In Creative and On-Brand Ways That Are User-Friendly and Won’t Drive Your Readers Crazy + FREE LINKING CHECKLIST!
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Internal linking plays a crucial role in search engine optimization (SEO) that is often overlooked. We tend to focus so much on keywords that we forget how internal linking strategy can enhance SEO. Additionally, internal links improve your WordPress website’s site’s structure, search engine rankings, and overall site’s user experience. Internal links guide users to other relevant content on your site, helping them find related articles or related posts. When users stay on your website longer, bouncing from post to post via internal links, that’s technically great for your overall site health as well!
However, there’s an art to internal linking. Too few links, and your web page feels like a dead-end; too many, and you risk overwhelming your readers. Misplaced or irrelevant links are just asking for a click-and-run. So today, we’ll show you some creative ways to add internal links to your WordPress site and avoid common mistakes.
But First, What Is An Internal Link?
An internal link is simply a link that connects one page on your website to another. It’s called “internal” because both the source and the target of the link are on your WordPress website. In contrast, external links (or backlinks) send users from your site to another website. For now, let’s focus on internal links and how they play an important part in search engine optimization.
But Seriously, You Should Care – Why Internal Linking Matters
Internal links connect different pages within your WordPress site. They guide both users and search engines to important pages, distribute link juice, and improve your site’s structure. Here’s why they’re essential
- SEO Benefits: Internal links help search engines understand your site’s hierarchy, which can improve visibility for valuable pages in search results.
- User Experience: Contextual links guide users to relevant content, reducing bounce rate and encouraging them to spend more time on your site.
- Search Engine Rankings: A solid internal linking strategy boosts search engine rankings by making it easier for search engines to crawl and index your WordPress website.
Best Practices for Internal Linking
When adding internal links to your WordPress site, the best way to do so is naturally and seamlessly. Think about flow, readability, and positioning to ensure they add value to your content. Here are some best practices for internal linking:
- Choose Relevant Anchor Text*: Use descriptive, natural anchor text that accurately reflects the content of the linked page. The right anchor text can make all the difference in helping your readers and search engines understand the linked content.
- Prioritize Relevant and Authoritative Links: Link to important pages or relevant internal links that can benefit from a traffic boost. Connect high-authority pages to those on the verge of ranking better to reinforce your site’s content hierarchy and SEO impact.
- Maintain a Structured Link System: Implement a hub-and-spoke model to distribute link equity effectively across your site’s pages. This ensures that all pages have a better chance of ranking higher.
- Leverage Breadcrumb** Navigation: Breadcrumbs simplify navigation and reduce the page depth by linking to deeper pages, which can improve your site’s structure. These navigational links help visitors easily backtrack and explore other relevant pages.
- Strategically Place Internal Links: Embed contextual links naturally within your page copy. The easiest way to do this is by linking to related content that complements the current article, providing a better experience for both users and search engines.
* Anchor Text is the text itself that carries the link. Eg, “Click Here“, which when clicked on will take you to the link. Click Here is the anchor text.
** Breadcrumbs are a type of navigational aid that shows users the path they’ve taken to reach a particular page on a website. With WordPress sites, this is typically automatically enabled when you install WordPress Plugin Yoast SEO. If not, you can add it in manually in your theme editor or ask your web designer to ensure they’re enabled.
To make things even easier, here’s a little checklist to follow when adding your links.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
When adding internal links, be sure to avoid these common mistakes.
- Keep Anchor Text Natural: Avoid over-optimizing anchor text with excessive keywords. Use simple, descriptive text that accurately reflects the content you’re linking to.
- Use Internal Links Sparingly: Adding too many internal links can overwhelm your readers. Aim for a simple, clear layout with relevant links that enhance the content.
- Regularly Audit Internal Links: Broken links can harm your site’s credibility and user experience. Use a broken link checker regularly to update and fix broken links, ensuring they’re still functional and relevant.
Step-by-Step Instructions to Add Engaging Internal Links in WordPress
Add Links Manually in the WordPress Editor:
- Highlight the text you want to use as anchor text.
- Click the link icon in the toolbar.
- Enter the full URL or choose a suggested link from your WordPress dashboard.
- Decide if the link should open in the new tab or the same tab.
Create a Table of Contents (TOC):
A Table of Contents (TOC) is a set of anchor links that take users to specific sections of your post. Adding a TOC helps users navigate your content quickly and easily.
Steps to Add a TOC:
- Install a TOC Plugin: Install plugins like Easy Table of Contents, LuckyWP Table of Contents, or the Yoast SEO plugin (premium version) for an easy way to manage your TOC. Go to your WordPress dashboard, search for the plugin, click Install, and activate it.
- Enable the TOC in Your Post: Open your post in the WordPress editor and enable the TOC plugin’s features.
- Customize Your TOC: Set which headings to display (e.g., H2, H3) and style it to match your design. You can also auto-insert the TOC at the top or place it where you prefer.
Images, Buttons, and Graphics
Images and buttons can be linked to other pages on your site, but make sure not to overdo it. Too many visuals can interrupt the flow of your content. Add relevant internal links via images only when they naturally fit with your content.How to Add a Button with a Link:
- Go to Posts > Add New or Pages > Add New in your WordPress dashboard.
- Add a Button Block by clicking the + icon.
- Customize the button text (e.g., “Learn More,” “Shop Now”) and add the URL for the link.
- Adjust button settings (color, alignment) as needed, and decide if it should open in a new tab.
Creative Ways to Add Links with Images
Turn images into part-image, part-button graphics by embedding internal links into your visuals. This is a great way to drive users to related content without overwhelming the page.
- Add a Image Block by clicking the + icon.
- Insert an Image>Upload or Use One In Your Media
- Click the link icon in the toolbar.
- Enter the full URL or choose a suggested link from your WordPress dashboard.
- Decide if the link should open in the new tab or the same tab.
Internal links are super important for boosting your WordPress site’s SEO, improving user experience, and making sure your site’s structure flows smoothly. By sticking to these best practices and avoiding some common mistakes, you’ll create an internal linking strategy that works well for both your visitors and search engines. Happy linking!
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GUIDES AND RESOURCES
- Curious to Learn How To Add Links To Your Site? Download our Free Internal Linking Checklist
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ABOUT THIS POST
This post is written by Donata Delano – A Web Designer, Professional Artist and Architect based in Burlington, Canada. She specializing in visual communication and web design, creating branding solutions and websites that are thoughtful, unique and aesthetically pleasing.
