Connect genuinely complementary pages
A useful internal link answers the reader’s next question. It should not be added only to artificially increase the number of links.
- Connect a guide to the tool that helps apply it.
- Connect a detailed article to its category page.
- Avoid links that do not match the context of the paragraph.
Write descriptive anchor text
Link text should indicate what the destination contains. Precise anchors are more useful than repeating “click here” or “learn more” everywhere.
- Name the destination naturally.
- Vary wording when context justifies it.
- Keep anchor text concise but informative.
Avoid orphan pages
An important page should be reachable from the site architecture or related content. A page with no internal incoming links is harder to discover.
- Add new pages to a hub or category.
- Check broken links regularly.
- Keep return paths towards overview pages.
Practical checklist
- Every important page receives at least one relevant internal link.
- Anchor text describes the destination.
- Links support the reader’s journey.
- Category pages distribute towards detailed content.
- Broken links are checked after each redesign.
Continue with related resources
Conclusion
Effective internal linking feels like natural editorial navigation. It connects related topics without turning every paragraph into a directory of links.