internal-linking

name	internal-linking
description	Plans internal link structure using content silos. Outputs link map with SEO priority. Does not create links.

Internal Linking Skill

Purpose

Outputs internal link structure using content silo architecture. SEO-focused link equity distribution.

Primary Objective

Push link equity to money pages (silo tops) through structured silos.

Not "pretty web" — strategic authority building.

Skill Output

silos: [...]           # Defined content clusters
link_map: [...]        # Per-page outbound links
link_requirements: [...] # Inbound requirements
orphan_check: [...]    # Pages with <minimum inbound

Input

site_structure:
  silos:
    - name: "house-removals"
      top: "/services/house-removals"      # Money page
      areas: ["/areas/bath", "/areas/bristol"]
      articles: ["/blog/moving-costs", "/blog/packing-tips"]
      
    - name: "office-removals"
      top: "/services/office-removals"
      areas: ["/areas/bath-office"]
      articles: ["/blog/office-moving-guide"]
      
  standalone:
    - { url: "/calculator", type: "tool", priority: 1 }
    - { url: "/contact", type: "conversion" }
    - { url: "/about", type: "info" }

Content Silo Rules

Silo Structure

Homepage
    │
    ├── SILO: House Removals
    │   ├── /services/house-removals  ← SILO TOP (money page)
    │   ├── /areas/bath               ← links UP to silo top
    │   ├── /areas/bristol            ← links UP to silo top
    │   └── /blog/moving-costs        ← links UP to silo top
    │
    └── SILO: Office Removals
        ├── /services/office-removals ← SILO TOP (money page)
        └── /blog/office-guide        ← links UP to silo top

Silo Linking Rules

Rule	Requirement
Intra-silo	Encouraged — link freely within silo
Cross-silo	Limited — max 1-2 per page
Silo top receives	Links from ALL pages in silo
Areas/Blog	ALWAYS link to parent silo top
Homepage	Links to ALL silo tops

Cross-Silo Linking (Restricted)

From	To	Allowed
Service → Service	Different silo	Max 1 "related service"
Area → Area	Different silo	NO (only nearby same-silo)
Blog → Blog	Different silo	Max 1 if highly relevant
Blog → Service	Different silo	NO

Link Budget Per Page

Page Type	Max Outbound	Intra-silo	Cross-silo
Homepage	25	N/A	All silo tops
Service (silo top)	15	Unlimited	2 max
Area page	10	5+	1 max
Article	12	3+ required	1 max
Calculator	5	N/A	2 (results only)

Inbound Requirements

Minimum Inbound Links

Page Type	Minimum	Priority Sources
Silo top (service)	5	Homepage, all silo areas, all silo articles
Area page	3	Silo top, nearby areas, 1 article
Article	2	Silo top, related articles
Calculator	4	Homepage, ALL silo tops
Homepage	1+	Nav/logo from all pages

Inbound Priority Order

For silo tops (money pages), inbound links should come from:

1. Homepage (highest value)
2. Same-silo areas (relevance)
3. Same-silo articles (content support)
4. Other silo tops (1 max, related service)

Anchor Text Rules

Limits

Anchor Type	Per Page	Per Target (total inbound)
Exact match keyword	1 max	3 max site-wide
Service name	Unlimited	Unlimited
Branded	Unlimited	Unlimited
Generic	0 in body	Nav/footer only

Anchor Patterns

Target Type	Use
Silo top	Service name, "our {service}"
Area	"{service} in {area}", "{area} removals"
Article	Topic phrase, question
Calculator	"get quote", "instant price", "calculate"
Homepage	Brand name, "home"

Forbidden Anchors

• ❌ "click here" in body content
• ❌ "read more" in body content
• ❌ "learn more" in body content
• ❌ Same exact-match anchor 4+ times to one target

Blog as Link Pump

Blog's primary job: push equity to silo tops.

Rule	Requirement
Every article	MUST link to parent silo top
Link placement	Within first 3 paragraphs
Anchor	Service-focused, not generic
Cross-silo	Max 1 link, only if highly relevant
Blog → Blog	Max 2 "related posts"

# Good blog linking
article: "/blog/moving-costs"
silo: "house-removals"
required_outbound:
  - target: "/services/house-removals"  # Parent silo top
    anchor: "house removals service"
    placement: "body, paragraph 2"
optional_outbound:
  - target: "/blog/packing-tips"  # Same silo
    anchor: "packing guide"

Calculator Page (Special)

High-priority inbound, minimal outbound.

Direction	Rule
Inbound	From homepage + ALL silo tops
Outbound	Max 5: logo home + 2 in results
No nav	Minimal header, no full nav

Link Map Output

link_map:
  - page: "/services/house-removals"
    silo: "house-removals"
    role: "silo_top"
    outbound:
      - { to: "/", anchor: "Home", section: "breadcrumb" }
      - { to: "/calculator", anchor: "Get your quote", section: "cta" }
      - { to: "/services/packing", anchor: "packing service", section: "related", cross_silo: true }
      - { to: "/areas/bath", anchor: "removals in Bath", section: "areas" }
    inbound_required:
      - { from: "/", min: 1 }
      - { from: "/areas/*", min: 2 }
      - { from: "/blog/*", min: 1 }
    inbound_actual: 4
    status: "healthy"

Orphan Prevention

Check	Rule
Orphan	0 inbound links → BLOCKER
Weak	Below minimum → WARNING
Healthy	At/above minimum → OK

orphan_check:
  orphan_pages: []      # Must be empty
  weak_pages: 
    - { url: "/areas/gloucester", inbound: 1, minimum: 3 }
  healthy_pages: 10

Blocking Conditions (STOP)

Condition	Result
Orphan page exists	STOP — fix before deploy
Silo top has <3 inbound	STOP — add links
No silo definition	STOP — define silos first
Cross-silo >3 on any page	STOP — reduce

Non-goals

• Does NOT create actual links
• Does NOT handle external links
• Does NOT track performance
• Does NOT analyze competitors
• Does NOT audit existing sites

Forbidden

• ❌ Orphan pages
• ❌ Generic anchors in body
• ❌ Exact match anchor >3 times to one target
• ❌ Blog not linking to silo top
• ❌ Cross-silo >3 per page
• ❌ Area linking to different-silo area

References

• silo-examples.md — Full silo structures
• anchor-patterns.md — Anchor text by type

Definition of Done

• All silos defined with tops
• Every page has silo assignment
• Every silo top has 5+ inbound
• Every article links to silo top
• Zero orphan pages
• Zero weak pages (below minimum)
• Cross-silo max 2 per page
• Calculator has 4+ inbound