SEO - Internal Page Linking
Hello there, future SEO wizards! I'm thrilled to be your guide on this exciting journey into the world of internal page linking. As someone who's been teaching computer science for over a decade, I can assure you that mastering this skill will be a game-changer for your websites. So, let's dive in!
What is Internal Page Linking?
Imagine you're building a house. The rooms are your web pages, and the doorways connecting them are your internal links. Internal page linking is the practice of creating hyperlinks that connect different pages within the same website. It's like creating a roadmap for your visitors (and search engines) to navigate your digital kingdom.
Here's a simple example of what an internal link looks like in HTML:
<a href="/about-us.html">Learn more about our company</a>This code creates a link to the "About Us" page on your website. The "/about-us.html" part is the relative URL, which tells the browser to look for this page in the same domain as the current page.
Comparing Internal And External Links
Now, let's play a game of "Spot the Difference" between internal and external links:
| Internal Links | External Links |
|---|---|
| Link to pages within the same website | Link to pages on other websites |
| Use relative URLs | Use absolute URLs |
| Help distribute link equity within your site | Pass link equity to other domains |
| Improve site navigation | Provide additional resources |
| Don't require the "http://" or "https://" prefix | Require the full URL including the protocol |
Here's an example to illustrate:
<!-- Internal link -->
<a href="/products/shoes.html">Check out our shoes</a>
<!-- External link -->
<a href="https://www.shoereview.com/best-sneakers">Read shoe reviews</a>Multiple Kinds Of Internal Links
Internal links come in various flavors, like a delicious ice cream shop of web navigation. Here are the main types:
- Navigational links
- Contextual links
- Footer links
- Related content links
- Image links
Let's look at a few examples:
<!-- Navigational link (typically in a menu) -->
<nav>
<ul>
<li><a href="/home">Home</a></li>
<li><a href="/products">Products</a></li>
<li><a href="/about">About</a></li>
<li><a href="/contact">Contact</a></li>
</ul>
</nav>
<!-- Contextual link within content -->
<p>Our <a href="/products/ergonomic-chairs">ergonomic chairs</a> are designed for maximum comfort.</p>
<!-- Footer link -->
<footer>
<a href="/privacy-policy">Privacy Policy</a>
</footer>
<!-- Image link -->
<a href="/summer-sale"><img src="summer-sale-banner.jpg" alt="Summer Sale"></a>Benefits of Internal Page Linking
Buckle up, because the benefits of internal linking are about to blow your mind:
- Improves website navigation
- Distributes page authority and ranking power
- Helps search engines understand your site structure
- Increases page views and time on site
- Defines the hierarchy of your website
Think of internal linking as a friendly tour guide, showing both visitors and search engines the most important parts of your website.
Best Internal Page Linking Practices
Now, let's talk strategy. Here are some best practices to make your internal linking game strong:
- Use descriptive anchor text
- Link to relevant content
- Keep your link structure flat (no more than 3 clicks to any page)
- Use follow links (avoid nofollow for internal links)
- Update old content with links to newer, relevant pages
- Create a logical site structure
Let's see these in action:
<!-- Good: Descriptive anchor text -->
<a href="/blog/seo-tips">Check out our top 10 SEO tips</a>
<!-- Bad: Non-descriptive anchor text -->
<a href="/blog/seo-tips">Click here</a>
<!-- Good: Relevant content linking -->
<p>If you're interested in improving your website's performance, our <a href="/services/website-optimization">website optimization service</a> might be just what you need.</p>
<!-- Good: Updating old content -->
<p>This article was last updated on <time datetime="2023-06-15">June 15, 2023</time>. For our latest insights on this topic, see our <a href="/blog/seo-2023-update">2023 SEO update</a>.</p>Conclusion
And there you have it, folks! You've just completed your crash course in internal page linking. Remember, like a well-connected spider web, your internal links should create a strong, logical structure that supports your entire website.
As you practice these techniques, you'll start to see your website as a living, breathing entity. Each link is a vital connection, pumping SEO juice through your digital veins. (Okay, maybe I got a little carried away with that metaphor, but you get the idea!)
Keep experimenting, keep learning, and most importantly, keep linking! Your website (and your visitors) will thank you for it.
Credits: Image by storyset