The benefits of internal linking for every website
Posted: Wed Dec 04, 2024 10:21 am
Underestimated by many. However, implemented wisely, with the user in mind, and Google in mind, it can work wonders. Internal linking – because that's what we're talking about – is a relatively simple and free way to raise the position of a website in organic search results. You only need to know the basic rules.
Internal linking is just one of the methods of improving the position of a page in Google. But regardless of the size of the site, we should not ignore it. It has significant significance for the user and search engine robots.
Contents
What is internal linking?
7 Benefits of Internal Linking
How to do internal linking correctly useful tips
Where and how to link internally?
Most common linking mistakes
Internal Linking from an SEO Perspective
What is internal linking?
By definition, internal linking is a link that takes a user to another page within the same website. It creates a kind of structure on the page that makes it much easier for readers to navigate the site.
It includes page navigation, a list of categories, as well as links to similar articles on the blog or complementary products in the online store.
7 Benefits of Internal Linking
We will now discuss some of the benefits that come with properly implemented internal links. Then you will see how to do such linking and what you should avoid.
1. They make it easier for the recipient to navigate the site
The connected network of articles allows the reader advantages of our nurse data to freely navigate the site in search of exactly the information they are looking for. Intuitive menus, appropriately constructed categories, or displaying posts of similar themes on the blog are elements that make the user become friends with the site and spend more time on it.
2. They help Google identify the topic of the page
Linking allows Google to index pages much better and increase the visibility of a site for keywords. Links allow you to link different content, from blog posts to product categories or product pages themselves, and thus give the search engine free access to all content.
This is especially important for large online stores.
3. They increase the time spent on the page
Intuitive and related topic links make the user more willing to browse the page. The time of interaction with the site increases. Thanks to this, Google begins to consider the page valuable to users and improves its position in organic search results.
4. They reduce bounce rate
Internal linking encourages deeper browsing of the site and jumping between subpages. This significantly reduces the number of people who leave the site without taking any action.
Bounce rate is information available in Google Analytics that shows us the percentage of people who viewed only one page on your site.
5. They support the sales process
Another benefit of skillfully placing internal links is the “intentional” management of subsequent levels of the sales funnel. You guide the user through the entire purchasing path, ultimately leading them to the place where they can decide to buy your products or services.
Example: by creating a blog post about different ways to heat your home, you can redirect the user to another text describing the differences between specific solutions, and consequently to the product page in your online store.
6. They allow you to direct the "power" to specific subpages on your website
Each subpage has its own link juice, i.e. value that it can transfer to another subpage using appropriately selected links.
The number of internal links and their quality is a determinant for Google, which subpages are most important to us. In this way, the search engine directs traffic to those pages to which the largest number of links lead
7. They have a positive impact on the website's positioning
Links help Google structure the page and determine its subject matter. They also support users and make it easier for them to use the site, increasing time spent on the page and reducing bounce rates.
All these factors have a positive impact on the evaluation of the website by Google robots and thus translate into higher positions in organic search results.
In some cases, simply improving internal linking is enough to get your site into the TOP 10.
How to do internal linking correctly useful tips
When dealing with internal linking, it is worth remembering three aspects:
Usability of links;
SEO matching;
Thematic connections in links.
How to do effective linking in practice?
Make a list of keywords. This will help you find good anchor texts, and also catch whether you don't have a problem with keyword cannibalization, i.e. linking to the same keyword in different places. Then, determine the most important keywords and the most important ones to promote a subpage on your website.
Anchor text a keyword or phrase from which we link to another page on the site. It affects the quality rating of links within a given web page.
Add links in places where you think they will be useful to the end user. Use long-tail phrases, and use general words less often.
Use different anchors when linking internally to the same subpage:
For a specific keyword
For the keyword in the form and its synonyms
For the brand name.
It is best to divide the page into so-called topic silos . This will allow you to gather around them a group of specific keywords and topics related to them. Link only within one silo. Otherwise, Google may consider the link unrelated to the topic and worthless to the user.
Internal linking is just one of the methods of improving the position of a page in Google. But regardless of the size of the site, we should not ignore it. It has significant significance for the user and search engine robots.
Contents
What is internal linking?
7 Benefits of Internal Linking
How to do internal linking correctly useful tips
Where and how to link internally?
Most common linking mistakes
Internal Linking from an SEO Perspective
What is internal linking?
By definition, internal linking is a link that takes a user to another page within the same website. It creates a kind of structure on the page that makes it much easier for readers to navigate the site.
It includes page navigation, a list of categories, as well as links to similar articles on the blog or complementary products in the online store.
7 Benefits of Internal Linking
We will now discuss some of the benefits that come with properly implemented internal links. Then you will see how to do such linking and what you should avoid.
1. They make it easier for the recipient to navigate the site
The connected network of articles allows the reader advantages of our nurse data to freely navigate the site in search of exactly the information they are looking for. Intuitive menus, appropriately constructed categories, or displaying posts of similar themes on the blog are elements that make the user become friends with the site and spend more time on it.
2. They help Google identify the topic of the page
Linking allows Google to index pages much better and increase the visibility of a site for keywords. Links allow you to link different content, from blog posts to product categories or product pages themselves, and thus give the search engine free access to all content.
This is especially important for large online stores.
3. They increase the time spent on the page
Intuitive and related topic links make the user more willing to browse the page. The time of interaction with the site increases. Thanks to this, Google begins to consider the page valuable to users and improves its position in organic search results.
4. They reduce bounce rate
Internal linking encourages deeper browsing of the site and jumping between subpages. This significantly reduces the number of people who leave the site without taking any action.
Bounce rate is information available in Google Analytics that shows us the percentage of people who viewed only one page on your site.
5. They support the sales process
Another benefit of skillfully placing internal links is the “intentional” management of subsequent levels of the sales funnel. You guide the user through the entire purchasing path, ultimately leading them to the place where they can decide to buy your products or services.
Example: by creating a blog post about different ways to heat your home, you can redirect the user to another text describing the differences between specific solutions, and consequently to the product page in your online store.
6. They allow you to direct the "power" to specific subpages on your website
Each subpage has its own link juice, i.e. value that it can transfer to another subpage using appropriately selected links.
The number of internal links and their quality is a determinant for Google, which subpages are most important to us. In this way, the search engine directs traffic to those pages to which the largest number of links lead
7. They have a positive impact on the website's positioning
Links help Google structure the page and determine its subject matter. They also support users and make it easier for them to use the site, increasing time spent on the page and reducing bounce rates.
All these factors have a positive impact on the evaluation of the website by Google robots and thus translate into higher positions in organic search results.
In some cases, simply improving internal linking is enough to get your site into the TOP 10.
How to do internal linking correctly useful tips
When dealing with internal linking, it is worth remembering three aspects:
Usability of links;
SEO matching;
Thematic connections in links.
How to do effective linking in practice?
Make a list of keywords. This will help you find good anchor texts, and also catch whether you don't have a problem with keyword cannibalization, i.e. linking to the same keyword in different places. Then, determine the most important keywords and the most important ones to promote a subpage on your website.
Anchor text a keyword or phrase from which we link to another page on the site. It affects the quality rating of links within a given web page.
Add links in places where you think they will be useful to the end user. Use long-tail phrases, and use general words less often.
Use different anchors when linking internally to the same subpage:
For a specific keyword
For the keyword in the form and its synonyms
For the brand name.
It is best to divide the page into so-called topic silos . This will allow you to gather around them a group of specific keywords and topics related to them. Link only within one silo. Otherwise, Google may consider the link unrelated to the topic and worthless to the user.