Links are a vital aspect of all SEO campaigns. Both internal and external links can contribute different SEO value to your website, and should be used according to best practices to ensure that your website can outperform others. Internal links are important as they assist users in navigating a website, help to spread link equity and establish a hierarchy for webpages. But how many internal links are good for SEO?
As a general rule of thumb, it is beneficial to include around 3-4 internal links for each page of your website, adding a link for approximately every 300 words. Over 100 links on a page can damage user experience and result in poor SEO performance.
Keep reading to find out more about how many internal links are good for SEO, and what the best practices are for a SEO internal linking strategy.
While there is no distinct number that everyone can agree on as the ideal number of internal links to include on a page, it is generally recommended that three to four internal links are included on a page. With more content, this number should increase accordingly, with guidance generally tending to settle on one internal link per 300 words. However, this guidance is highly variable, and it is much more appropriate to consider your unique website on an individual level.
Find out more about the importance of links in our detailed blog.
Of course, this rule should not be followed blindly. After a certain point, internal links can actually be damaging for SEO.
Anything below 100 links on a page should facilitate good user experience and positive SEO results, above this you run the risk of cluttering your page with links, which could make content difficult to read and reflect a poor user experience.
Find out more about user experience in our detailed blog.
So, if at this point you are left feeling as though there is still no tangible answer to the question ‘How Many Internal Links are Good for SEO?’, in this next section we will take a look at how to successfully build an SEO internal linking strategy to help your website out rank your competitors.
As mentioned above, internal links are vital for defining website structure and page hierarchy. A common way to structure a website would be having the homepage at the top of the hierarchy followed by product category pages, with the individual products themselves at the bottom of the structure. By organising your internal links in a logical hierarchy, this makes it easier for both users and web crawlers to navigate and understand the structure of your website.
Find out more about how search engines crawl and index websites in our detailed blog.
Internal links are either structural or contextual. Structural internal links are generally included to aid with navigation to key pages, and are usually included in a website’s main menu or footer. Contextual links are included within the content on a website. To create topic clusters, you can include contextual links that connect related content on your website to help search engines understand your website’s structure and content.
It is likely that certain pages on your website are bringing in more traffic than others. If so, you should concentrate your efforts on improving the internal linking of these pages. This can be done using any analytics tool such as Google Analytics.
While high-traffic pages are important, it is also likely that some pages will have a higher authority. The homepage of a website will typically receive backlinks more often than other pages, which will result in the homepage becoming more authoritative. Using tools such as SEMrush, you can quickly check which pages have higher authority and, again, focus your efforts on those pages to improve the internal linking.
Find out more about backlinks and their importance by reading our detailed blog.
Anchor text is the word or phrase that has a link attached to it. By using anchor text that describes the location that users will be sent to if they click the link, users will be more likely to follow it. This technique will also help search engines to better understand the context of the link.
Particularly useful for blogs, internal links can provide more information on a specific topic whilst keeping users on your website. If you have written a blog that touches on a sub-topic you have written an entire blog on, consider adding a link to that blog in the original content. This will help to keep users engaged and improve the user experience of your website.
Long-tail keywords generally have lower search volumes, and can sometimes prove difficult to integrate into main content. By using internal links for long-tail keywords, you can effectively improve your website’s rankings for specific phrases.
Internal linking is a vital aspect of SEO and, when employed effectively, can result in positive user experience and improved rankings. At Wildcat Digital, we complete site-wide audits at the beginning of every SEO campaign to analyse the current internal linking structure and identify areas for improvement.
Contact us today to find out more about our SEO experts and how we can help you to outrank your competitors.
SEO Executive
Founder
Our founder, Will Hitchmough, worked at a number of high profile Sheffield Digital Agencies before founding Wildcat Digital in 2018. He brings an extensive knowledge of all things related to SEO, PPC and Paid Social, as well as an expert knowledge of digital strategy.
Digital Marketing can be a minefield for many businesses, with many agencies ready to take your money without knowing how to deliver results. I founded Wildcat Digital to deliver digital success to businesses with smaller budgets in a transparent way.
Content Strategist Team Lead
With a degree in Marketing and a background in more traditional, offline marketing, Chloe joined Wildcat in 2021 after deciding to move into the digital marketing industry. She joined us as a Content Specialist and quickly moved up the ranks, becoming a Content Strategist and later an SEO Team Leader.
Outside of work, Chloe is an avid creative. If she’s not knitting, you’ll likely find her behind a sewing machine or in the kitchen trying (and often failing!) to make sourdough.
SEO Account Director
Paul has a strong background in SEO, having previously founded and ran a successful eCommerce business, as well as running a personal blog that achieves an average of 17K users per month. Paul’s knowledge of SEO is extensive, with a strong emphasis on client handling and technical SEO.
Outside of work, Paul enjoys spending time with his family and staying active with weight lifting and combat sports.
Head of Operations
Nadea joined Wildcat in 2021 and has since overhauled the way we work. She has a background in various administrative, operations and HR roles, which gave her the experience and skills needed to lead and organise a growing business.
Outside of work, Nadea loves anything that keeps her active, but she especially enjoys hiking, camping and mountain biking.
Senior SEO Account Manager
With a background in sales, Molly is a natural Account Manager, brilliantly handling any issues that come her way. Having joined us as a Digital Marketing Executive, and working part-time through her final year of University, Molly is a shining example of how hard work pays off. She is now an SEO Account Manager with a particular interest in Content and Client Management.
In her spare time, Molly loves to get out in nature, hiking and exploring the Peak District. She also loves cooking and likes to unwind with a bit of yoga.
PPC Team Leader
Libby joined Wildcat in 2021 as our first PPC hire. With a degree in Digital Media Production, a Master’s in Digital Media Management and previous experience in Social Media Management, Libby hit the ground running and has since climbed the ranks to Senior PPC Account Manager and has a particular interest in the eCommerce sector.
Outside of work, Libby likes gaming, and cooking and likes to keep active by lifting weights.
SEO Account Manager
Jasmine joined Wildcat in 2022 with a strong background in SEO and Account Management. At the time, she was finishing up a Level 4 Apprenticeship in Digital Marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing, and has since worked her way up to SEO Account Manager. Jasmine excels at content writing and promotion, and particularly enjoys finding creative ways to join the dots on multi-channel campaigns.
In her spare time, Jasmine volunteers at a charity, helping combat loneliness & social isolation experienced by older neighbours. Outside of Wildcat, she owns a catering company, Savery Grazing, creating delicious grazing tables & platters for a range of events. She also loves skiing and exploring the Peak District.
Senior PPC Executive
Prior to joining Wildcat, Braden founded and ran his own Social Media Management agency where he gained valuable skills in growing brands’ online presence, which has since proven invaluable in his role at Wildcat.
Outside of work, Braden is a big football fan, regularly travelling to Pride Park to support Derby County. He also enjoys watching and playing snooker, hiking in the Peak District, and attending air and car shows.
Senior SEO Executive
After spending ten years managing businesses, restaurants, cafes and event spaces across Sheffield, Jon decided to change careers and joined Wildcat as an SEO Executive in 2022. He especially enjoys the client management side of the job, helping them to understand digital marketing and ways in which they can build their business’s presence online.
Outside of work, Jon likes to keep fit with running, badminton and football, and also loves music.
Senior SEO Executive
Rachel joined us as a graduate, having recently graduated from Sheffield University with a degree in English Literature. Since joining, Rachel has proven herself to be a Content Queen, and particularly enjoys getting stuck into projects that allow her to explore her creative side.
Outside of work, Rachel enjoys a wide range of hobbies, including rugby, singing, reading, and spending time with her family and three labradors.
Team Lead & Technical SEO Account Manager
With a degree in Computer Science and SEO experience dating back to 2017, Dariusz has a wide range of SEO skills and knowledge. His specialist knowledge of Technical SEO has firmly landed him the title of Wildcat’s Technical Wizard, and he has recently taken on the responsibility of Team Leader for the Panthers Team.
In his spare time, Dariusz loves hiking, experimenting and trying new coffees and loves learning new things. He is currently learning more about CRO and AI and how this could benefit our clients.
Senior SEO Account Manager
With a degree in Film and TV production, and a varied career history, Jamie made the move to marketing with a Masters degree in Digital Media Management. He has since worked in SEO at Agencies across Sheffield, before joining Wildcat and working his way up to SEO Account Manager. Jamie has a particular interest in backlinks and Digital PR and has recently gained a client a valuable backlink from Forbes!
In his spare time, Jamie is an avid foodie and loves trying new restaurants and cuisines. He also loves to travel and spent a year travelling to Australia after university.
SEO Executive
Andy joined Wildcat in 2023 after starting his digital marketing career in-house for a local Sheffield company. Since joining, he has developed a strong interest in Technical SEO and has strong skills in Account Management.
Outside of work, Andy loves music and plays in a couple of bands. He also enjoys rock climbing, cycling, photography and good food.
Client Success Coordinator
Siena joined us in 2023 with a background in sales and digital marketing. She leads on client relationships across the company, ensuring that our customers are happy throughout their journey with us, from their initial consultation through to onboarding and beyond.
Outside of work, Siena enjoys travelling and getting stuck into the local culture. She likes to make the most of her experiences and particularly enjoys watching sunrises and sunsets from beautiful locations around the world.
Senior SEO Executive
Thea has a wealth of experience in SEO, having previously worked for other Digital Marketing Agencies in Sheffield. She has a particular interest and skills in Technical SEO, but is more than willing to get stuck in and give anything a go.
Outside of work, Thea spends most of her time with her children, but also loves reading, photography and gardening.
PPC Executive
Before joining Wildcat, Tom worked across different industries, building skills in sales and customer service. He later developed a passion for digital marketing whilst working on personal marketing projects and freelance ventures, and gained numerous certifications in PPC and Social Media.
Outside of work, Tom enjoys staying active by going to the gym and hiking. He also loves travelling and motorbiking.
Head of Growth
Rich joined us in May 2024 to head up our growth team. With years of experience helping other agencies to grow, Rich joins us at an exciting time as Wildcat is working on a five-year plan to become one of the biggest agencies in the UK.
Outside of work, Rich is a father to three children, which keeps him very busy! He’s also recently started running again to keep fit and loves a bit of DIY.
SEO Executive
Kezia joined us in July 2024 after completing a CIM Certificate in Digital Marketing and gaining experience in Content SEO at another Sheffield agency.
In her spare time, Kezia loves to get outdoors, bouldering, hiking and travelling.
SEO Executive
Amy joined Wildcat in 2024 with a background in journalism, having worked as a News Editor and Editor-in-Chief at The Sheffield Tab. She is naturally interested in Content SEO and research, so will no doubt prove to be a content power-house.
In her spare time, Amy loves watching crime shows, listening to music and hanging out with her dog, Eddie!
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