful information and making it easier for users to explore related topics. Too many internal links or irrelevant links can confuse users and may be seen as spammy by search engines.
Example: On a website that offers cooking recipes, you might link a recipe for “Vegetarian Tacos” to other relevant pages like “Vegan Toppings” or “Healthy Mexican Dishes.” This helps the user find similar content and keeps them engaged. - Audit and Update Regularly: An internal linking strategy isn’t something you set and forget. Regularly audit your links to ensure they still work and remain relevant. Over time, content changes, new pages are added, and older pages may need updating. Make sure links are still functional, and if you create new content, link to it from older pages to ensure it gets noticed.
Example: If you’ve added a new page for “Healthy Smoothie Recipes,” make sure to update older related blog posts about “Breakfast Ideas” or “Quick Healthy Meals” to include a link to the new smoothie recipes page. - Utilize Footer and Navigation Links: For pages that are highly important, consider adding them to your site’s footer or main navigation. This ensures they’re easy to find, both for users and search engines.
Example: For your online store, include links to your most popular product categories in the footer, making it easy for visitors to access them from any page.
Example
Let’s say you manage a home improvement website. One of your top pages is about “DIY Home Renovation Tips.” You want to increase the visibility of this page, so you start linking to it from other related posts like “How to Paint Your Kitchen Cabinets” and “Budgeting for a Home Remodel.” You also add the link to your homepage and include it in your monthly newsletter. This strategy not only directs more visitors to that page but also helps Google understand the importance of the page in relation to other content on your site.
A well-crafted internal linking strategy improves user experience, boosts SEO, and helps ensure all pages on your site are discoverable. By identifying key pages, linking related content, using descriptive anchor text, and regularly auditing your links, you can build a network that benefits both search engines and users.