Internal Linking Audits: What to Check and Fix for Better SEO
Discover WebTech | Redefining Possibilities with AI, Smart Apps & Future-Ready Digital Solutions
From Code to Cloud—Building the Future of Digital Innovation.
Why Internal Linking Matters for SEO
Internal links guide both users and search engines. They help distribute page authority (link juice), define site structure, and ensure that important pages are easily accessible. A weak internal linking strategy leads to orphan pages, poor crawl paths, and wasted ranking opportunities.
That’s where an internal linking audit comes in.
Key Elements to Audit
1. Broken Internal Links These harm user experience and SEO. Use tools like Screaming Frog or Ahrefs to identify and fix them.
2. Orphan Pages Pages with no internal links pointing to them are hard for Google to find. Link to them from relevant, high-authority pages.
3. Too Many Links on One Page Overloading a page with links dilutes value and confuses users. Keep links purposeful and relevant.
4. Anchor Text Optimization Avoid generic phrases like “click here.” Use descriptive, keyword-rich anchor text that helps with SEO and clarity.
5. Link Depth Important pages should not be buried several clicks deep. Aim to keep key pages within 3 clicks from the homepage.
Performance Impact (Stat)
According to a study by NinjaOutreach, websites that optimized internal linking saw a 40% increase in organic traffic within 6 months.
Use Case Example
A B2B SaaS company restructured their blog by creating topic clusters and linking subtopics to pillar pages. After the audit and implementation, their organic impressions grew by 32% and their bounce rate dropped by 18%.
Fixing It the Right Way
Final Thoughts
An internal linking audit isn’t just a technical chore—it’s a strategic opportunity to elevate your SEO. Fix what’s broken, restructure what’s unclear, and watch your rankings rise.