When it comes to SEO, everyone talks about content, backlinks, keywords, and page speed. But lurking beneath the surface of many underperforming websites is a quiet, underestimated culprit โ irrelevant internal linking.
While internal links are supposed to boost SEO, irrelevant or excessive linking can do more harm than good. In this post, weโll explore how this silent SEO killer might be hurting your site โ and what you can do to fix it.
What Is Irrelevant Internal Linking?
Internal linking refers to hyperlinks that connect one page on your site to another. When done properly, it helps search engines crawl your site, distributes authority, and keeps users engaged.
But hereโs where it goes wrong:
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Linking to pages that are topically unrelated
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Using generic anchor text like “click here” with no context
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Overloading pages with links just for the sake of it
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Linking solely for crawl purposes, without user value
These practices result in irrelevant internal links โ connections that confuse search engines and frustrate users.
Why It’s a Problem for SEO
1. Dilutes Topical Authority
Google relies on link structure to understand what your site is about. When you link a blog about โvegan meal prepโ to a page about โcar insuranceโ (yes, people do this!), you’re diluting your topical relevance.
Irrelevant linking sends mixed signals to search engines. It makes it harder for them to understand the context of your content โ which can lower your rankings.
2. Hurts User Experience
Internal links should guide users logically through your site. When someone reading a post on SEO strategy is suddenly sent to a random blog about office decor, it creates friction and confusion.
Bad user experience leads to:
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Higher bounce rates
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Lower dwell time
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Decreased trust
And yes โ all of these are SEO signals.
3. Wastes Crawl Budget
Search engines allocate a limited number of pages to crawl on your site. If theyโre wasting time crawling irrelevant links, your important pages may not be indexed as frequently or thoroughly.
Poor internal link hygiene can essentially cause Googlebot to wander aimlessly, missing your cornerstone content.
4. Anchor Text Mismatch
Anchor text gives context to the destination page. If your anchor text says โLearn more about SEO toolsโ but links to a sales pitch for HR software, Google may downgrade the relevance and trustworthiness of both pages.
This anchor mismatch erodes semantic structure and can lead to lower rankings.
How to Fix Irrelevant Internal Linking
Here are smart steps to clean up and optimize your internal links:
1. Audit Your Internal Links
Use tools like Screaming Frog, Ahrefs, or Sitebulb to crawl your site and find:
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Irrelevant or broken links
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Overlinked pages
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Anchor text mismatches
2. Follow Topical Relevance
Only link pages that share semantic relevance. A blog on “On-Page SEO” should link to related content like “Title Tag Optimization” or “Meta Descriptions 101.”
3. Use Descriptive Anchor Text
Avoid โclick hereโ or โread more.โ Instead, use specific, keyword-aligned anchors like:
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โeCommerce product page SEO tipsโ
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โstructured data best practicesโ
4. Prioritize User Intent
Ask: Does this link help the user learn more or solve a problem? If not, it doesnโt belong.
5. Map Internal Link Strategy
Create a linking structure based on content silos or topic clusters. This helps both users and bots navigate your site meaningfully.
Final Thoughts
Internal linking can be one of the most powerful tools in your SEO arsenal โ but only if used strategically. Random or irrelevant internal links are not harmless placeholders; they actively damage your site’s clarity, authority, and performance.
