Internal Linking Strategy for WordPress (Boost SEO Fast)
SEO Boost
Internal Linking Strategy for WordPress (Boost SEO Fast)
Internal linking is one of the most powerful yet underrated SEO strategies. When done correctly, it can significantly improve your Google rankings, enhance user experience, boost indexation, and increase page authority. This guide teaches you the exact internal linking strategy used by top-ranking websites.
1
What Is Internal Linking?
Links that connect pages on the same website.
Internal links are hyperlinks that connect one page of your website to another. They help:
- Google crawl your website faster
- Distribute ranking power (PageRank)
- Improve engagement and reduce bounce rates
- Strengthen topic authority
- Guide users to the right content
Proper internal linking can increase rankings within days — even without backlinks.
2
Why Internal Linking Improves SEO
Google relies on internal links to understand your website.
Internal links are essential for SEO because they help Google determine:
- Which pages are most important
- How topics on your website are related
- Which articles belong in the same category or cluster
- Your website’s structure and hierarchy
Google follows internal links like a map. A strong internal linking system = strong SEO.
3
Create Topic Clusters for Better Relevance
Organize content to strengthen topical authority.
A topic cluster is a group of related articles linked together.
Structure:
- Pillar Article: Broad, in-depth guide
- Cluster Articles: Specific subtopics
- Internal Links: Pillar ↔ Cluster
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Each cluster post links to pillar post
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Pillar links back to all cluster posts
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Clusters link to each other where relevant
This creates a strong topical network that Google loves.
4
Types of Internal Links You Should Use
Mix different kinds of links for maximum SEO.
Internal link types:
- Contextual links: Added inside paragraphs (most important)
- Navigation links: Menus, headers, footers
- Sidebar links: Related posts
- Category links: Group content automatically
- Breadcrumb links: Improve structure & ranking
Contextual links inside the content carry the highest ranking power.
5
Best Practices for Internal Linking
Simple rules for faster SEO results.
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Use descriptive anchor text (not “click here”)
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Add 3–7 internal links per blog post
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Link old articles to new ones
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Link new articles to old ones
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Keep links relevant to topic
Google prefers natural, meaningful internal links.
6
Use RankMath’s Link Suggestions
Automated link recommendations inside WordPress.
RankMath includes a powerful “Link Suggestions” feature.
It helps you:
- Find relevant articles to link
- Add internal links in one click
- Improve your pillar cluster structure
RankMath’s link counter identifies posts with weak internal linking.
7
Find and Fix Orphan Pages
Pages with no links are almost invisible to Google.
An orphan page is a page with zero internal links pointing to it. Google struggles to index and rank these pages.
Find orphan pages using:
- RankMath Link Counter
- Ahrefs Site Audit
- Screaming Frog
Add at least 2–3 internal links pointing to each orphan page.
8
Advanced Internal Linking Techniques
For faster and stronger ranking results.
- Link from top-ranking pages to underperforming ones to pass authority
- Add links in the first 150 words — helps Google understand the topic early
- Use “Related Posts” sections at the end of articles
- Interlink posts in the same category to create topic clusters
These small optimizations create big ranking improvements.
Need a Website with Perfect SEO Structure?
SiteCrafted templates are built with ideal internal linking architecture, schema, and performance settings.
FAQ
Q: How many internal links per post are enough?
3–7 is ideal for most WordPress posts.
Q: Should I open internal links in a new tab?
No. Internal links should stay in the same tab to improve navigation flow.
Q: Can too many internal links hurt SEO?
Only if irrelevant or excessive. Keep links natural and meaningful.
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SiteCrafted Team
We help WordPress users boost rankings with effective SEO and site structure strategies.
