In today’s Tech News Tuesday episode, we’re talking about something that’s often overlooked but can be an important factor for your website’s success—using internal links effectively. We also look at why they’re beneficial to your site’s performance and SEO.
Internal links are more than just a way to connect one page to another. They actually help Google understand the structure of your website. This means that the way you use internal links can influence which pages are considered the most valuable and help boost your rankings.
The Road Map to Your Website
Think of internal links as a roadmap. Before your content can rank, Google needs to find it first. If your content isn’t linked to anywhere on your site, it’s almost like it’s invisible. So, having an internal linking strategy is essential. Plus, it’s a way to tell Google which pages are the most important. This helps establish a hierarchy on your site, giving more link value to your top pages and posts.
Internal links tell Google what pages are most important and establish a hierarchy on your site
Provide a Better User Experience
It’s not just about search engines. Internal links also help guide your audience to other valuable content on your site. Let’s say someone is reading a blog post about social media tips. If you link to a related post on creating engaging content, you’re providing more value and keeping them on your site longer. This keeps your bounce rate low and increases the time people spend on your site, which is something Google notices too!
Linking related content keeps your audience engaged and on your site for longer – something Google notices too!
Internal links are all about making your site easier to navigate and providing a better user experience.
Orphaned Content
Another benefit is reducing what we call “orphaned content.” Orphaned content is when a page or post isn’t linked to from anywhere else on your site, so it’s hard to find. With internal links, you’re making sure every piece of content has its place and can be discovered by your audience.
Make sure every piece of content has its place and can be discovered by your audience.
Add Value to Your Site
A good internal linking strategy also distributes link value across your site. This means you can spread that value to relevant pages that might not get as much attention otherwise. But remember, you want your links to make sense for your readers. Link to pages that are related and provide additional information or a clear next step—whether that’s reading another article, signing up for your newsletter, or taking some other action. Make the link names meaningful too. Links that read “click here” or another vague reference don’t help your audience or the search engines, and hinder the accessibility of your site.
Your links should make sense to your readers — link to pages that are related.
It’s about providing a smooth journey through your website. If you’re thinking, “I don’t have time to go through all my old content,” start small. Review your most important pages or posts first and see where you can add internal links. A series of small steps have a big impact over time.
The bottom line is this, internal links are a powerful tool. They help Google find and understand your content, and keep your visitors engaged. All of this adds up to better SEO and a better user experience. If you don’t have an intentional internal linking strategy today, it’s time to start.
Do you prefer to listen in? Here’s our podcast:
Links in this episode: What Are Internal Links?
Internal linking for SEO: Why and how?
How to Add a Link to Your Site
