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Internal linking in SEO
Internal linking refers to the hyperlinks placed between pages on the same website. These anchor texts should logically connect related pages and complementary content throughout the site. An effective internal linking structure provides multiple paths for users and search engines to traverse topically relevant material. It also distributes linking equity and domain authority across the site. Analyzing content gaps helps identify new pages that strengthen topical coverage and expand navigation options when linking out.
Linking strategies aim to promote important pages while passing authority. Categories, tags and sitemaps guide users browsing behaviors and expose site hierarchies. Outbound linking from high authority pages lends more trust and increases referring domains. Placement near top of pages in natural paragraph links performs better. Excessive repeated links or those in poor visibility areas like footers impact less. Periodic linking assessments identify opportunities like relevant pages overlooked or topics in need of deeper expansion.
Anchor text variety mix of targeted keywords and generic strings like "read more" avoids negative spam penalties. Over-optimization or unnatural patterns damage the user experience and natural flow. Thin anchor texts require improvement for clarity. Regular link audits detect issues like duplicate, non-functional or private internal links needing removal or replacing.
Optimizing internal linking improves usability, discoverability and supports user experience which are core priorities for search engines. It reinforces site structures while passing contextual signals to search bots.