Your websites internal linking structure can be just as important as your sites inbound external links. It's one of the many parts that make up SEO. In simplistic terms, internal links can be defined as the list of links on a single page that route to a different page within the same domain. However complex the concept may seem, our guide encompassing clean URLs, interior page names, common mistakes, pagerank considerations, and internal linking quantity, can offer you tips to achieve an optimal site structure.
You want to be sure, for one, that your site is using clean URLs, with no Session IDs. For example, instead of your contact form's URL reading, "http://www.example.com/node/1348thsliea?238tah1348585, you'd want it to read "http://www.example.com/contact".
Ideally, each internal page and link should be wrapped around some targeted keyword phrases. Having a clean, static URL is preferable. Having a clean, static, keyword-rich URL is even more preferable.
When naming HTML files, search engines prefer hyphens over underscores when using multiple compound words. Hyphens make the name more easily understood as separate words. Google has it pretty well under control in recognizing either the same, but doing this could give you a slight advantage in some of the other engines.
Another advantage to local landing pages is that the pages' URLs reinforce your most relevant keywords. This helps your SEO not only on the page itself, but also every time an internal link points to that page. For example, if you run a local lawncare business, you might have a new page for each area of town that you service. Assuming you work out of Dallas, some example URLs could be,
And so on, you get the point.
Since your homepage is most likely where most of your inbound links are linking, you'll want to make sure important interior pages are all linked into your websites homepage. Not only does this make it easier for visitors to find your interior pages, but it leverages the PageRank of your homepage to help your interior pages place well for different keyword terms.
There are several natural and accepted ways to integrate links to deeper interior pages (more than one click deep from the homepage). To name a few:
Some more advanced tactics call for sculpting your PageRank flow to interior pages, using the "noFollow" tag. For now, just keep in mind that the better interwoven your interior links are, and the less clicks away from the homepage they are, the better chance you have for placing for not only your homepage, but also for your designated interior pages.
Hopefully, this article has helped break down the aspects of internal linking. Once you have a solid structure for your internal links, you'll strengthen not only your site's SEO, but also your users' experience.
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