Best practices for internal linking structure in 2024

Internal links are one of the most important on-page SEO factors that can make or break your website's search engine rankings. With Google's algorithms becoming more advanced each year, having a strategic internal linking structure is crucial to helping pages on your site get discovered and ranked in search engines.

In this comprehensive guide, I will share the best practices you need to follow in 2024 to build an effective internal link structure that will boost your site's SEO authority and rankings.

My name is M A Mamun, and I run the YouTube channel SERPRisr where I regularly share SEO tips and strategies. Be sure to check out my channel and subscribe if you want to stay on top of the latest SEO best practices.

Key Takeaways

• Use keyword-rich anchor text for internal links to optimize pages for target keywords.
• Link deeper pages to more authoritative pages like the home and category pages.
• Avoid excessive linking and over-optimization of anchor text.
• Ensure linking flow makes sense for users.
• Place internal links in relevant content and make them contextual.
• Use linking to pass authority to important but weak pages.
• Add internal links to extensively researched and detailed content.
• Include internal links in your site's navigation and footers.

What is an Internal Link Structure?

Internal link structure refers to how pages on a website are interconnected through hyperlinks. This forms a network that establishes relationships between different pages on your site.

When creating internal links, you link from one web page to another within the same domain. For example, linking from your home page to an about us or contact page.

This is different from external links, which point from pages on one domain to pages on a different domain. For example, links from your site to authority sites or resource pages on other websites.

Having a well-planned internal link structure is crucial in SEO because it allows you to:

• Pass link equity - Internal links pass authority and ranking power from one page to another. Linking to a page makes it stronger.
• Help search engines crawl - Links provide a pathway for bots to discover and crawl all pages on your site efficiently.
• Enhance user experience - A logical internal linking structure makes navigation seamless for visitors.
• Activate ranking signals - Things likedwell time and click depth that impact SEO.

That's why optimizing internal links is essential for improving SEO and pushing targeted pages higher in search rankings.

Best Practices for Internal Link Structure

When mapping out your website's internal link building strategy, keep these key best practices in mind:

Use Keyword-Rich Anchor Text

The anchor text you use for internal links helps send strong relevancy signals about the page you are linking to.

For instance, if you are linking to a page about "keyword research", include those terms in the anchor text:

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<a href="/keyword-research">keyword research</a>

This tells both users and search engines what the linked page is about.

However, don't over-optimize anchor text or use the exact same anchor text for all links pointing to a page. This looks spammy.

Vary the anchor text with related phrases and keywords. For the keyword research page, you can also use "keyword analysis", "keyword targeting", etc.

Link Pages Deep in Your Site Architecture

Your website likely has different levels of pages. This includes:

• Home page - The main landing page of your site.
• Category pages - Pages targeting specific topics, categories or sections.
• Content pages - Individual articles, tutorials, product pages, etc.

Generally, the home page and category pages have the most authority, as they attract the most visitors, backlinks, engagement metrics, etc.

To pass SEO value to deeper pages, link to content pages from these high authority pages whenever relevant. This powers up those inner pages in search rankings.

For example, when writing category or home page content, drop contextual links to your most important content pages targeting that topic.

Avoid Link Schemes and Over-Optimization

It can be tempting to aggressively pepper your site with internal links hoping they will magically boost pages. But take care to avoid these common mistakes:

• Overusing exact-match anchor text for a page looks manipulative, as naturally links would have more variation.
• Placing excessive links with no context disrupts user experience. Moderation is key.
• Artificially inflating linking, like widget areas with pages listed alphabetically, violates Google guidelines. Keep it natural.

Focus on editorially placed internal links that make sense in content and aid site navigation. Quality over quantity.

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Ensure Link Flow Makes Sense

As you interlink pages on your site, step back and view the linking from a visitor's perspective.

Internal links should aid natural navigation and form logical pathways between related content. Visitors should be able to seamlessly flow from one page to another along an intuitive path.

For example, linking from a category page to specific content pages related to the topic. Or linking from an article to related prior articles for context.

Use Contextual Linking

The best internal links are contextualized within excellent, relevant content on your site.

For example, naturally linking to your in-depth pricing page from your features page when your discuss your premium plan details.

Integrate links within paragraphs where they make sense rather than haphazardly placing a list of hyperlinks at the end. Write useful content, then sprinkle in links without interrupting the reading flow.

Utilize Site Navigation Links

Most websites have site navigation in menus and footers that link between sections of the site. These built-in navigation links are very powerful for SEO.

Ensure you have all key pages linked through the main site navigation. This provides crawl pathways between sections and lets authority flow throughout the site naturally.

Link to Support Detailed Content Pages

In-depth guides and resources with extensive research and value for users should be linked to frequently across your site.

Find places where it makes sense to editorially link to your pillar content pages that deserve more authority. But integrate these naturally within related text.

For example, linking from blog posts to your most definitive guides on a related subject being discussed.

Pass Authority to Weak Pages

Find pages that don't rank as well as they should in search results. Determine why - thin content, lack of engagement, not enough authority signals.

Use internal links to start passing authority and "link juice" from stronger pages to boost those pages. But integrate those links naturally within great content.

Internal Link Structure FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about optimizing internal linking structures:

How many internal links should a page have?

There is no definitive number that is "best" when it comes to internal links on a page. Google recommends natural linking patterns similar to what users expect.

As a general rule of thumb, pages with more content can support more contextual internal links. Avoid being robotic or forcing links - integrate links within content naturally.

Can too many internal links hurt SEO?

Too many links on a single page can potentially dilute PageRank distribution and looks manipulative. But when used correctly within excellent content, there is likely more upside than downside.

Focus on useful, relevant, contextual links. Moderation and high-quality content is key. Avoid excessive keyword-rich links. Let quality and user experience drive the strategy.

Should every page be reachable by internal links?

Ideally, bots should be able to crawl to all pages of your site through internal links within a reasonable number of clicks.

If key pages have no pathway through site navigation or content links, search engines may never discover them - so having linking pathways is crucial.

Should I use nofollow on internal links?

In most cases, no. The nofollow tag tells search engines to ignore the link value being passed. You want equity passed to internal pages to power them up, so leave links as dofollow.

Using nofollows on internal links incorrectly can do more harm than good. Reserve nofollow for external links to untrusted sites.

Conclusion

Creating an effective internal link structure that aids both conversions and SEO requires strategic planning. You want links that flow naturally and help search bots crawl connected content across the site.

By following the best practices outlined in this guide, you can build an internal link network that reinforces relevance and authority for all your important pages. Just remember to keep linking natural - avoid artificial inflating.

Focus on creating awesome content, then interlink related resources contextually within that content. Quality over quantity.

If you want the latest SEO and website ranking strategies be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel SERPRisr. I publish regular videos sharing actionable tips to improve your SEO step-by-step.

Let me know in the comments if you have any other internal linking best practices I should cover! I'm always aiming to create the most comprehensive SEO education possible.