{"id":5166,"date":"2026-03-25T01:08:31","date_gmt":"2026-03-24T17:08:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/longzhuplatform.com\/?p=5166"},"modified":"2026-03-25T01:08:31","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T17:08:31","slug":"how-to-solve-poor-internal-linking-practices-in-just-5-steps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/longzhuplatform.com\/?p=5166","title":{"rendered":"How to Solve Poor Internal Linking Practices in Just 5 Steps"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>

\"A<\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Internal links satisfy users, make your site more relevant to search, help search engines discover more of your content, distribute PageRank and strengthen ranking pages.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

For all these reasons, fixing poor internal linking practices can boost your SEO program.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

In this article, I\u2019ll share five steps to transform your internal linking strategy and set your site up for SEO success.<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

  1. Audit Internal Links<\/span><\/li>
  2. Define Your Website\u2019s Hierarchy Through Siloing<\/span><\/li>
  3. Use Contextual Links Strategically<\/span><\/li>
  4. Get Your 404s in Check<\/span><\/li>
  5. Have XML and HTML Sitemaps<\/span><\/li> <\/ol>

    Final Thoughts<\/span><\/p>

    FAQ: How do contextual internal links contribute to a better user experience and improve SEO performance?<\/span><\/p>

    \u00a0<\/p>

    1. Audit Internal Links<\/strong><\/h2>

    You\u2019ll want to get a sense of what\u2019s working and what\u2019s not on your website when it comes to your internal links. So, sit down, get a spreadsheet and take a good look at your site.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

    First, run some tools. You can use tools like SEOToolSet\u00ae, Screaming Frog or Ahrefs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

    SEOToolSet, developed here at Bruce Clay Inc., offers a <\/span>Visual Link Graph<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

    This tool is powered by the site spider, which crawls your website and tracks how pages are connected through internal links.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

    It\u2019s literally a visual representation of your site\u2019s internal linking and siloing, which can help identify the relationships between pages and detect any structural issues.<\/span><\/p>

    \"A
    Link Graph in SEOToolSet.<\/figcaption><\/figure>

    The Link Graph is especially useful for:<\/span><\/p>

    • Understanding how link equity (authority) flows within your site.<\/span><\/li>
    • Identifying orphan pages (pages with no internal links pointing to them).<\/span><\/li>
    • Assessing the effectiveness of SEO silos (thematic groupings of content).<\/span><\/li>
    • Spotting overlinked or underlinked pages.<\/span><\/li>
    • Improving crawlability and user navigation.<\/span><\/li> <\/ul>

      Screaming Frog <\/b>crawls websites and gives a thorough <\/span>breakdown of internal links<\/span>, identifies orphaned pages and analyzes anchor text usage.<\/span><\/p>

      Ahrefs\u2019 <\/b>Site Audit tool identifies broken links and provides insights into link distribution. Additionally, Ahrefs offers a<\/span> Link Opportunities feature <\/span>that suggests potential internal linking opportunities based on keyword mentions across your site.<\/span><\/p>

      Then, document your findings. Set up a spreadsheet and track the following:<\/span><\/p>

      • Page URLs with issues (orphaned links, broken links, anchor text issues, etc.).<\/span><\/li>
      • Recommended next steps (for example, \u201clink blog post X to page Y\u201d or \u201creplace broken link to resource Z\u201d).<\/span><\/li>
      • Priority level (high, medium, low) based on traffic and SEO importance.<\/span><\/li> <\/ul>

        Once your audit is done, you\u2019ll have a better picture of what needs fixing, so you can prioritize improvements that make the biggest impact.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

        Related: How do I identify the most impactful internal linking opportunities?<\/i><\/b><\/p>

        2. Define Your Website\u2019s Hierarchy Through Siloing<\/strong><\/h2>

        To strengthen your internal linking strategy, you\u2019ll need to establish a clear and logical website architecture.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

        We refer to this as SEO siloing, and it involves organizing your content into categories that reflect your website\u2019s main topics and their related subtopics.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

        Siloing is about grouping related content into \u201csilos.\u201d Each silo focuses on a main topic and is supported by more specific, related pages.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

        This organization creates a natural flow for internal linking and helps both users and search engines easily navigate your site\u2019s content.<\/span><\/p>

        It also helps your site build topical authority and relevance \u2014 both important to compete in the search results.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

        Here are some steps to get started:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

        1. Conduct keyword research. <\/b>Before defining your site\u2019s hierarchy, perform thorough keyword research to understand what your audience is searching for. This ensures your silos match user intent and search behavior. This, in turn, will enhance relevance and authority in the eyes of search engines. For more, see <\/span>How To Do Keyword Research for SEO<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>
        2. Maintain thematic consistency. <\/b>Ensure each silo focuses on a distinct theme without overlapping with others. This clarity helps search engines determine your site\u2019s subject matter expertise.<\/span><\/li>
        3. Implement physical and virtual siloing. <\/b>We suggest two types of siloing:<\/span><\/li> <\/ol>

          Physical siloing:<\/b> Organizing your website\u2019s directory structure to reflect your content hierarchy. For example, use URLs like <\/span>www.example.com\/power-tools\/ cordless-drills <\/span>to indicate that \u201ccordless drills\u201d is a subcategory under \u201cpower tools.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

          \"A
          Visual example of physical SEO siloing for webpages.<\/figcaption><\/figure>
          • Virtual siloing:<\/b> Using internal linking to connect related content. This reinforces thematic relationships even if the physical directory structure doesn\u2019t support it.<\/span><\/li> <\/ul>

            For more, see <\/span>SEO Siloing: What, Why, How<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>

            3. Use Contextual Links Strategically<\/strong><\/h2>

            Contextual links \u2014 those embedded within your content \u2014 can significantly improve user experience. They provide readers with additional information about the topic you are talking about.<\/span><\/p>

            A contextual link is one like the following in this sentence, which talks about the <\/span>basics of internal links<\/span>. That link is a link someone can click to learn more information.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

            Here are a couple of points to remember about contextual links:<\/span><\/p>

            • Use descriptive, keyword-rich anchor text. <\/b>Instead of generic phrases like \u201cclick here,\u201d use anchor text that clearly describes the linked content. For example, \u201clearn more about our <\/span>fractional CEO services<\/span>.\u201d Incorporate keywords naturally, making sure they fit seamlessly within the sentence to maintain readability.<\/span><\/li> <\/ul>
              • Use absolute \u2014 not relative \u2014 URLs.<\/b> An absolute URL is a URL that includes the full URL address, including protocol (HTTPS), subdomain (if any), domain, path and file name. While relative URLs may be the \u201ceasier\u201d choice in some instances, absolute URLs are easier to maintain in the long run. For more, see <\/span>Absolute vs. Relative URL Linking: What\u2019s the Big Deal, Anyway?<\/span><\/li> <\/ul>

                Strategic use of contextual links will make it easier for users and search engines to connect the dots across your content.<\/span><\/p>

                Related: How do I ensure my contextual links are helping users and search engines equally?<\/i><\/b><\/p>

                4. Get Your 404s in Check<\/strong><\/h2>

                A 404 error occurs when a server can\u2019t find the page requested by a user or search engine.<\/span><\/p>

                While <\/span>Google states<\/span> that 404 errors don\u2019t directly hurt your rankings, their indirect effects \u2014 such as wasted crawl budget and frustrated users \u2014 can harm your site\u2019s overall performance.<\/span><\/p>

                Some of the things you\u2019ll want to do include:<\/span><\/p>

                • Addressing 404s proactively. <\/b>Conduct regular audits using tools like Google Search Console or SEOToolSet to identify 404 errors.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>
                • Implementing 301 redirects: Redirect outdated pages to new, relevant pages to preserve link equity and guide users to the correct content. See <\/span>How to Remove a Webpage<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>
                • Create a custom 404 page. <\/b>A custom 404 page improves user experience by offering options instead of a dead end.\u00a0<\/span><\/li> <\/ul>

                  Addressing 404 errors will keep your site running smoothly while preserving valuable link equity.<\/span><\/p>

                  5. Have XML and HTML Sitemaps<\/strong><\/h2>

                  Sitemaps help search engines and website visitors navigate your website.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

                  An HTML sitemap is a central location for all important links on your website. These are usually organized by categories or topics, and provide a roadmap for visitors to find the information they need.<\/span><\/p>

                  Ultimately, HTML sitemaps can enhance user experience and improve bounce rate.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

                  You can view an example HTML sitemap by checking out our <\/span>sitemap<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>

                  \"The
                  Screenshot of BruceClay.com\u2019s site map.<\/figcaption><\/figure>

                  An XML sitemap, on the other hand, is for search engines. The XML sitemap helps ensure more thorough crawling and indexing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

                  The XML sitemap tells search engines which URLs are available for crawling, when each page was last updated and how important each page is on your site.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

                  For more, see: <\/span>What Is an XML Sitemap and How Do I Make One?<\/span> and <\/span>How to Create a Sitemap (SEO Guide, Step 9)<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

                  Final Thoughts<\/strong><\/h2>

                  When you fix poor internal linking practices, you can improve your site\u2019s structure, boost its SEO performance and provide a better experience for users and search engines alike.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

                  Start with an audit, refine your strategy and help your website reach its full potential.<\/span><\/p>

                  Our SEO experts can work with you to improve your internal linking and SEO silo structure:<\/i><\/b><\/p>

                  Get your free 1:1!<\/p>

                  Quick Solutions<\/strong><\/h3>

                  FAQ: How do contextual internal links contribute to a better user experience and improve SEO performance?<\/strong><\/h3>

                  Links embedded directly into the content of a website serve an important purpose: they make the website easier to navigate.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

                  Users of a website who see links embedded in the text find those links very accessible.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

                  This can serve to reduce bounce rates, and there is some evidence that this serves to increase dwell rates \u2014 an underappreciated metric that can signal to search engines that a website has high-quality content.<\/span><\/p>

                  From an SEO standpoint, contextual internal links serve as a roadmap for search engine crawlers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

                  They tell the bots which pages are the most important and which ones they should not miss, even if those pages are deeper in the site structure.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

                  A side benefit is that those links often are keyword-rich anchors that bots associate with content relevance.<\/span><\/p>

                  These links also help to reinforce subject clusters. When businesses are attempting to showcase their authority, they should interconnect content around principal subjects in a natural manner.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

                  Even so, linking has some challenges. Poorly executed linking can confuse both users and algorithms.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

                  Action Plan<\/strong><\/h4>
                  1. Perform a link structure audit to see how internal links are used across the site.<\/span><\/li>
                  2. Use tools like Screaming Frog to find orphaned or underperforming pages.<\/span><\/li>
                  3. Identify the main pages of the site and the cluster pages that support them.<\/span><\/li>
                  4. Write the thematic segments of content that are centered on user keywords.<\/span><\/li>
                  5. Carry out competitive investigations to identify adequate linking tactics.<\/span><\/li>
                  6. Create a content map that expresses a logical sequencing of ideas.<\/span><\/li>
                  7. Use concise, descriptive and relevant text for links.<\/span><\/li>
                  8. Address specific user concerns when creating context links, such as those to FAQs or headings.<\/span><\/li>
                  9. Via tactical positioning, funnel direct link authority to the pages that are your standout achievers.<\/span><\/li>
                  10. Improve link placement by using navigation heat maps.<\/span><\/li>
                  11. At the paragraph level, ensure the links are relevant.<\/span><\/li>
                  12. Do not unnaturally stuff internal links in very keyword-heavy posts.<\/span><\/li>
                  13. Check every three months to make sure that the links are still working well and to see if there are any links that have gone dead.<\/span><\/li>
                  14. Develop user personas to specify likely curiosity paths.<\/span><\/li>
                  15. After the design stage, examine the interconnected systems to see if they can enhance user interaction.<\/span><\/li>
                  16. Avoid technical conflicts by preventing the duplication of parameters during crawls.<\/span><\/li> <\/ol>

                    Bruce Clay is founder and president of Bruce Clay Inc., a global digital marketing firm providing search engine optimization, pay-per-click, social media marketing, SEO-friendly web architecture, and SEO tools and education. Connect with him on LinkedIn or through the BruceClay.com website. <\/p>

                    See Bruce’s author page for links to connect on social media. <\/p> <\/p><\/div>

                    \"How <\/div> <\/section><\/div>

                    SEO,absolute URL,anchor text optimization,internal linking,SEO siloing,XML sitemapsabsolute URL,anchor text optimization,internal linking,SEO siloing,XML sitemaps#Solve #Poor #Internal #Linking #Practices #Steps1774372111<\/p> ","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                    \u00a0 Internal links satisfy users, make your site more relevant to search, help search engines discover more of your content, distribute PageRank and strengthen ranking pages.\u00a0 For all these reasons, fixing poor internal linking practices can boost your SEO program.\u00a0 In this article, I\u2019ll share five steps to transform your internal linking strategy and set […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5167,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[19132,19133,9100,19134,2617,7406,8838,14905,19135,517,14906],"class_list":["post-5166","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-digital","tag-absolute-url","tag-anchor-text-optimization","tag-internal","tag-internal-linking","tag-linking","tag-poor","tag-practices","tag-seo-siloing","tag-solve","tag-steps","tag-xml-sitemaps"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/longzhuplatform.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5166","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/longzhuplatform.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/longzhuplatform.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/longzhuplatform.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/longzhuplatform.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5166"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/longzhuplatform.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5166\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/longzhuplatform.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5167"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/longzhuplatform.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5166"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/longzhuplatform.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5166"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/longzhuplatform.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5166"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}