Strategic internal linking is a powerful SEO technique you must try. These internal links help search engines to rank your page higher, making it more sensitive to the readers. If you have started blogging but have not heard about internal links SEO, you are missing out on a crucial chapter. Among the huge number of SEO services, internal linking impacts your SERP drastically.
Let us start to analyze the nitty-gritty of internal linking from scratch:
What is internal linking?
Internal links are hyperlinks that lead the readers from your page to another domain. Both users and search engines expect you to input informational content to clarify all the doubts regarding the topic. Likewise, these links help the readers to navigate through your site and land up to another helpful page.
There are specifically three reasons to use this technique as one of the effective digital marketing solutions:
- To permit
the users to navigate through your site
- To establish
an information hierarchy of the websites
- To spread link equity and impact on SERP
In addition, you can use internal links in your homepage, menu, and post feeds. Apart from these general links, contextual links help the users and search engines to determine the value of your content.
Internal linking SEO best practices
There are certain guidelines to use link anchor text. With the dedicated practice and the continuous evolution of SEO techniques, marketers follow a strategic method. Moreover, to strengthen the value of your content and drive lead through a strategical way, one needs to follow strict discipline.
Create adequate content
Suppose you have a targeted list of internal links, but if you don't have adequate content to post, the entire effort will fall in vain. To maintain proper link density, you should also create adequate content to post.
Here, you should always follow three add-ons:
- Choose the related keyword
wisely
- Use naturally linking pages
- Enter keywords and click search
There are some complicated layers like pages, silos, and mathematically regulated formulas. However, it does not really matter. Likewise, you can avoid derivative charts and organizational spreadsheets.
Use link anchor text
Keeping in mind the theme of the content, the internal links should use anchor texts. Likewise, the image link is fine, given that images are not the primary source of the link. Hence, the proper use of anchor text is a magical box.
Even natural and un-optimized fragment sentences as anchor text can do wonders. No complex tricks. No algorithm, just highlight, and you are done.
Natural links always work
Internal linking should be a natural process. Hence, follow the context and integrate links. It will help if you follow a user-focused approach. As long as the readers are interested, they will definitely click on it. Also, you convey that the link is natural, and readers need them to understand the context whenever you are linking. Hence, the link has to be potentially relevant to lead your readers to the other page. So, by assisting your readers, you are likely to earn points from search engines.
Use Follow Links
Among the internal linking best practices, Follow Links are the foundation of content marketing. It is a strategy to keep things free and fluid. Therefore, the link should follow an organic way to be distributed in the contents. You should not hint to the search engine that your practices are forceful and your objective is to improve your SERP.
Stay relevant and avoid crosslinking
Do not ever crosslink even if you have a target to integrate at least five links for a particular page. Suppose the entire topic of your content revolves around 'kitchen renovation.' In that case, you cannot link kitchen ingredients just because these are relevant on a superficial level.
Henceforth, link relevant topics and try not to extend the context in the name of linking!
Be generous with the numbers
So, what the exact number one should follow?
Surprisingly, there is no answer!
Basically, it depends on the length of the post. But, you should use at least three to four and let your readers notice the links. I have seen twenty relevant links in a few cases, including the header to the footer for a 1500 words post. So, you see, if the content demands the number, Search engines are fine with it.
There is no magic number! It's all about the importance of the context and usefulness of the links.
To Conclude
Internal linking with these effective strategies is a cinch. Moreover, it is neither overwhelming nor complicated. The best part is, you are likely to bless with a stronger profile and optimized SEO with consistent internal linking. I think going through your previous post and conducting internal link analysis is worthy enough.
