Why Fixing Broken Internal Links is Critical for On-Page SEO Success
If you want your website to show up on Google and be easy to use, there’s one thing you should never ignore—broken internal links.
Many people think broken links are a small issue, but they can cause big problems for your visitors and search engines. In this guide, we’ll explain in simple words why fixing these links is so important and how it can help your website do better.
What Are Internal Links?
Internal links are links that go from one page on your website to another page on the same website.
For example, if your homepage has a link to your blog, that’s an internal link. These links help people move around your site and find more information.
What Are Broken Internal Links?
A broken internal link is a link that doesn’t work.
This can happen when:
- A page is deleted
- The web address (URL) is changed
- There is a typing mistake in the link
When someone clicks a broken link, they see an error page like “404 Page Not Found.” This makes your site look bad.
Why Broken Internal Links Are Bad for Your Website
Let’s talk about why broken links can hurt your website:
1. It Annoys Visitors
If someone clicks a link and it leads nowhere, they get annoyed.
When visitors can’t find what they want, they leave your website fast. That’s not good for your business or your website.
2. Google Gets Lost
Google uses special tools called bots to look at your site and understand it.
These bots follow links. If a link is broken, the bots can’t go any further. This means Google might not show some of your pages in search results.
3. Your Other Pages Lose Strength
When one page links to another, it shares some power with it.
If the link is broken, that power is lost. So your other pages may not show up as high in Google searches.
4. Wastes Time for Google
Google only spends a short time looking at each website. If it spends time on broken links, it misses your good pages. This means those pages might not show up in search.
How to Find Broken Internal Links
You need to check your website often to find broken links.
Here are some easy tools that can help:
- Google Search Console – This free tool from Google shows you broken links.
- Screaming Frog – This tool looks at all your pages and finds broken ones.
- Ahrefs or SEMrush – These are paid tools that find broken links and show you how to fix them.
How to Fix Broken Internal Links
Once you find broken links, here’s how to fix them:
- Fix the Link – If the page still exists, correct the link.
- Link to a New Page – If the old page is gone, link to a different but helpful page.
- Remove the Link – If no good page is available, just delete the link.
Final Words
Fixing broken links might seem like a small job, but it makes a big difference.
A clean website with working links keeps your visitors happy and helps you show up on Google. It makes your site stronger and easier to use. And the best part? You can do it yourself.
