Traditional internal linking, while effective, comes with its set of challenges, especially for complex websites with many pages.
But what if these challenges could be resolved while also improving on-page SEO and tracking?
This case study explores how leveraging Sniply short links can not only solve all of your internal link challenges, but also provide immense value to your SEO, analytics, URL structure, and more.
The Current State of Internal Links
The conventional process for internal linking involves creating hyperlinks that connect one page of a website to another page within the same website.
These links are used to help navigate the website, establish an information hierarchy, and distribute page authority and ranking power across the site.
While these links benefit SEO and usability, there is much left to desire from the current process.
Shortcomings of Standard Internal Linking
Traditional internal linking methods, while foundational for SEO and site architecture, have several limitations:
- Complex Link Management: For large websites with thousands of pages or more, managing these links can become cumbersome and error-prone.
- Inflexibility: Once set, changing links site-wide to reflect new content strategies or site restructuring can be a massive undertaking.
- Limited Tracking Capability: Standard internal links do not provide analytics on their performance, making it difficult to assess their impact on SEO, traffic, and user engagement.
How Shortened Internal Links Can Benefit On-Page SEO
Implementing short tracking links internally transforms the internal linking strategy with several key benefits:
1. Enhanced Tracking
Sniply short links can come with tracking capabilities, allowing websites to track clicks and get insight into how users interact with their content.
Plus, this data can inform website owners of potential site adjustments in real-time, optimizing both user experience and traffic flow.
2. Increased Flexibility
Short links can be updated and redirected easily, which is invaluable for websites undergoing reorganization or frequent updates.
Instead of updating the URL of an internal link on every page, the shortened internal link can be updated just once in your dashboard and change the destination of each internal reference.
This flexibility ensures that links always point to the most relevant pages, enhancing both user experience and SEO performance.
3. Simplified Link Management
Using a uniform link management system of short links makes managing a large number of internal links more straightforward, reducing errors and saving time.
How to Create Internal Short Links with Sniply
For example, let’s say we want to include a shortened internal link from Page 1 to Page 2. Here’s how to implement this on-page SEO strategy using our platform:
- Open your Sniply dashboard and go to the link tool.
- Paste the destination URL into the URL field.
- (Optional) Click the settings icon, then click ‘Customize‘ to add extra tracking features to your link.
- Click ‘Shorten‘ to generate the short link.
- On the origin page, create a hyperlink on your desired anchor text using the shortened internal link.
Frequently Asked Questions
Let’s take a look at some common questions that arise when implementing this strategy:
Can I use short URLs for internal links?
Yes, not only can shortened URLs be used for your internal links, but they can also provide an array of additional benefits for SEO, traffic, analytics, and more.
Can shortened internal links hurt SEO?
If not done correctly, it is possible for these links to negatively impact SEO. Make sure to use the correct redirection methods and consider using your own short domain for these links.
Can I use my own domain for internal short links?
Yes, it is possible to use your own domain for using short internal links. However, keep in mind that this can impact SEO. Consider keeping your short links in a subdirectory of your main domain name.
Summary
By transitioning to Sniply internal short links, companies can significantly enhance their on-page SEO strategies. This approach not only simplifies link management but also provides detailed insights into link and content performance.
