Internal linking workflow

Build an internal linking workflow before adding links

Internal linking works best when each link has a destination, a reader job, a source-page reason, and a result you can check after shipping. Use this workflow to turn existing pages into clear next steps.

Choose the destination first

Start with the page that should receive more qualified visitors. It might be a template, worksheet, checklist, comparison page, service page, or guide that answers the reader's next question.

Name the destination page and the action it supports.
Write the reader problem that should lead to this page.
Decide which event, click, or saved artifact will show that the path helped.

Sort source pages by reader readiness

Not every related page deserves a link. Prioritize pages where the reader is already close to the destination's task.

High readiness

The source page names the same task, shows a prerequisite, or explains the problem the destination solves.

Medium readiness

The source page covers an adjacent workflow and needs a short bridge sentence before the link feels natural.

Low readiness

The source page only shares a broad topic. Rewrite the section or skip the link until there is a real reader need.

Use one anchor promise per placement

Write anchors that tell the reader what they can do next. Avoid stuffing the same phrase into every paragraph; the placement should explain why the link belongs there.

Use "copy the internal link worksheet" when the destination is a worksheet.
Use "run the launch checklist" when the destination verifies a shipped change.
Use "draft the SEO brief" when the destination helps assign or write the page.

Copy the workflow

Use this as a lightweight handoff before editing source pages.

# Internal linking workflow: [destination page]

Destination URL: [page that needs qualified readers]
Reader job: [what the visitor can do there]
Source page candidates:
- [source URL] - readiness: high / medium / low - reason: [reader need]
- [source URL] - readiness: high / medium / low - reason: [reader need]
Anchor promise: [specific next task]
Placement: [intro, step, example, next-action panel, footer]
Ship check: [link added, no broken links, canonical URL unchanged]
Result check: [follow-up click, worksheet start, checklist start, scroll depth, return visit]
Next action: keep / rewrite anchor / move placement / remove

Filled example

# Internal linking workflow: internal link opportunity worksheet

Destination URL: /tools/internal-link-opportunity-worksheet.html
Reader job: save source pages, destination pages, anchors, and checks before editing links
Source page candidates:
- /guides/internal-linking.html - readiness: high - reason: reader is mapping discovery paths
- /guides/technical-seo-audit.html - readiness: medium - reason: reader needs a follow-up after finding thin discovery paths
- /tools/seo-brief-template.html - readiness: medium - reason: page plan needs internal links before launch
Anchor promise: map internal link opportunities in a worksheet
Placement: next-action panel after the method section
Ship check: link resolves, anchor is specific, page remains crawlable
Result check: worksheet starts, checklist starts, and return visits
Next action: keep if worksheet starts grow; rewrite anchor if clicks stay flat