Understanding the Power of Internal Links in SEO
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Chapter 1: My Journey in SEO
While I don't consider myself an SEO authority, my experience in website development dates back to 1996. I was part of the coding team for Seth Godin's Squidoo from 2005 to 2013. If you're familiar with Squidoo, you might recall my introduction, "Hello! I am EelKat of Squidoo!" If not, then this reference may not resonate with you.
I've consistently managed to rank my websites on major search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Bing without ever implementing SEO strategies. Surprisingly, it wasn't until May 2023 that I even realized SEO was a practice I should consider. After nearly three decades of building websites, someone suggested I explore SEO and pointed me to the r/SEO subreddit.
Intrigued, especially with my 28-year-old site nearing its 30th anniversary and coinciding with the 50th anniversary of my first published book, I delved into r/SEO to understand what SEO truly entails. The insights I gained were substantial.
One key takeaway was the realization that an overwhelming majority of self-proclaimed SEO "experts" offering advice to new webmasters lack a fundamental understanding of crucial concepts such as Google algorithms, traffic dynamics, robots.txt, Schema, JSON, HTML, lazy loading images, internal linking, and other essential elements that contribute to proper indexing and ranking on Google.
It seems that the predominant message from these so-called experts is: "Backlinks are the solution! Purchase backlinks from me!" In my view, r/SEO has become a breeding ground for scammers eager to exploit unsuspecting newcomers.
Chapter 2: The Reality of SEO Advice
Among the r/SEO community, there are perhaps only a handful of members who truly grasp SEO principles. Whenever one of these knowledgeable individuals shares genuine advice on optimizing a website, their posts often face intense downvotes, sometimes reaching as low as -100. This mob mentality is a common tactic among scammers who aim to suppress authentic guidance.
Today, I stumbled upon a thread in my Reddit feed and decided to contribute my perspective. However, I anticipate that the backlink sellers will attack my response, just as they do with any legitimate answers. Therefore, I'm also sharing my thoughts here on Medium for those seeking reliable information.
My website consistently ranks #1 for over 3,000 primary keywords and maintains positions between 2 and 18 for an additional 17,000 keywords. With monthly traffic reaching between 3 to 7 million readers, each page receives over 10,000 impressions daily.
Despite the backlash I often receive from members of the subreddit, my site outperforms every so-called SEO "expert" there. I achieve greater visibility, higher sales, and more impressions. I've even created pages unrelated to my main content specifically to demonstrate how I can rank any keyword at #1 within hours using just internal links.
The crucial fact remains: effective internal linking is more powerful than any other SEO tactic.
Section 2.1: Putting People First
While some may argue that adding links is unnecessary because they have a search box, this approach is far from user-friendly. The reality is that the vast majority of visitors to your site will overlook the search box, and even those who do notice it are unlikely to use it.
Google prioritizes user interaction, and if visitors aren't navigating your site through manual clicks, it signals to Google that your content isn't valuable. While bots can discover links, people are less motivated to search for them. Most users won't bother using your search box unless they're die-hard fans seeking a specific page.
My website analytics reveal that the average visitor explores between 10 to 13 pages per session, spending anywhere from 10 minutes to 4 hours on each page. Each page contains 20,000 to 75,000 words, akin to a 200 to 250-page paperback, and features no fewer than 100 internal links.
Despite the number of links, I ensure a maximum of 10 links per 1,000 words, with many pages featuring only one link per 1,000 words. My most popular page boasts an impressive 300,000 words.
People enjoy reading and appreciate easy navigation. They prefer clickable links over typing in search queries, which can be frustrating and lead to them leaving your site altogether.
If you want to rank well, prioritize your audience. By neglecting internal links, you're essentially communicating: "I prioritize bots over humans." This mindset will alienate your readers, who can easily discern whether your site caters to them or to search engine algorithms.
Section 2.2: The Importance of Internal Linking
It's essential to recognize that bots take note when users quickly leave your site or fail to engage with links. Everything you've described indicates your site is designed for bots, which is counterproductive to Google's ranking criteria.
To enhance your SEO strategy, focus on your audience's needs. Instead of asking, "What does Google want?" shift your perspective to "What will users do when they arrive on my site?"
It's logical to assume that users are too lazy to search for links or type in queries. Making it simple for them to navigate your site by placing links throughout is crucial.
Consider who your audience is and why they visit your site. Position the ten most sought-after pages in your sidebar, ensuring that each links to at least ten additional pages, and continue this pattern until all 10,000 pages are interconnected. My previous comments detail my approach.
Ranking well isn't complicated; it requires you to think like your audience rather than like a bot. Many SEOs mistakenly adopt a bot's perspective instead of focusing on their readers.
Additional Thoughts
It's disheartening to see so much misinformation circulating, particularly aimed at new webmasters who deserve reliable guidance. Internal links are vital to your site's success, and ignoring them can lead to significant setbacks.
Be cautious of those who promote courses or backlinks, as their motives are often self-serving. They may provide poor advice that can harm your site's performance. Remember, adding keywords or backlinks doesn't equate to effective SEO.
Always be vigilant about whom you trust for SEO advice. Many individuals lack your best interests at heart and are simply trying to profit from your inexperience.
For more insights into my thoughts on SEO, feel free to explore my previous rants on the subject.