What Are Internal Links
Internal links are links on a webpage that direct the user to another page within the same website. These links are used to help users navigate the website, find the information they are looking for, and understand the structure and hierarchy of the website. Internal links are often used in the main navigation menu, in the footer, and within the content of a webpage.
Here is an example of HTML code for an internal link:
<a href="https://www.axattechnologies.com/about-axat">About AXAT</a>
In this example, the link is pointing to the "About AXAT" page on the same website (axattechnologies.com) and the link text or anchor text is "About AXAT".
The <a> element is the HTML tag used to create a link, and the href attribute is used to specify the URL that the link should point to. In this case, the link is pointing to the "https://www.axattechnologies.com/about-axat" page.
You can also use internal linking using ID, for example:
<a href="#about">About AXAT</a>
In this example, the link is pointing to an ID "about" on the same page and the link text or anchor text is "About AXAT"
How are Internal links different from external links?
An external link is a link on a webpage that directs the user to a different website. These links are used to provide additional information or resources to users and to connect related websites.
The main difference between internal and external links is their purpose and destination; internal links are used to navigate within the same website while external links are used to connect to different websites. Internal links are also useful for search engine optimization and distributing the ranking power of a website, while external links can also help build the reputation of a website.
Are Internal Links Important For SEO?
Internal links are important for search engine optimization (SEO) because they help search engines understand the structure and organization of a website. By using descriptive and relevant anchor text, and creating a logical and user-friendly linking structure, internal links can help distribute page authority and ranking power throughout a website, which can help boost the rankings of individual pages. They also help search engines to discover new pages on a website, and to understand the context in which a page is being linked to.
SEO-friendly site architecture with internal links
SEO-friendly site architecture with internal links is a way of organizing the structure of a website in a way that makes it easy for both users and search engines to navigate and understand. This can be achieved by using a clear and consistent hierarchy, using descriptive and relevant anchor text, and creating a logical and user-friendly linking structure.
Clear and consistent hierarchy: Organizing the website into categories and subcategories, using a clear and consistent naming convention for URLs, and ensuring that the main pages of the website are easily accessible from the homepage.
Descriptive and relevant anchor text: Using anchor text that accurately describes the content of the linked page, and making sure that the anchor text is relevant to the content of the linking page.
Logical and user-friendly linking structure: Creating a linking structure that is easy for users to understand and navigate, with links from the homepage to the main categories of the website, and links from those categories to subcategories and individual pages.
Use of breadcrumb navigation: Using breadcrumb navigation to show the user their current location within the website and to provide an easy way to navigate back to the main sections of the site.
By using these techniques, the website can be optimized for both users and search engines, making it easy for users to find the information they are looking for and for search engines to understand the structure and hierarchy of the website, improving its visibility in search results.
Final Thoughts
Internal links play an important role in SEO as they help to create a better user experience and help search engines understand the relevance, importance, and value of a webpage and to determine its ranking in search results. Implementing a well-structured internal linking strategy can help to improve the visibility and ranking of a website in search engine results.