Why is Internal Linking Important for SEO & How Many are Needed?

SEO can be a complex subject. It can seem like there are heaps you need to understand in order to make sure your web pages rank well in major search engines, like using keyword research, content creation, meta tags, image optimisation… the list goes on! One of the key elements of successful SEO is internal linking – but why is internal linking so important for SEO? And how many links do you actually need? This blog will answer all of your questions on internal links for SEO and offer insight into how you can use internal linking to help boost your website ranking and traffic.  

What is Internal Linking?

Internal linking is when links are added to a website that direct visitors from one page on the site to another. Internal links are used for a variety of reasons, including improving user experience, increasing the overall relevance and authority of a website, and providing better information architecture. They can also help improve how search engines crawl, index, and rank webpages within the website.

Why are Internal Links Important for SEO?

Internal linking for SEO is crucial, as it helps to both increase page authority and improve the user experience. Internal links for SEO are extremely important for many reasons, including:

Helps search engine crawlers better understand content and structure:  

By interlinking pages on your site with relevant keywords, you can make sure that both crawlers and visitors can find the specific content they’re looking for in an efficient manner. This makes it easier for search engines to index your pages accurately and can help boost your website rankings in SERPs.

Creates an organised navigation system

By ensuring your website is easy to navigate, internal linking allows users to quickly access related content or products from other pages within your website. For example, if you have multiple pages discussing different aspects of one topic, you can use internal links to direct visitors between them so they can easily access all the related information they need.  

Increases page authority

By optimising internal links throughout your website using targeted keywords, you’ll be able to streamline your website by connecting related pieces of content to each other rather than having them scattered across multiple websites linked back to yours. This will help boost each individual webpages rank on SERP’s (Search Engine Results Pages) by increasing its overall domain authority—another key factor for achieving higher rankings over time.

How to Strategically Use Internal Links for SEO

When looking at how to strategically use internal links for SEO, it's important to consider the anchor text and link placement. Anchor text should be descriptive and should accurately describe what the user can expect when clicking on that link. Link placement is also key; placing your internal links in contextually relevant areas within copy or as appropriate CTA buttons will guide users towards where they need to go next.

It's also important to remember that while having too few internal links for SEO won't necessarily hurt your website's performance in the SERPs, having too many could lead to keyword cannibalisation - where multiple pages are competing for similar keywords - which can impact how well those pages rank.  

How Many Internal Links Per Page SEO?

Deciding how many links to include in an internal linking strategy on your page usually depends on the size of the page and its content. Generally speaking, you should aim to include at least two or three internal links for SEO per page - one linking to a home page or parent page and then a couple more pointing towards other relevant pages within your site. However, if you have a large number of pages or blog posts, you might want to add more than just two or three internal links per page so that users can easily navigate your website.

The best approach is to add internal links where they will provide value for readers. It’s recommended that each page should have between two and six internal links – which can include a combination of contextual links in the body text as well as navigation menus and other user interface navigational elements.  

To Wrap Up...

All in all, if you want to improve your SEO and take advantage of internal linking, then the key is to ensure that your internal link building creates clear links to different pages within your website. Be sure to consider quality over quantity and choose relevant anchor text so that your users are able to easily find what they need. Results from the integration of this technique can be seen almost immediately, so why not take the plunge and incorporate with your website today?  

Need some guidance? Discover everything you need and more with Creative Ideaz – let's talk!

‍