Internal linking is one of the most overlooked yet powerful SEO strategies that can significantly boost your website's rankings and improve user experience. Whether you're managing a large website with 200+ pages or a small business site, an effective internal linking strategy ensures that Google and users can easily navigate and understand your content.
In this guide, we will break down everything you need to know about internal linking, including:
Internal links are links from one page of your website to another page on the same site. These links help search engines discover, index, and understand your website’s structure, while also improving user experience by guiding visitors to relevant content.
Boosts SEO rankings – Helps distribute PageRank and ranking signals to important pages.
Enhances user experience – Guides users to related content, increasing engagement.
Reduces orphan pages – Ensures every important page is linked and discoverable.
Improves website crawlability – Makes it easier for search engines to index your content.
Increases page authority – Helps pass link equity from high-authority pages to other parts of your website.
Think of your website as a pyramid:
1. Homepage (Top Level) – Links to all important category pages and main landing pages.
2. Important Pages (Primary Pages) – Your core service or business pages.
3. Secondary Pages – Supporting pages that connect to both important pages and blog posts.
4. Blog Posts & Supporting Content – Provide informational content and link back to service pages.
Homepage → Links to SEO Services Page and Digital Marketing Page
SEO Services Page → Links to Best SEO Agency in Chennai and related blogs
Blog Post → Links to SEO Services Page and a case study page
This structure ensures that your most important pages always receive internal links from relevant sections, making them stronger in Google's eyes.
There is no strict limit, but here's a general guideline for internal linking based on different types of pages:
Google itself is a goldmine for keyword insights. Use: Homepage: Should link to 20-30 of the most important pages.
Important Pages (SEO, Digital Marketing, etc.): These should have 10-20 relevant internal links.
Secondary Pages (Landing Pages, Category Pages): A good range is 5-10 internal links.
Blog Posts: Typically, 3-7 internal links should be enough, pointing to important pages and related blogs.
If you keep adding 10 blogs per month, in 3 years you will have 360+ blog pages. If every blog links to your homepage, that’s over 360 links just from blog pages! Is that a problem?
No, it's not a direct problem, but managing it properly is important. Instead of linking every blog to the homepage, you can:
Link to category pages instead (e.g., "SEO Guides" category).
Distribute links evenly among important pages.
Ensure link placement is contextual and natural.
Additionally, some of our key blog posts can guide you further:
Learn how to master keyword research and choose the best strategies for SEO.
Understand the difference between schema markup and content structure for better rankings.
Explore the impact of JavaScript SEO on Google rankings and how to optimize your site effectively.
An orphan page is a web page that has no internal links pointing to it, making it invisible to users and search engines.
Identify orphan pages using Google Search Console or Screaming Frog SEO Spider.
Link them from relevant blog posts or service pages.
Ensure all important pages have at least 3-4 internal links from different sections of your website.
Instead of using generic links like "Click Here," use meaningful anchor texts like "Best SEO Agency in Chennai" or "Digital Marketing Services".
Don’t force internal links on every page—link only when it adds value to the reader.
If a primary page already has 20-30 links, avoid overloading it further. Instead, link to sub-pages or related content.
Regularly go back to older blog posts and insert new internal links to keep your site structure fresh.
Regularly go back to older blog posts and insert new internal links to keep your site structure fresh.
Always use target="_blank" for external links so users don’t leave your site immediately.
Every 3-6 months, use Ahrefs, Screaming Frog, or Surfer SEO to check for broken or excessive internal links.
Linking Too Much to the Homepage – Instead, link to relevant category pages.
Forcing Links Where They Don’t Fit – Every link should be contextually useful.
Using the Same Anchor Text for Every Link – Vary it for better optimization.
Not Linking to Deep Pages – Don't just link to your homepage; link deeper to specific service pages.
Internal linking is not just about SEO, it’s about creating a better experience for your visitors. By structuring your website effectively, you ensure:
Users find what they need faster
Google understands your website better
Your important pages rank higher in search results
If you’re looking for expert help in optimizing your website’s internal linking strategy, our SEO Services can ensure your website gets maximum visibility and rankings.
Want to discuss your website’s SEO performance? Contact Us for a free consultation today!
Every 3-6 months, check old content and add/update internal links to improve structure.
No strict limit, but keep it user-friendly and avoid excessive linking.
Not necessarily. Instead, link to category pages or relevant landing pages.
Ahrefs, Screaming Frog, Surfer SEO, and Google Search Console can help track and improve your internal linking strategy.
