Internal Linking & Improved Website Crawlability

A well-constructed internal linking framework plays a pivotal role in optimizing the crawl efficiency of your website while concurrently bolstering its link equity.

Internal links serve as pathways that connect various pages within your website. By strategically linking crucial pages, you effectively communicate their significance to search engines like Google, thus enhancing their visibility and importance in the vast web ecosystem.

These internal links not only facilitate navigation for users but also provide search engine crawlers with a clear roadmap of your site’s architecture, enabling them to efficiently crawl and index its content. 

This optimization is particularly valuable considering the finite resources allocated to each website’s crawl budget by search engines.

An intelligently structured internal linking system brings forth several tangible benefits:

1. Improved Crawling and Indexing: By highlighting key pages through internal linking, you ensure that search engine crawlers prioritize them during the indexing process. This maximizes the utilization of your website’s crawl budget, ensuring that essential pages are thoroughly explored and indexed.
2. Enhanced Website Structure: Internal links contribute to defining the hierarchical structure of your website, thereby facilitating smoother navigation for both search engine crawlers and the users. Links embedded within main navigation menus, footer sections, or sidebar widgets help delineate the organizational framework of your site.
3. Reduced Crawl Depth: Deeply buried pages within your website hierarchy may suffer from inadequate visibility to search engine crawlers. However, by strategically interlinking such pages with prominent ones, you reduce their crawl depth, making them more accessible and discoverable.
4. Page Authority Distribution: Internal links function as conduits for distributing the authority of your domain across various pages. By linking authoritative or high-traffic pages to others, you effectively bolster the visibility and ranking potential of lesser-known or peripheral pages.
5. Improved User Experience: Thoughtfully curated internal linking not only aids in SEO but also enhances the overall user experience. Clear and logical links, accompanied by breadcrumbs and contextual cues, empower users to navigate your site effortlessly, fostering engagement and satisfaction.
6. Keyword Optimization: Internal links offer a strategic avenue for incorporating targeted keywords as anchor text. By aligning anchor text with relevant keywords, you reinforce the topical relevance and organic ranking potential of linked pages.
7. Decreased Bounce Rate: Relevant internal links serve as signposts that guide users to explore additional content on your site, thereby reducing bounce rates. A lower bounce rate signals to search engines that your website delivers valuable and engaging content, thereby positively impacting its SEO performance.

Discovering internal links to a specific page holds significance across various scenarios, primarily aimed at enhancing the user experience (UX) and maintaining the search engine optimization (SEO) integrity of your website. 

A. Why Seek Internal Links For a Page?

1. Updating After Site Redesign: Following a website redesign, internal links may need updating due to URL changes, page relocations, or structural modifications. Failing to update can lead to broken links, negatively impacting UX and SEO.
2. Boosting Page SEO: A higher link count to a page enhances its authority, aiding quicker ranking for target keywords. Strengthening internal links, particularly from prominent sections like the main menu or blog pages, can expedite ranking in organic search results.
3. Identifying Orphan Content: Pages lacking internal links risk being overlooked by users and search engines, resulting in poor visibility and traffic. Detecting orphan pages enables integration into the website’s structure for improved accessibility.

B. How to Find Internal Links to a Page

1. Utilize Google Search Console:
   • Access the “Links” section and navigate to “Internal Links” to view reports.
   • Export data or use third-party tools like SEOptimer’s internal link checker for comprehensive analysis.
2. Leverage Paid Tools:
   • Tools like Screaming Frog enable thorough website crawls to identify internal links efficiently.
   • Utilize the “Inlinks” tab within Screaming Frog to access a detailed list of internal links to a specific URL.
3. Manual Identification:
   • Inspect a webpage’s HTML code by right-clicking and selecting “View Page Source.”
   • Use the search function (CTRL+F) to locate internal links pointing to the desired URL within the code.

1. Use Google Search Console

Utilizing Google Search Console stands out as a straightforward and cost-free method to unearth internal links residing within your website’s domain. Here’s a detailed guide on how to leverage this tool effectively:

Utilizing Google Search Console

1. Access Your Account:
   • Login to your Google Search Console (GSC) account. If you’re yet to set up an account, you can swiftly register for free.
2. Navigate to the “Links” Section:
   • Upon logging in, direct your attention to the sidebar menu and locate the “Links” section.
3. Internal Links Report:
   • Within the “Links” section, peruse through various reports until you encounter the one specifically labeled “Internal Links.”
4. Explore Internal Links:
   • Delve deeper into the “Internal Links” report by selecting the “More” option. Here, you’ll uncover a comprehensive list of internal links present across your website.
   • The report meticulously outlines each target page along with the corresponding count of internal links pointing to it. Additionally, you have the option to export all gathered data for further analysis.
5. Consider SEOptimer Internal Link Checker:
   • Alternatively, you can harness the prowess of SEOptimer’s free internal link checker tool to swiftly identify internal links within any webpage.
   • This user-friendly SEO software furnishes detailed insights such as link count, link type (internal or external), anchor text, and whether the link is nofollow or dofollow.

2. Use Paid Tools

In addition to free options for identifying internal links, there are several paid tools available that can significantly enhance your SEO efforts.

One such widely recognized tool is Screaming Frog.

Begin by launching Screaming Frog and inputting your website’s homepage URL to initiate a thorough crawl.

Allow the tool to meticulously explore your entire website by selecting the “Start” option.

Upon completion of the crawl, utilize the search feature within Screaming Frog to pinpoint the specific URL for which you wish to uncover internal links.

Navigate to the “Inlinks” tab situated at the bottom of the Screaming Frog interface.

Clicking on the “Inlinks” tab grants you access to a comprehensive compilation of internal links directed towards the designated URL.

3. How to Find Internal Links Manually

To manually locate internal links, follow these steps:

1. Open the webpage you wish to inspect in your browser.
2. Right-click on the page and select the “View Page Source” option.
3. Press CTRL+F to initiate a search within the page source.
4. Enter the URL for which you’re seeking internal links. 
5. The search results will highlight any internal links that point to the specified page within the HTML code of the webpage.

C. Should You Use Internal Link Checker Tools?

Employing internal link checker tools proves invaluable in scrutinizing your website’s linking structure and brainstorming ways to enhance your internal linking strategy. While a plethora of options exist, selecting the most suitable tool hinges on various factors.

Considerations When Choosing an Internal Link Checker Tool

• Information You Require

Different tools serve diverse purposes, necessitating a clear understanding of the information you seek. Do you aim to identify broken links or uncover new internal linking opportunities? Determining your specific needs streamlines the selection process.

• Ease of Use

Evaluate the user-friendliness of prospective tools. Some may pose steep learning curves, while others boast intuitive interfaces. Opt for a tool that aligns with your proficiency level and minimizes the learning curve, ensuring efficient utilization.

• Price Point

Budget considerations play a pivotal role in tool selection. While some plugins offer robust features at a premium, budget-friendly alternatives cater to those with financial constraints. Conduct thorough research to compare features and pricing, ensuring optimal value for your investment.

Price Considerations:

• Free vs. Paid Options: Assess whether a free tool suffices for your needs or if premium features warrant a paid subscription.
• Subscription vs. One-time Purchase: Consider whether you prefer a monthly subscription model or a one-time purchase. Additionally, explore tools offering free trials to assess functionality before committing to a paid plan.

D. Summarizing Internal Linking and Improved Web Crawlability

Internal linking is a crucial aspect of website management and SEO that involves creating links within your website that bind one page to another. 

Proper internal linking helps search engines understand the hierarchy and structure of your website, distribute link equity across your site, and improve the overall user experience. 

However, to maintain the effectiveness of your internal linking strategy, it is essential to regularly check and optimize your internal links.

Suggested read: How to Optimize Single Page Applications (SPA) for Crawling and Indexing

E. Common FAQs on Internal Linking

How often should I use an internal link checker?

It’s recommended to use an internal link checker at least once a month or whenever you make significant updates to your website content or structure.

Can an internal link checker improve my SEO?

Yes, it can improve your SEO by finding and fixing the broken links. An internal link checker helps maintain a good user experience and ensures search engines can readily crawl and index your site, which can boost your SEO.

Are there any free internal link checker tools available?

Yes, there are several free internal link checker tools available, such as Screaming Frog SEO Spider (free version), Google Search Console, and Integrity for Mac users.