Internal Link Mapping SOP and Template

This SOP and template covers how to map and implement internal links across a local site. Internal links connect pages and distribute relevance; a deliberate map prevents orphans and broken links. See Internal Linking Audit Checklist for the audit process.

Objective

Produce a documented internal-link map that defines which pages link to which, with anchor text guidance, and implement it without broken links or orphan pages.

Procedure

1. 1Inventory all pages

   List every indexable page: homepage, service pages, location pages, blog posts, cornerstone guides.

2. 2Define the hierarchy

   Map the hierarchy: homepage → category hubs → cornerstones → supporting articles. Each page should link up to its parent and down to children.

3. 3Identify contextual links

   For each page, identify 2–5 contextual links to related pages. Use descriptive, varied anchor text.

4. 4Document the map

   Record the map in a spreadsheet: source page, target page, anchor text, and link type (navigation, contextual, related).

5. 5Implement

   Add the links to each page. Use the canonical URL (no trailing-slash inconsistencies).

6. 6Validate

   Crawl the site to confirm all links resolve (no 404s) and no page is orphaned.

Template