What Is an Internal Link?
An internal link is a link on a website that sends you to another page on the same website. When you click a word, button, or image and it opens a new page on that same site, that is an internal link.
For example, if you are on a blog and you click a link that says “Read more about this topic” and it opens another article on the same blog, that is an internal link.
Definition
In simple SEO words, an internal link is a hyperlink that connects one page of a website to another page on that same website. It uses a clickable part, usually a text called anchor text, and a URL that points to another page inside the same site.
Why Internal Links Matter
Internal links are important for several reasons:
- Help visitors find content Internal links guide people to related pages so they can learn more without getting lost.
- Show what is important Pages that get more internal links usually look more important to search engines.
- Improve SEO Internal links help search engines crawl and understand your site, which can help pages rank better.
- Keep people on your site longer Good internal links give visitors more useful pages to visit, so they stay longer.
How Internal Links Work
Each internal link has two main parts:
- Anchor text The visible, clickable text, for example “best running shoes”.
- URL The address of another page on the same website, for example
https://example.com/running-shoes.
When you click the anchor text, your browser follows the URL and opens the new page. Search engines also follow these links to discover new pages and to learn how your pages are connected.
Internal Links vs External Links
Internal links are not the same as external links.
- Internal link Goes from one page to another page on the same website.
- External link Goes from a page on your website to a page on a different website.
Both types can help users, but internal links mainly shape your own site structure, while external links connect your site to other sites.
Example of an Internal Link
Imagine a website about pets with two pages:
- Page 1 “How to Care for Dogs”
- Page 2 “Best Dog Food Guide”
On the “How to Care for Dogs” page, there is a sentence:
“To learn what to feed your dog, read our Best Dog Food Guide.”
The text “Best Dog Food Guide” is an internal link that takes you to Page 2 on the same website.
FAQs
What is anchor text in an internal link
Anchor text is the clickable text of the link. It should describe what the page is about, for example “learn SEO basics” instead of “click here”.
How many internal links should a page have
There is no fixed number. A page should have enough useful internal links to help readers and search engines, but not so many that it looks messy or confusing.
Do internal links help SEO
Yes. Internal links help search engines find and understand pages, and they pass link value from strong pages to other pages on your site.
Can I link to the same page more than once
Yes, you can, but only when it is helpful. Use clear and different anchor text where it makes sense for the reader.
Where should I put internal links
You can add internal links in your main menu, footer, sidebars, and inside the text of your pages and blog posts. The most powerful links are often inside the main content.
