Internal Linking Structure

An effective internal linking structure helps search engines discover pages, understand content relationships, and distribute authority across a website.

Internal links influence:

  • Crawlability and indexation
  • Page authority distribution
  • Topical relevance and hierarchy

A blog reorganized internal links around topic clusters. Key pillar pages moved from page 2 to page 1 within weeks due to improved internal authority flow.

Strategic Internal Linking Principles

  • Link from high-authority pages to important pages
  • Use descriptive anchor text (not generic “click here”)
  • Maintain logical hierarchy (pillar → supporting content)

Common Internal Linking Problems

  • Orphan pages with no internal links
  • Over-optimized anchor text
  • Too many links on a single page

Best Practices for Scalable Sites

  • Build topic clusters and pillar pages
  • Use breadcrumbs for hierarchy clarity
  • Review internal links during content updates