Published September 10, 2026.
Internal links work best when they continue the reader’s task. A fixed quota can produce links that are technically present but contextually useless.
Map the next decision
After drafting, list the questions a reader could reasonably ask next. Match those questions to existing guides, research, or service pages. Choose destinations that deepen evidence, explain a prerequisite, or support a concrete action.
Write descriptive anchors
Use anchor text that sets an honest expectation for the destination. Avoid generic phrases and avoid forcing the same keyword into every link. The surrounding sentence should explain why the destination is useful now.
Test the public path
After publishing, click each link from the live article. Confirm it reaches the canonical page directly and that the destination still answers the promised question.
Document links added and gaps discovered. A missing destination can inform the content backlog, but it should not justify linking to a weak substitute.