Internal Linking Best Practice to Maximize SEO Results

Internal linking is essential for boosting SEO and optimising your website’s structure. Internal links are important in enhancing the discoverability, indexing, and comprehension of your website’s content by search engines through the strategic connection of related content within your site. In 2025, internal linking continues to be a highly effective, yet frequently underestimated strategy in the realm of search engine optimisation. Let’s delve into the optimal strategies for internal linking that can enhance your search engine optimisation outcomes.

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What is Internal Linking?

Internal linking refers to the practice of linking one page on your website to another page within the same domain. These links not only help users navigate your site but also help search engines understand the context and hierarchy of your website. When done correctly, internal links can distribute page authority (or link equity) across your site, making it easier for search engines to rank your pages.

According to Moz, 15-20% of a site’s SEO performance can be influenced by internal linking alone. Google’s John Mueller has stated that internal links play a major role in helping search engines understand your content, highlighting the importance of using them wisely.

Best Practices for Internal Linking

Use Descriptive Anchor Text

“Anchor text is one of the most important on-page SEO elements for Google to understand what a page is about,” says Neil Patel, a well-known SEO expert.  Anchor text refers to the clickable text in a hyperlink. It is essential to use descriptive and relevant anchor text that gives both users and search engines an idea of what the linked page is about. Instead of using generic terms like “click here,” aim for keyword-rich text that matches the content you are linking to.

Example: If you’re linking to a page about “SEO tools for businesses,” your anchor text should be something like, “top SEO tools for businesses,” instead of just “click here.”

Focus on Page Hierarchy

The way you structure your internal links can significantly affect your SEO results. Websites should maintain a clear, logical hierarchy with a well-organized URL structure. The homepage should link to the most important pages of your site, while those pages should link to supporting content. This establishes a strong site architecture that search engines can crawl and index efficiently.

Example: If your website offers online courses, your homepage could link to categories like “SEO Courses,” “Digital Marketing,” and “Content Writing,” while those category pages link to individual courses.

A study by Backlinko found that search engine rankings correlate highly with a clear page hierarchy. Websites with well-structured internal links tend to rank higher on Google, especially when pages with high authority (like your homepage) link to lower-level pages.

Prioritize User Experience

While internal linking has an SEO benefit, it’s important not to overwhelm users with too many links. The goal is to create a seamless user experience that allows visitors to find the content they’re looking for while also boosting your SEO efforts. Internal links should guide users naturally to related content that enhances their experience.

Example: If a user is reading a blog post about “how to improve site speed,” a natural internal link would lead them to a page about “best practices for web hosting.” This helps both the user and search engines discover related content.

Link to Important Pages

Search engines use internal links to determine which pages are the most important. The more internal links pointing to a page, the more authority it can gain in the eyes of search engines. Therefore, it’s vital to link to your most important pages frequently.

Example: If you’re running an eCommerce site, ensure your most important product categories or high-converting pages, such as “Best-Selling Products” or “Limited-Time Offers,” have several internal links from other high-traffic pages.

Implement a “Silo Structure” for Large Sites

For large websites, implementing a silo structure can improve internal linking. A silo structure organizes content into broad topics or categories, making it easier for both users and search engines to find related content. Each category can have its own dedicated page with internal links to specific articles within that category.

Example: On a blog about digital marketing, you could create silos like “SEO,” “Content Marketing,” and “Paid Advertising.” Each silo would have a central page linking to individual blog posts about each subtopic, helping to organize content and boost SEO.

Avoid Overusing Internal Links

While internal linking is important, overusing links on a page can result in “link dilution,” which can harm SEO. Too many links can confuse search engines, making it difficult for them to determine which pages are most important. Google suggests keeping the number of links on any given page to a reasonable level, typically under 100 links per page.

Example: If you are creating an in-depth blog post, limit the internal links to the most relevant articles instead of linking to every single related post on your website.

Update Internal Links Regularly

As you publish more content, it’s essential to go back and update older blog posts or pages to reflect newer, relevant content. This keeps your site fresh and ensures that all pages are properly connected. Regularly updating internal links also gives you an opportunity to make sure that links are not broken, which could negatively impact both user experience and SEO.

Example: If you’ve added a new case study about “SEO strategies for 2025,” ensure that older blog posts about SEO link to this new resource.

We also give insight into predictive search optimization.