10 Signs Your Internal Linking is Killing Your SEO
Diagnose problems before implementing solutions. Spot the warning signs early.
You publish great content, but it's not ranking. You know you need more internal links, but you're stuck on "what to link where."
The problem isn't motivation—it's running out of ideas. You link the same pages together over and over. You know there must be more opportunities, but you can't see them.
So we compiled every internal linking opportunity we've found into one catalog. 50 ideas, organized by category and priority. Never run out of link ideas again.
Hub Pages Ideas (#1-10)
Priority: HIGH - These high-traffic pages should link to your most important content.
1. Link from Homepage to Top 5 Category Pages
Your homepage has the most authority on your site. Don't waste it by only linking to 5 pages in your nav. Link directly to your top category pages from the homepage body or hero sections.
2. Link from Homepage to Best-Performing Blog Posts
Check your analytics. Which posts get the most traffic? Link to them directly from your homepage. This boosts their rankings even higher.
3. Link from About Page to Team Member Bios
Your About page gets more traffic than you think. Link from team member descriptions to their individual bio pages or their author pages.
4. Link from Contact Page to Service Pages
People on your Contact page are interested. Link to your service pages before the contact form: "Learn more about our services before reaching out."
5. Link from Homepage to Case Studies
Social proof drives conversions. Add a "Case Studies" section to your homepage with links to your best work.
6. Link from Homepage to "Start Here" Guide
New visitors don't know where to begin. Create a "Start Here" guide and link it prominently from your homepage.
7. Create a "Resources" Hub Linking to All Tools
If you have tools, templates, or downloads, create a resources page. Link every tool you offer from this central hub.
8. Create a "Topics" Hub Linking to Category Pages
Build a topic hub page that lists all your content categories. Each category name links to its category page.
9. Link from Homepage to Most Popular Product
Don't make users dig for your best seller. Link it directly from your homepage hero or featured section.
10. Link from Homepage to Free Trial/Signup
If you have a free trial or signup form, link it from multiple places on your homepage. Above the fold.
Content Clusters (#11-20)
Priority: HIGH - These build topical authority and help Google understand your site structure.
11. Link Pillar Post to All Cluster Content
Create a comprehensive "pillar" post on a broad topic. Then link to every related article you've written on that topic from the pillar.
12. Link Cluster Posts Back to Pillar Post
Every article in your content cluster should link back to the main pillar post. This tells Google "this is the parent content."
13. Link Related Blog Posts in Series (Part 1, 2, 3...)
If you have a multi-part series, link each part to the next: "Read Part 2," "Continue to Part 3."
14. Link Product Reviews to Comparison Posts
"Product A vs Product B" comparison posts should link to the individual review of each product.
15. Link How-To Posts to Related Tools/Products
Writing "How to do X"? Link to the tools or products that help do X.
16. Link Case Studies to Relevant Services
Every case study should link to the service pages for what was delivered in that case.
17. Link Blog Posts to Relevant Category Pages
Every blog post should link to its parent category page. Usually in a breadcrumb or byline.
18. Link Glossary Terms to Definition Pages
When you mention technical terms, link them to your glossary or definition pages.
19. Link Author Bios to Their Other Posts
In author bio sections, link to "More posts by [Author]" showing their other articles.
20. Link FAQ Answers to Detailed Guides
Short FAQ answers should link to comprehensive guides on that topic. "Learn more in our complete guide."
Download Option
Want This as a Checklist?
We put all 50 ideas into a downloadable PDF with checkboxes. Keep it on your desk for weekly link-building sessions.
Download the 50 Ideas →Free • Printable • Checkbox format
Navigation & Menus (#21-25)
Priority: MEDIUM - These improve user experience and help Google crawl your site.
21. Add Breadcrumb Links on All Pages
Breadcrumbs (Home > Category > Post) show users where they are and create automatic internal links to parent pages.
22. Link Footer to All Main Categories
Your footer should link to every main category page. This ensures every page links to your categories.
23. Add "Related Posts" Section to Blog
At the end of every blog post, show 2-3 related articles. Keep readers on your site longer.
24. Add "You Might Also Like" Section
Similar to related posts, but can include pages beyond just blog posts—tools, resources, case studies.
25. Link from 404 Page to Popular Content
Users hit a 404. Don't just show an error. Link to your most popular content so they don't leave.
Contextual Links (#26-35)
Priority: HIGH - These are the most valuable type of internal link.
26. Link Product Mentions to Product Pages
When you mention a product by name in content, link to its product page. Do this every single time.
27. Link Tool Mentions to Tool Reviews
Mentioning a tool you recommend? Link to your review of that tool.
28. Link Statistic Sources to Original Studies
"According to a study..." Link to that study. Credibility + helpful internal link.
29. Link Expert Quotes to Their Profiles
Quoting an expert? Link to their bio, their website, or their guest author page on your site.
30. Link Concept Mentions to Beginner Guides
Introducing a concept for the first time? Link to your beginner's guide on that topic.
31. Link "Click Here" to Descriptive Anchors
Audit your site. Every time you see "click here" or "learn more," replace it with descriptive anchor text.
32. Link Process Steps to Detailed Tutorials
Explaining a multi-step process? Link each step to a detailed tutorial on how to do that step.
33. Link Problem Statements to Solution Pages
"Here's a problem you're facing..." Link to your solution page or service that solves it.
34. Link Example Mentions to Case Studies
"For example, Company X did this..." Link to the full case study.
35. Link "Learn More" to Deep-Dive Articles
"Want to learn more? Read our deep-dive on [topic]." Link to the comprehensive article.
💡 Pro Tip: Start with Priority 1 ideas (#1-10). These give you the biggest impact for the least effort. Grab the full guide to see our prioritization matrix.
Orphan Page Fixes (#36-40)
Priority: HIGH - Orphan pages can't rank. Fix these immediately.
36. Find Pages with Zero Internal Links and Add at Least 3
Use Google Search Console or a crawler to find pages no one links to. Add 3 internal links to each from related content.
37. Link New Pages to Older Relevant Content
Every time you publish a new page, find 3-5 old pages to link FROM. Point them to your new content.
38. Link Old Evergreen Posts to New Content
Update your old evergreen posts. Add links to your newer content that covers the topic in more depth.
39. Link Archived Content from Relevant New Posts
Have old but still-useful content? Link to it from new posts on the same topic. Don't let good content die.
40. Create Sitemap Page Linking to All Important Pages
Build a human-readable sitemap page (not XML) that lists and links to every important page on your site.
Seasonal & Timely (#41-45)
Priority: LOW - These are situational, but high-impact when relevant.
41. Link Holiday Content from Homepage Seasonally
During holidays, feature your holiday-related content on the homepage. Remove it when the season ends.
42. Link Event Pages from Relevant Blog Posts
Hosting or attending an event? Link to the event page from relevant blog posts.
43. Link Trending Topics from Homepage
Something trending in your industry? Create content and link it from your homepage while it's hot.
44. Link Product Launches from Existing Related Posts
Launching something new? Find your top 5 related posts and add links to the new product.
45. Link Annual Content from Previous Year's Posts
Published "2025 predictions"? Link to your 2024 predictions post. Show the progression.
Miscellaneous (#46-50)
Priority: VARIES - These don't fit neatly into categories but still work.
46. Link from Thank-You Pages to Related Resources
After someone subscribes or buys, they land on a thank-you page. Link to helpful resources or next steps.
47. Link from Checkout to Shipping/Returns Info
E-commerce? Link to shipping info and return policy from checkout. Reduce friction and abandoned carts.
48. Link from Pricing to Comparison Pages
On your pricing page? Link to "Us vs Competitors" comparison pages. Help users make decisions.
49. Link from Testimonials to Case Studies
Have a testimonial that hints at a story? Link "Read the full case study."
50. Link Search Results Pages to Popular Categories
If you have site search, show popular categories at the top of results. Link users to relevant hubs.
Implementation Strategy
Don't try to implement all 50 ideas at once. Here's how to actually make progress:
1. Start with High-Traffic Pages
Check your analytics. Which 10 pages get the most traffic? Start there. You get the most ROI from links on popular pages.
2. The 5-Links-Per-Week Rule
Add 5 internal links per week. That's 250 links per year. Sustainable and manageable. Put it in your calendar.
3. Track in a Spreadsheet
Create a spreadsheet with columns: Source Page, Target Page, Anchor Text, Date Added, Verified. Stay organized.
4. Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Don't link everything to everything. Be strategic.
- Don't use exact match anchors every time. Mix it up.
- Don't add links just to add links. They must be helpful to users.
- Don't forget to check for broken links monthly.
Bonus
Download the Full Implementation Guide
The Complete 50 Internal Link Ideas Package
Get the full list as a downloadable checklist PLUS:
- Implementation priority matrix (which to do first)
- Weekly tracking spreadsheet template
- Example anchor text for each idea type
- 4-email follow-up series with more tips