Internal Linking that Converts: From Pillar to Signup

Links as a Conversion Path

Internal links do more than pass PageRank—they guide readers toward the action that matters. A strategic link structure can double your pages per session and significantly reduce bounce rate.

The "Hub and Spoke" Model

The most effective way to structure content is the Hub and Spoke model (also known as Topic Clusters).

1. The Hub (Pillar Page): A broad guide covering a main topic (e.g., "SaaS Marketing").
2. The Spokes (Cluster Pages): Specific articles answering questions (e.g., "SaaS Email Marketing", "SaaS PPC", "SaaS SEO").
3. The Links:
   • The Hub links to all Spokes.
   • All Spokes link back to the Hub.
   • Spokes link to each other only when relevant.

Visualizing the Flow:Home -> Pillar (Hub) <-> Cluster Article (Spoke) -> Signup Page

The Art of Anchor Text

Anchor text is the visible text of a link. It tells Google what the target page is about.

Strategic Link Placement

Where you put the link matters as much as what it says.

1. The "First Fold" Link

The first link in your article carries the most weight. Use it to link to your most important "Money Page" or "Pillar Page".

2. The "Contextual" Link

Don't just add a "Related Posts" section at the bottom. Users rarely reach the footer.

• Tactic: "Interrupt" the reader with a value-add link.
• Example: "If you are struggling with indexing, read our Deep Dive on Google Search Console."

3. The "Sidebar" Sticky

On desktop, the sidebar is prime real estate.

• Tactic: Use a "Sticky Table of Contents" that also includes a permanent link to your "Pricing" or "Demo" page.

Automating Internal Links with Nuxt Content

If you are using Nuxt Content (like this site), you can automate "Related Articles" based on tags.

<!-- components/RelatedPosts.vue -->
<script setup>
const { path } = useRoute()
const { data: article } = await useAsyncData(path, () => queryContent(path).findOne())

// Find articles with the same tags, excluding current
const { data: related } = await useAsyncData('related', () => 
  queryContent('blog')
    .where({ 
      tags: { $in: article.value.tags }, 
      _path: { $ne: path } 
    })
    .limit(3)
    .find()
)
</script>

<template>
  <div class="related-grid">
    <NuxtLink v-for="post in related" :to="post._path">
      {{ post.title }}
    </NuxtLink>
  </div>
</template>

Handling "Orphan Pages"

An orphan page is a page with zero internal links pointing to it. Google cannot find it (unless it's in the sitemap), and it receives no authority.

Audit: Use Ahrefs or Screaming Frog to find pages with Inlinks = 0. Fix: Go to your Pillar Page and add a link to the orphan.

Checklist: The Link Audit

1. Check Depth: is every page reachable within 3 clicks from Home?
2. Fix Broken Links: 404s hurt UX and SEO. Use a crawler to find them.
3. Update Anchors: Change "click here" to descriptive text.
4. Add Breadcrumbs: Helpful for users and bots.

FAQ: Internal Linking

Q: How many links per page? A: There is no hard limit. For a 1,500-word article, 5-10 internal links is healthy. Focus on relevance, not quotas.

Q: Should I use nofollow on internal links? A: Never. nofollow tells Google "I don't trust this link". You should trust your own content.

Q: Can I link to the same page twice? A: Yes, but Google usually only counts the anchor text of the first link.

CTA: Build Your Link Network

Create structured internal links that move users forward. Start a project and implement link modules sitewide.