Interlinking between articles on related topics, also known as topic clustering, is an important search engine optimization (SEO) technique. It helps search engines understand the structure and relationships between content on a website. It also helps pass link juice to deeper pages of your site to provide them with ranking power. This in turn can improve rankings, traffic and clicks from search.
In this article, we will explore best practices for interlinking topic cluster articles through an in-depth case study. We will be using examples from a fictional website that publishes content on home design and improvement topics.
Defining Topic Clusters
To start, let’s define what exactly topic clusters are.
Topic clusters refer to groups of articles that all revolve around a broad main subject or theme. These articles complement each other. They may explore subtopics or provide different perspectives. Some common ways to organize topic clusters include:
- Main topic areas like “kitchens” or “bathrooms”
- Types of content like “inspiration galleries” or “renovation tips”
- Rooms in a home like “living room” or “bedroom”
- Home improvement focuses like “storage solutions” or “pet-friendly design”
- There are no hard rules on what can constitute a topic cluster. The main idea is that the articles are closely related enough to interconnect.
Why Interlink Topic Cluster Articles?
Interlinking between topic cluster articles provides several key benefits. First, the links provide increased context for search engine crawlers to better understand the connections between pages, allowing them to categorize the content more precisely.
Second, it greatly improves user experience, enabling readers to seamlessly discover additional articles related to their topics of interest.
Finally, pages that have more semantic links woven through the content have a demonstrated higher rankings potential in search engine results pages.
By putting in the effort to intentionally link relevant articles clustered around a common main subject manner, website owners heighten that entire cluster’s visibility and value to both search engine algorithms as well as human visitors.
Overall, strategic interlinking pays dividends across relevance, usability and authority factors.
Best Practices for Interlinking
When interlinking your content, quality beats quantity. There’s no set number on how many links to include. A few well-placed in-content links can be more powerful than cramming links in wherever you can.
Here are some best practices to follow:
- Choose Relevant Pages – Link to pages that closely relate to the current article’s topic. Don’t force connections.
- Vary Anchor Text – Use different keywords as the anchor text instead of just repeating the same phrase.
- Link Early On – Place context-establishing links in your intro paragraph or background section.
- Include Calls-to-Action – Links that encourage clicks can boost in-content click-through rates.
- Monitor Impact – Pay attention to traffic and engagement metrics pre- and post-interlinking.
- Avoid Over-Optimization – Don’t overload a single page with links as this can seem spammy to search engines.
Now let’s walk through exactly how we would interlink a sample set of topic cluster articles.
Kitchen Remodel Topic Cluster Example
We’ll use a group of articles centered around the broad subject of kitchen remodels. This topic cluster includes subtopics like:
- Kitchen Layout Ideas
- Setting a Kitchen Remodel Budget
- DIY Kitchen Projects
- Hiring Kitchen Contractors
- Kitchen Storage Solutions
There is a clear natural connection between these articles. The website could link relevant articles in a few strategic ways.
For the “Kitchen Layout Ideas” article introduction:
“Ready to reconfigure your kitchen layout for better workflow and style? Outdated layouts with poor lighting or little prep space lead to frustration. Our kitchen designers can help maximize your kitchen’s potential with smart layout ideas to consider in your remodel.”
The anchor text here emphasizes the relation to the target article.
Under a section on “Tips for Setting Your Layout Budget”:
“Be sure to understand approximate costs for items like cabinetry, countertops and new appliances using our kitchen remodel cost guide. Creating an accurate budget prevents sticker shock down the road.”
These type of links provide readers helpful related resources.
In a “Layout Ideas Gallery” section:
“Once you have your layout in mind, explore our stunning photo galleries showcasing modern kitchen designs, small kitchen solutions, country kitchen ideas and more.”
Here links point users to complementary photo concepts they may wish to view.
The process would then repeat with the other articles interlinking back to this Kitchen Layout Ideas core topic page where appropriate. This might include:
In “Setting a Kitchen Remodel Budget” article:
“If opting for a full layout overhaul, refer to these kitchen layout design fundamentals to plan costs.”
In “DIY Kitchen Projects” article:
“Small layout changes like adding a kitchen island can maximize efficiency. See our kitchen island ideas to find the perfect fit.”
In “Hiring Kitchen Contractors” article:
“Be ready to provide your ideal kitchen layout and dimensions to contractors bidding on the job.”
The goal is for semantic links to strengthen the relationship network between this cluster of connected pages.
Linking Topic Clusters Allows New Posts to Feed Off An Individual Post’s Success
As we have seen in this case study example, when done effectively interlinking topic cluster articles can provide valuable context for search engines. It also enables an intuitive pathway guiding readers interested in a broader subject area through your content.
Remember to keep anchor text varied, links meaningful, and monitor post-linking analytics. Avoid over-optimizing any single article with an excess of links.
With the proper topic cluster interlinking strategy implemented, you can increase visitors’ time on site, boost engagement metrics and support user experience. So leverage these opportunities early on when creating content around specific subjects on your website.