How to use Internal Links to Boost Google Rankings

Summary

This video script discusses the value of internal linking for boosting organic rankings on Google. It introduces the 'middleman method' to build authority on a page and then link to 'money pages'. Key to success are backlinks to the linking page, ensuring the linked page matches searcher intent, and choosing achievable competitors. The script outlines strategies to find internal link opportunities and emphasizes the importance of tracking keyword rankings to measure the impact of internal linking efforts.

Takeaways

• 🔗 The value of a backlink is often proportional to its difficulty in acquisition, but sometimes internal linking can be just as effective for boosting search rankings with a 100% success rate.
• 📈 Internal linking has been intentionally utilized over the past year, showing positive results in increasing organic traffic to the site.
• 🔑 Three key ingredients are essential for a successful internal linking strategy: backlinks to the linking page, matching searcher intent, and choosing the right competitors to outrank.
• 🌐 The 'middleman method' is introduced as an effective internal linking technique to build 'authority' on a page and subsequently boost the rankings of linked 'money pages'.
• ⚡ Backlinks are crucial for fueling a page's authority or PageRank, which can then be passed on to URLs the page links to, enhancing their rankings.
• 🎯 Ensuring that the linked page matches the searcher's intent is vital, as Google aims to provide the most relevant results for any given query.
• 💪 Identifying and competing against the right set of competitors is important; new websites should target pages with similar authority levels rather than those with significantly more backlinks.
• 📝 Creating a list of important pages on your site that have high business value and traffic potential, but are not currently ranking in the top position, is the first step in finding internal link opportunities.
• 🔍 Utilizing tools like Ahrefs' Site Explorer and Webmaster Tools can help identify pages that can benefit from internal linking and analyze competition.
• 🔎 Finding relevant pages to link from can be done through site searches, Ahrefs' Site Audit, and the Best by Links report, focusing on pages with PageRank to pass and relevance to the target page.
• 🛍️ Internal links not only pass PageRank but also improve user experience by providing visitors with relevant resources, which can be particularly useful for e-commerce sites.
• 📊 Tracking keywords in a rank tracking tool is essential to measure the effectiveness of internal links and make informed decisions about future SEO strategies.

Q & A

What is the value of obtaining a backlink according to the transcript?

The transcript suggests that obtaining a backlink is valuable because it can boost a page's authority or PageRank, which in turn can help improve its rankings in Google.

What is the success rate of internal linking mentioned in the script?

The script states that internal linking has a 100% success rate in boosting organic traffic to a site.

What are the three key ingredients necessary for a successful internal linking strategy as per the transcript?

The three key ingredients are backlinks to the linking page, ensuring the linked page matches searcher intent, and having competitors that you can actually compete against.

What is the 'middleman method' in the context of internal linking?

The 'middleman method' is a technique where you get lots of links to a page to build its 'authority', and then add internal links to money pages on this authoritative page to effectively boost their Google rankings.

How does a page with quality backlinks help in boosting rankings of other pages?

A page with quality backlinks has a higher PageRank, which allows it to pass a portion of its PageRank to the URLs it links to, potentially boosting their rankings.

What is 'searcher intent' and why is it important for Google rankings?

Searcher intent refers to the purpose or need of a person making a search query. It's important for Google rankings because Google aims to provide the most relevant results, so a page must satisfy the intent of a person clicking on it to rank well.

How can you identify pages on your site that are important and have high business value?

You can identify important pages by creating a list of pages that have a balance of high business value and good traffic potential, particularly those not currently ranking in the top position.

What tool can be used to find pages on your site that can benefit from a boost in rankings?

Ahrefs' Site Explorer with a paid or free Webmaster Tools account can be used to find such pages by analyzing the Organic Keywords report.

How can you find relevant pages to link from within your site?

You can find relevant pages to link from by using a site search in Google, Ahrefs' Site Audit, or the Best by Links report in Ahrefs' Site Explorer.

What is the role of internal links in improving user experience on a website?

Internal links can improve user experience by providing visitors with relevant resources they might want to read more about, such as linking to seasonal category and product pages from an ecommerce store's homepage.

Why is it important to track your keywords in a rank tracking tool when implementing internal links?

Tracking keywords in a rank tracking tool is important to determine whether the internal links are helping improve rankings, allowing you to monitor the effectiveness of your SEO strategy over time.

What is the potential impact of a content update on a page's rankings compared to internal links alone?

A content update may have a bigger impact on a page's rankings compared to internal links alone, especially if the content has not been updated for a while, as it can better match the current searcher intent and needs.