Internal networking involves linking your store pages with useful and understandable links. On Shopify, it must guide the visitor from home to the collections, products and advice that meet their needs, while helping search engines discover and contextualize these pages.
Guide written by SiteQuiVend, specialist in the creation and redesign of websites and Shopify stores. Information updated in August 2026.
Why is internal networking important on Shopify?
An internal link is not just an SEO element. This is an indication given to the client: "here is the next useful page to move forward".
Facilitate discovery
A page linked to the right place is easier to find than a page isolated.
Clarify relationships
The links bring collections, products and guides closer to the same universe.
Support the decision
A guide or comparison can remove hesitation at the right time.
Strengthen priorities
Strategic pages no longer depend solely on the menu.
Google says internal links help it find pages and understand their context. It also specifies that an important page should receive at least one link from another page of the site, without setting an ideal number of links per page.
1. Build a logical architecture before adding links
Start by drawing the shortest path between the major product families and the pages that allow you to choose.
Shopify recommends general to specific hierarchy and clear wording. The menu presents major entries; the collections group the offer by category, use, audience or need.
If you are unsure about the depth of the catalog, consult our guide on the number of collections to create and the article dedicated to the importance of collection pages for sales.
2. Link pages according to their role
Not all pages have the same function. The best link is the one that answers the visitor's next question.
| Starting page | Priority links | Anchor example | To avoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home | Major collections, key guide, services | Discover hiking shoes | An exhaustive list of products |
| Collection | Subcollections, products, choice guide | How to choose the right size? | Indexable filters without control |
| Product sheet | Parent collection, accessories, maintenance | See compatible accessories | Links unrelated to the product |
| Blog article | Collection, product, other complementary guide | Compare our waterproof models | A commercial button after each paragraph |
In an article, introduce the link when the reader needs an example or solution. Our guide explains in detail how to link blog posts to product sheets. On a product sheet, a "Advice" block can refer to a size, use or maintenance guide when your theme allows it to be added properly.
3. Use descriptive and natural anchors
The anchor is the clickable text. It must announce what the visitor will find after the click, without becoming an artificial accumulation of keywords.
Prefer
"shopify SEO Guide" or "Discover Travel Bags".
Avoid
"click here", a raw URL or the same long expression everywhere.
Vary
Adapt the anchor to the name, need or page type.
Stay honest
The anchor must describe the content actually offered.
Technically, use real HTML links with an accessible destination. Google recommends the items <a href="…"> and concise, relevant link texts placed in an understandable context.
4. Place links where they really help
Main navigation
Reserve it for essential categories and pages, with descriptive titles.
Body of content
Place the link near the passage to which it relates.
Complementary blocks
Associated products, guides or collections must remain targeted.
Breadcrumbs and footer
They guide, but do not replace contextual links.
5. Audit the internal network of the store
Start with the pages that actually matter for revenue, deal discovery, or customer service. A spreadsheet is enough for an initial audit.
- List priorities: important collections, products, guides and services.
- Note their inbound links: menu, home, collections, products and items.
- Locate the orphan pages absent from normal routes.
- Check destinations: errors, redirects and products unavailable.
- Rate anchors: do they describe the destination correctly?
- Add the missing links from the most relevant pages.
Cross-reference this inventory with Google Search Console. An important page that is already visible but not easily accessible may deserve a better journey. The mesh does not guarantee position or increase in sales.
6. Errors that weaken the mesh
- Create pathless pages from actual navigation.
- Connect everything to everything: quantity dilutes logic.
- Depend only on the footer instead of context.
- Multiply "see more" without describing the destination.
- Point to unnecessary filters and unstable URLs.
- Forget stopped products and their redirects.
- Force a commercial link without helping the reader.
To broaden the approach, consult it shopify SEO Guide for Beginners and our method for optimize a Shopify product sheet for SEO.
A simple 30 day plan
Week 1, map priority pages. Week 2, fix broken links and orphan pages. Week 3, add contextual links. Week 4, test mobile courses and schedule a new check.
Finally add an "internal links" column in your shopify editorial calendar so that each new content reinforces an existing page.
What support does SiteQuiVend choose?
Three concrete recommendations to identify your priorities. It does not replace a technical, editorial and complete SEO audit of the site.
3 simple requests within the limit of one hour, with first response announced within 48 to 72 working hours. An in-depth SEO strategy or redesign falls outside this scope.
5 pages or models, up to 10 products and 3 collections, with an indicative deadline of 5 to 7 working days after receipt of the necessary elements.
An extensive audit, a significant reorganization of the catalog or specific developments require an adapted scope.
Shopify internal networking checklist
The 14 points to check
- The main collections are accessible from the menu.
- The labels clearly describe their destination.
- Each priority page receives at least one internal link.
- Orphan pages have been identified.
- Articles link to relevant business pages.
- The products offer some really useful guides.
- Generic anchors are limited.
- The same anchors are not repeated mechanically.
- Broken links have been fixed.
- Discontinued products have a logical alternative.
- Filter URLs are not added unnecessarily.
- The footer does not carry the structure alone.
- The routes are tested on mobile.
- The mesh is reviewed with each new content.
FAQ: internal networking on Shopify
How many internal links should be added per page?
There is no ideal number valid for all pages. Add links that complete the answer or make the next step easier, then remove those that distract without helping.
What's an orphan page?
This is a published page that does not receive any links from normal site journeys. It may be known by its URL or the sitemap, but remain difficult for a customer to discover.
Should we put the same links in all articles?
No. Each article should point to pages that precisely match its topic and the reader's intent. An identical list added everywhere provides little context.
Can we use "click here" as an anchor?
Occasionally, but a descriptive anchor is usually clearer. "See size guide" announces the destination better than "click here".
Is the menu enough for internal linking?
No. The menu structures large entries, while contextual links connect products, collections and content that meet the same need.
Should we add links to products in each article?
Only when a product or collection constitutes a logical continuation. An informative article should not be transformed into a succession of commercial buttons.
How to manage links to a deleted product?
Replace them with a relevant alternative or collection. If the URL disappears, set up a redirect to the nearest destination rather than to an unrelated page.
Does internal networking guarantee better Google rankings?
No. It improves discovery, context and navigation, but ranking also depends on the quality of content, competition, technique and other signals.
Official references: google best practices on links and optimizing the structure of a Shopify site.
