Published September 8, 2026.
An internal link earns its place when it moves the reader to a useful next step. A small scorecard helps editors choose that destination consistently.
Score the destination
Give one point each when the target answers the next likely question, matches the anchor's meaning, is canonical and live, and adds depth not already present on the page. Give zero when the connection depends only on a shared keyword.
Review the anchor in context
Read the sentence without the link. It should remain natural, and the linked words should preview the destination accurately. Avoid strings of links, repeated exact-match anchors, or anchors such as “click here” that hide the topic.
Log weak gaps
If no existing page scores well, record the missing reader need rather than forcing a link. The gap can inform a future brief, but it should not automatically become a publishing commitment.
After release, request both source and destination, then confirm that the link is present in rendered HTML. The score guides editorial relevance; it does not predict ranking impact.