Internal Linking vs Site Navigation: What Is The Difference?

When it comes to optimizing a site for SEO and user experience, two main components are internal linking and site navigation. Although they sound alike, they have different functions in improving the structure, usability, and search engine rankings.

In this blog post, we break down the major differences between internal linking and site navigation, why each is essential, and best practices to leverage both. And by the end of this blog, you will know exactly what these two elements are and how you can implement them for better SEO results as well as site performance.

What Is Internal Linking?

What Is Internal Linking

Internal linking is the linking of one hyperlink to another on the same site. They enable both users and search engines to zippity zippity zapp from one piece of content to the next, which enhances the user experience as well as search engine optimization (SEO).

If you’re reading an article about SEO strategies, and halfway through you see a link that takes you to another post about the importance of keyword research, that is internal linking in action.

Importance of Internal Links for SEO

Our experts found that internal link is important in SEO strategy for a few reasons:

  • Distributes Page Authority: Internal links help distribute page authority and promote link equity (also called “link juice”) between the different pages of a website, which can improve their search engine rankings.
  • Improves User Experience: Breadcrumbs allows visitors to track their way, enabling them to find relevant content while discouraging them for leaving the page.
  • Assist Search Engine Crawlers: Google utilizes internal linking to comprehend the architecture of a site and locate new pages found on it faster.
  • Enhances Content Strategy: Internal links connect related content in a logical flow, bringing structure and topical relevance.

Internal vs. External Links

External links

In this regard, we should make a clear distinction between internal and external links.

  • Internal linking refers to the connection between page(s) that are on the same website.
  • External links bring you to other sites from the home website.

Both are very important when it comes to SEO, but you have direct control over internal links, and you can direct both users and search engines through your site.

What Is Site Navigation?

What Is Site Navigation

Navigation on a website means the way the site has been structured, consisting of different menus and categories, taking the user from one page to another on the site without any effort. Whereas internal linking is found within content, site navigation is typically built into the design of a website and includes:

  • Main Menu: It is found at the top of the website and directs users to primary pages.
  • Footer Links: Additional navigation links found at the bottom of the website.
  • Sidebar Menus: Used most often in blogs or e-commerce sites for quick category navigation.
  • Breadcrumbs: Navigational aids that show user location in the site hierarchy.

Differences Between Internal Linking and Site Navigation

Feature Internal Linking Site Navigation
Purpose Connects related pages within content Give structure navigation for users
Placement Found in blog, articles, product pages Found in menus, footers, sidebars, and breadcrumbs
SEO Impact Distributes link equity, improves rankings Help crawlers to understand the website in a better way
User Experience Improve user-engagement Give easy access to key sections
Customization Flexible and contextual Predefined and structural

Best Practices for Internal Linking

Here are best practices of internal linking to follow to maximize its impact:

Use Descriptive Anchor Text

Avoid generic phrases like “click here” and use informative anchor text like “read more on internal linking SEO.” Which allows you to better understand the content of the links on the page and improve clarity for search engines.

Link to High-Value Pages

Consider linking to pages that give meaningful content or cause conversions. For instance, a blog post connected to a service page can boost engagement and sales.

Maintain A Balanced Internal Linking Strategy

Over time, our specialists have learned that the richer guidance can devalue the hyperlink. General rule of thumb is to add 2-5 interlinks for every 1000 words.

Use Internal Linking Tools

There are a few internal linking tools that can make this easier, such as:

  • Yoast SEO (WordPress Internal Links Tool) — Provides suggestions for internal linking.
  • Ahrefs & SEMrush – Assists to study internal linking structure.
  • Search Console – Spot internal linking issues.

What is Internal Linking in HTML

For manual internal linking, you could implement an HTML internal link via:

<a href="https://yourwebsite.com/internal-link">Anchor Text</a>

This method is beneficial for developers and anyone who edits WordPress internal links manually.

Common Internal Linking Mistakes To Avoid

  • Too Many Internal Links: If you have too many links for the user to look at, the use will go down significantly.
  • Using Vague Anchor Text :Always use descriptive, keyword-rich anchor text
  • Not Fixing Broken Links:Conduct regular audits and repair broken internal links.
  • Not updating old content: Add new internal links to keep older pages fresh.

Conclusion

Internal linking and site navigation are crucial for SEO and user experience, but both serve different roles. Site navigation will provide the method for users to explore a website in an organized manner, while internal linking improves content link, also helps legitimate website SEO.

Proper internal linking combined with good on-site navigation allows you to build a website that is architecture friendly both for your website visitors and search engine crawlers.

The good news is that they can be improved, and so can your internal linking strategy. Auditing your existing links and optimizing them is the first step for better SEO results.

FAQs About Internal Linking and Site Navigation

Q. How Many Internal Links on a Page for SEO?

There is no magic number, but Google does state to have a sensible number of internal links. A common guideline is:

  • 3-5 internal links for brief articles (500-700 words).
  • You should include about 5-10 internal links in medium articles (1000-1500 words).
  • In-depth guides (2000+ words): 10-15 internal links.
Q. How to Build Internal Links for SEO?

To build internal links effectively for SEO, follow these key strategies:

  • Publish High-Quality Content – The more valuable content you have, the more the chances of internal linking.
  • Logical Linking Structure – Linking broad topics to more specific content forms a hierarchy.
  • Link to New Content from Old Pages – Update existing blog posts and interlink them to new pages if they’re relevant to one another.
  • Mobile-Friendly – Make sure internal links are easy to click on mobile.
Q. Why are internal links important for SEO?

Internal links are important for SEO because they help distribute link equity, improve page rankings, and enhance website structure for search engines. They also improve user experience by guiding visitors to relevant content, increasing engagement and reducing bounce rates.

Q. How to View Internal Links on WordPress?
  • Yoast SEO Plugin: It gives suggestions for internal linking.
  • Google Search Console: Analyses internal linking and critics.
  • Broken Link Checker Plugin: Identifies broken internal and external links.

It’s important to conduct regular audits of your internal links to ensure that your site continues to be user-friendly and is optimized for search engines.

Q. How to Fix Broken Internal Links?

User experience and SEO suffer from broken links. Find and fix broken internal links using a tool like Google Search Console or Screaming Frog SEO Spider.