seo-aeo-internal-linking

# SEO-AEO Internal Linking

## Overview

Analyses a set of pages and produces a prioritised list of internal link opportunities with exact anchor text, a context sentence showing where each link should appear, orphan page detection, anchor text cannibalization warnings, and a link equity map showing how authority flows across the content.

Part of the [SEO-AEO Engine](https://github.com/mrprewsh/seo-aeo-engine).

## When to Use This Skill

- Use when building internal links between a new pillar page and its cluster articles
- Use when auditing an existing site for orphan pages
- Use after content-cluster generates a topic map
- Use when you need anchor text suggestions with placement context

## How It Works

### Step 1: Detect Orphan Pages
Flag any page with zero incoming internal links. These are invisible to search engines and must be linked immediately.

### Step 2: Build Semantic Overlap Matrix
Match pages by primary keyword similarity and content summary to identify natural linking opportunities.

### Step 3: Assign Link Types
Every suggestion gets one of four labels:
- **Cluster → Pillar** — highest priority, consolidates authority upward
- **Pillar → Cluster** — distributes authority downward
- **Cluster → Cluster** — builds semantic depth
- **Contextual Boost** — concentrates equity on a focus page

### Step 4: Write Context Sentences
For every link opportunity, write the sentence the anchor text should appear in — naturally placed, not forced.

### Step 5: Check Anchor Text
Flag any exact-match anchor used more than once for the same target page as a cannibalization risk. Never use generic anchors like "click here".

## Examples

### Example: Link Opportunity Output
🔴 High Priority — Link 1
Type: Cluster → Pillar
Source: "How to Build a Budget That Actually Works"
Target: "The Complete Guide to Automated Budgeting"
Anchor: "automated budgeting guide"
Context: "For a full breakdown of every method available,
see our [automated budgeting guide]."
Impact: Consolidates topical authority on pillar page.
Orphan Alert:
"PennyWise Pricing Page" has no incoming links.
Fix: Add link from comparison table in Article 2.

## Best Practices

- ✅ **Do:** Every cluster article must have at least one Cluster → Pillar link
- ✅ **Do:** Write a context sentence for every suggestion — anchor text needs natural placement
- ✅ **Do:** Fix orphan pages before adding any new links
- ❌ **Don't:** Use the same exact-match anchor for the same target page more than once
- ❌ **Don't:** Use "click here", "read more", or "learn more" as anchor text — ever
- ❌ **Don't:** Add more than 100 outgoing internal links on any single page

## Common Pitfalls

- **Problem:** All cluster articles link to the pillar but not to each other
  **Solution:** Add Cluster → Cluster links between semantically related articles to build depth.

- **Problem:** Same anchor text used across multiple pages for the same target
  **Solution:** Use partial match and branded anchors for subsequent links after the first exact-match use.

## Related Skills

- `@seo-aeo-content-cluster` — generates the cluster map this skill links together
- `@seo-aeo-schema-generator` — uses link map output for BreadcrumbList schema

## Additional Resources

- [SEO-AEO Engine Repository](https://github.com/mrprewsh/seo-aeo-engine)
- [Full Internal Linking SKILL.md](https://github.com/mrprewsh/seo-aeo-engine/blob/main/.agent/skills/internal-linking/SKILL.md)

## Limitations
- Use this skill only when the task clearly matches the scope described above.
- Do not treat the output as a substitute for environment-specific validation, testing, or expert review.
- Stop and ask for clarification if required inputs, permissions, safety boundaries, or success criteria are missing.