SEO can seem like a complex puzzle, especially for small business owners managing their own websites. But don’t worry! There’s a straightforward way to improve your site’s visibility: internal linking.

Unlike larger businesses with dedicated IT teams, many small business owners rely on user-friendly platforms like Wix, Squarespace, GoDaddy, or WordPress to build and maintain their websites. While these platforms offer great tools, they often lack in-depth SEO support. That’s where understanding simple techniques like internal linking can make a big difference.

What is Internal Linking?

Internal linking connects different pages on your website. It’s like creating a roadmap for both visitors and search engines. For example, a blog post about “Best Hiking Trails Near [City]” could link to pages about hiking gear or local accommodations.

Anchor text is the clickable part of a link. Using descriptive anchor text, like “hiking gear,” helps users and search engines understand the linked page’s content.

How to use internal linking to improve your website’s SEO

There are a number of things you can do to use internal linking to improve your website’s SEO. Here are a few tips:

• Use descriptive anchor text*. When linking to other pages on your website, use descriptive anchor text that accurately reflects the content of the page you’re linking to. This will help search engines understand the content of the page and make it more likely that users will click on the link.
• Link to relevant pages. Only link to pages that are relevant to the page you’re on. This will help search engines understand the relationship between your pages and make it easier for users to find the information they’re looking for.
• Use a variety of link types. You can use a variety of link types to link to other pages on your website, including anchor text, images, and plain text.
• Don’t overdo it. Too many links on a page can be distracting and make it difficult for users to find the information they’re looking for. Aim for a balance of links on each page.
• Update your links regularly. As your website changes, you’ll need to update your internal links to ensure that they’re still pointing to the correct pages.

Simple Tips for Effective Internal Linking

1. Use Descriptive Anchor Text: Google’s Martin Splitt, offers valuable insights for improving site structure and user experience. He stated: “Users and Bots alike prefer meaningful anchor text. Here on the left you see what that looks like each link has meaningful words as anchor text and you can easily spot what the link will take you to….On the right you see a page that doesn’t use meaningful anchor text and that isn’t a good user experience especially when you try to quickly scan the page and find the right link to use.”  
   
   

   

   SearchEngineJournal.com

    

    

    

    

2. Balance Your Links: Too many links on a page can overwhelm visitors. Aim for 5-10 links per page.
3. Prioritize Important Pages: Focus on linking to your most valuable content, such as product pages, services pages, and blog posts.
4. Use Relevant Context: Ensure the linked content is relevant to the page it’s linked from. This helps search engines understand the relationship between the pages.

Choosing the right CMS platform is crucial for your website’s success. For insights on selecting the best platform for your needs, check out our article, “Choosing CMS Options: WordPress vs. Squarespace vs. Wix.“

By taking the time to optimize your internal linking, you’re taking a proactive step towards better SEO and a more successful online presence.

Ready to dive deeper into digital marketing?

KeyBuzz Digital offers expert guidance, digital marketing training, and insights to help your small business thrive online. Contact us today to learn more about our services.

Note: Internal linking differs from link building, which involves getting other websites to link to yours. We’ll discuss link building in a future article.