An internal link is any link that connects one page of your site to another page on the same site: the menu, links inside article text, "related posts", and the footer.
What is it good for?#
- For the user: it guides them to the next content they need and keeps them around longer.
- For Google: it finds pages, understands their topical relationships, and sees which page is more important.
- For authority: it passes some of the authority of strong pages to other pages.
Example#
In an article called "How to install WordPress", if a sentence mentions backups, you can link the word "backup" to a complete backup guide. It is like a road sign on a highway: it takes the traveler to the next destination.
Good principles#
- Place links naturally and relevantly, not forced.
- Write descriptive anchor text, not "click here".
- Strengthen important pages with several internal links.
- Don't leave any page "orphaned", meaning with no incoming links.
- Check for broken links.
A common mistake#
Putting dozens of links on one page or repeating the exact same anchor text everywhere. The goal is to guide the reader, not to manipulate.
The difference from a backlink#
An internal link is fully under your control and counts as the cheapest SEO tool.