Published September 9, 2026.
An internal link is more than an anchor phrase. The sentence around it tells readers why the destination is worth opening and helps editors detect links added only to satisfy a quota.
Read the sentence without the link
It should still make a coherent claim. If the sentence exists solely to carry an anchor, rewrite it around the reader’s next question or remove it.
Predict the destination
Before clicking, say what you expect to find. Then open the target and compare. The page family, topic, and level of detail should match that expectation. Replace links that redirect, duplicate the current page, or lead to a broader hub when a precise guide is available.
Check concentration
Scan the full article for repeated anchors and clusters of links in one paragraph. Spread genuinely useful paths through the reading journey, but do not force distribution when only one section needs supporting detail.
Log changed links with their source and destination URLs. That small record makes later pruning safer and lets a daily operator distinguish deliberate editorial links from inherited template navigation.
