Internal Linking Planner: Strengthen Your Site Architecture
Internal linking is one of the most underutilized SEO tactics. A strong internal linking strategy distributes page authority, helps search engines understand your site structure, and keeps users engaged longer.
Analyze a set of website pages and create a strategic internal linking plan that strengthens topical authority, distributes page authority efficiently, improves crawlability, and guides users through logical content journeys.
INTERNAL LINKING STRATEGY FRAMEWORK:
1. Content Inventory and Topical Mapping
- Review all provided URLs/page topics and categorize each page by its primary topic and content type (pillar page, supporting article, product page, category page, resource page)
- Group pages into topical clusters where each cluster shares a common theme
- Identify which page in each cluster should serve as the hub (pillar) page based on topical breadth and authority potential
- Name each topical cluster clearly and list all member pages
- Flag any topics that have only one page (potential content gaps)
2. Hub and Spoke Architecture Design
- For each topical cluster, define the hub-and-spoke linking structure:
* Hub page links out to every spoke page in its cluster
* Every spoke page links back to the hub page
* Closely related spoke pages link to each other (lateral links)
- Ensure hub pages are broad, comprehensive resources that naturally support linking to more specific subtopics
- Recommend any new hub pages that need to be created to anchor orphan clusters
3. Anchor Text Strategy
- For every recommended link, provide the exact anchor text to use
- Anchor text rules:
* Use descriptive, keyword-rich anchor text that accurately describes the destination page
* Vary anchor text across different links pointing to the same page (avoid exact-match repetition)
* Never use generic anchors like "click here," "read more," or "learn more"
* Keep anchor text between 2-6 words for optimal SEO value
* Include the destination page's primary keyword in at least one anchor pointing to it
- Provide 2-3 anchor text variations for each link so the implementation team has options
4. Orphan Page Detection
- Identify any pages from the provided list that have zero or very few internal links pointing to them
- For each orphan page, recommend at least 3 specific pages that should link to it, with suggested anchor text and placement context
- Prioritize connecting orphan pages to topically relevant hub pages first
- Flag any pages that may be orphaned due to being off-topic from existing clusters
5. Link Placement Guidance
- For each recommended link, specify where in the content it should be placed:
* In-content contextual link (within a paragraph -- most valuable)
* Section cross-reference (e.g., "Related: [anchor]")
* Navigation or sidebar link
* Footer or resource section link
- Prioritize in-content contextual links as they carry the most SEO weight
- Suggest specific paragraphs or sections where the link fits naturally
- Recommend link density guidelines: aim for 3-5 internal links per 1,000 words of content
6. Link Priority and Authority Flow
- Identify the highest-authority pages on the site (homepage, top-traffic pages, most-linked pages)
- Map how link equity should flow from these high-authority pages down to important but under-performing pages
- Recommend strategic links from high-authority pages to priority target pages
- Flag any link equity bottlenecks (important pages buried 4+ clicks from the homepage)
OUTPUT CONSTRAINTS:
- Every recommended link must include: source page, destination page, anchor text, and placement type
- Provide at least 2 anchor text variations per link
- Identify a minimum of 3 internal links per page in the inventory
- Flag all orphan pages with specific remediation steps
- Group recommendations by topical cluster for easy implementation
- Prioritize links by impact: HIGH (authority flow + topical relevance), MEDIUM (topical relevance), LOW (navigational convenience)
FORMAT:
**TOPICAL CLUSTER MAP:**
Cluster 1: [Cluster Name]
- Hub Page: [URL/title]
- Spoke Pages: [list]
[Repeat for each cluster]
**ORPHAN PAGES IDENTIFIED:**
| Page | Issue | Recommended Fix |
|------|-------|-----------------|
**INTERNAL LINKING MATRIX:**
| Source Page | Destination Page | Anchor Text Options | Placement Type | Priority |
|-------------|-----------------|---------------------|----------------|----------|
**AUTHORITY FLOW RECOMMENDATIONS:**
[Diagram or structured description of how link equity should flow from top pages down]
**IMPLEMENTATION CHECKLIST:**
- [ ] Phase 1: Connect all orphan pages (list specific actions)
- [ ] Phase 2: Build hub-to-spoke links for each cluster
- [ ] Phase 3: Add lateral links between related spoke pages
- [ ] Phase 4: Add strategic authority-flow links from top pages
**CONTENT GAP ALERTS:**
[List any new pages that should be created to complete topical clusters]
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MY INFO:
List of Page URLs or Page Topics: (required)
Site URL: (required)
Primary Business Goal (leads, sales, signups, traffic): (optional)
Highest Priority Pages to Boost: (optional)
Known High-Authority Pages: (optional)
Current Site Structure Description: (optional)
CMS Platform: (optional)
What This Prompt Does
Analyzes your pages and creates a complete internal linking plan including hub pages, topical clusters, anchor text suggestions, and orphan page identification.
Key Benefits
- Distribute link equity to important pages
- Help Google discover and index new content
- Reduce bounce rate by guiding users to related content
- Establish topical authority through content clusters
Best Practices
- Use descriptive anchor text with relevant keywords
- Link from high-authority pages to new or important content
- Create hub pages that link to all content in a topic cluster
- Fix orphan pages (pages with no internal links)
Build your internal linking strategy now with this free prompt.