Some sources out there may be having you believe nonsense about SEO.
There are quite a few myths about internal linking circling the web.
Here at Team WILO, we want to help you get the most out of your linking for you to see some sustainable growth and success.
So, let’s make like the MythBusters (before they tragically fell out) and bust some internal linking myths!
Myth 1: The More Internal Links, The Better Your SEO
This suggests that the sheer quantity of internal links on a page is directly proportional to improved SEO performance.
In other words, the more links you include, the better your chances of ranking higher in search results.
So, with 5 internal links, you move up 5 ranks.
Reality:
NO.
While internal links are a crucial part of SEO, the myth of “more is better” doesn’t hold up.
In fact, too many links to internal pages can be counterproductive.
It can confuse readers, dilute the authority of your most important pages, and even trigger search engine penalties.
Insights:
The key here is quality over quantity.
Rather than bombarding a page with useless links, focus on giving users a logical pathway between content.
Consider the context and user intent.
Ask yourself whether the link improves the user’s understanding of the topic.
It only takes a few well-placed internal links to improve SEO and user satisfaction.
Myth 2: All Internal Links Should Use The Same Anchor Text
For optimal SEO, every link should use the exact keyword as anchor text.
Right?
WRONG!
Reality:
Having the same anchor text for every link going to the same page is unnatural.
Exact-match anchor text can end up being flagged as manipulative or spammy.
Advice:
Instead of solely relying on keyword-heavy anchor text, switch up your approach.
Use descriptive, contextually relevant text that makes sense compared to what you’re linking to.
You could use our handy plugin, WILO, which will tell you what links are going back to the page and what their anchor text is.
So say bye-bye to duplicates: No one likes a copycat.
Myth 3: Only The Homepage Should Be Linked Internally
Some people mistakenly believe that internal links should primarily direct traffic to the homepage, as it’s the most important page.
Reality:
Yeah, the homepage is essential, but how you link across your site should come first.
Different pages may serve as entry points for users based on their searches.
These pages should also receive internal links.
Strategies:
Assess the significance of each page on your site and make sure they get their cut.
Created a site structure that makes sense helps search engines figure out which pages are the top dogs and which are not.
Myth 4: Internal Links Have No Impact on Page Rankings
So now people think that internal links have no impact at all?
Some people genuinely believe that backlinks are the only ones that truly matter.
Reality:
Internal links are integral to on-page SEO.
But you didn’t need us to tell you that, right?
They create a roadmap for search engines and users alike, making navigation way easier and logical.
Tips:
To make the most of it, strategically share the love.
By this we mean, pages that naturally rank higher have a lot of authority, so link to lesser pages to distribute it.
When there are clear pathways from already established pages, search engines are likely to rank them higher.
Myth 5: Internal Links Can Make Up For Poor Content
If your content is absolute rubbish, apparently a swarm of internal links can magic away your problems.
Reality:
Internal links should add the cherry on top (unless you hate cherries) to your content.
If the quality of your content is lacking to begin with, you can’t really get anywhere.
How to:
Instead of relying on links to hide the cracks in content, focus on creating good copy and content first.
You could do it yourself or you could get someone else to do it for you, you could even try stealing the copywriter of this blog.
Once your content is a bit better, you can then focus on placing links to improve the UX of it all.
Myth 6: You Shouldn’t Link To External Websites Internally
Some people believe that any links should exclusively direct users to your own content and that linking externally is an SEO offence.
Reality:
Linking to an external authoritative source when relevant can actually improve your site’s credibility.
It shows that you’ve done the research and are genuinely committed to offering valuable information.
Strategies:
While it’s best you don’t overdo it, think about including a couple external links if they’ll be useful to the reader.
Use them as references to back up any facts, and make sure the source is reliable.
Myth 7: Internal Links Don’t Need Regular Maintenance
When internal links are placed, you can leave them be.
They don’t need any maintenance.
Reality:
Ay, ay, ay.
Internal links are just URLs, if those URLs change or the pages are deleted you’re left with a lot of broken links.
It’s bad for user experience, and even worse for your SEO performance.
Best Practices:
Audit your site every now and then.
Check for broken links and make sure the link content is still relevant to users.
This not only keeps your site user-friendly, but it also helps maintain its optimisation.
How Does WILO Come Into This?
WILO is a tool that is built solely for internal linking.
Unlike other kitchen sink tools like Yoast and Link Whsiperer, WILO only does internal links, so you can add the plugin to your site even if you already use another SEO plugin, as it adds additional benefits to these other, already great SEO tools.
Whether for your site or if you work in SEO and have just inherited a large WordPress site, WILO helps you see all your internal linking and empowers you to improve or fix it.
The free plugin works on the front end of your website, so you can easily see the following:
- How many internal links the current page has
- The anchor texts of those links
- The number of duplicate links
- The number of duplicate anchor texts
- The link juice being passed (as a percentage)
- The context of the link, not just the anchor text
- If linking pages have too many links
- If there is a reciprocal link
Get our free internal link tool today and start improving your internal links!
