By Shad Super in Questions —

How Can I Use Internal Linking to Distribute Link Equity Effectively Across My Website for Improved SEO Performance?

Summary

Internal linking is a crucial SEO strategy you can use to distribute link equity across your website, improving your website's visibility on search engines. By thoroughly understanding and implementing an effective internal linking structure, you can enhance the crawlability, relevance, and user experience of your site.

Understanding Internal Linking

Internal linking refers to the process of linking one page of your website to another page on the same website. It's a way of structuring your website's content and helping users navigate your site, as well as enabling search engines to better understand the architecture and hierarchies of your website [Moz, Internal Link].

Benefits of Internal Linking

Internal linking serves multiple purposes. It aids in website navigation, defines the website's architecture and hierarchy, and distributes link equity (LINK Juice) across the site [Yoast, 2021].

Effective Techniques for Internal Linking

Create Plenty of Content

Begin by generating a substantial amount of keyword-rich content. This creates numerous linking opportunities within your site [Search Engine Journal, 2019].

Utilize Anchor Text

Optimize your internal links with proper anchor text. Instead of using generic phrases like "click here," use relevant keywords that describe the linked content [Backlinko, 2021].

The most beneficial internal links are those that go deep into your website’s structure, not just to your home or main category pages [Search Engine Journal, 2017].

Link relevance is crucial. Favor links that are most beneficial to your site visitors, and only link to pages that are closely related to the source content [Ahrefs, 2020].

While there's no hard limit, Google suggests limiting the number of links on a page to a reasonable number (around 100) as a best practice [Search Engine Journal, 2020].

Conclusion

Implementing an effective internal linking strategy can significantly improve your website's SEO performance by distributing link equity, improving crawlability, and enhancing user experience. Remember to create plenty of keyword-rich content, use relevant anchor text, link deep within your site, maintain link relevance, and keep a reasonable number of links per page for best results.

References