Are internal links becoming more important than backlinks for smaller sites?

I have noticed something similar A strong internal linking structure helps search engines understand the relationship between topics and keeps visitors engaged longer Backlinks still matter but for smaller sites I think good content organization and covering a topic thoroughly can make a noticeable difference

Both factors are important for a website but for smaller websites internal linking makes a big difference. If the site does not have many backlinks then internal linking helps the search engine to understand the content of a site.

No. Interlinking, is just basic practice that must be done while creating a website. Internal links help Google understand your content and distribute authority, but they can't replace authority coming from other websites. A well-structured site with strong internal linking and a few relevant backlinks will usually outperform a site that focuses only on one of them.

I've noticed the same. Strong topical coverage and smart internal linking seem to be making a bigger difference, especially for informational content. Backlinks still matter, but a well-structured site can often outperform one with a weaker content strategy.

Server Agency US said:

Lately I've noticed some smaller content sites getting decent ranking with very few backlinks, but strong internal linking and better topic structure.

Feels like Google is rewarding content organization and relevance more than before, especially for informational keywords.

Anyone else seeing similar results recently?

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Yes, I've noticed the same.

Strong internal linking helps Google understand topical authority and distributes page authority better. Backlinks always matter, but for smaller sites, a solid site structure can make a noticeable difference.