Internal Link Loop Help

I have a way of overcomplicating things and hopefully someone here can help guide me. G search is not helping me with the info I'm looking for.

I'm working on internal link strategy and don't know the best way to go about it. From what I can tell through research, your internal links are to be somewhat like a tree. Main category linking down and those categories linking down and then linking between categories that go together.

How I have it right now is that my main category links to its sub categories. Those sub categories link another level down. And at the bottom level of the tree, I point back to the first category which I assume creates a loop. Is this bad practice? I implement the loop as a way to say "if you don't like what you've found, go back to the top level and try a different path" type thing.

I am not the greatest at explaining my issues so if there is another way I should explain this or clear up anything please let me know.

You need to link your site ALWAYS with crawlers in mind like they're reading a manual or book is how I go about it. For example:

If someone hands you a guide you'll have all of the categories on the front page and then all topics, in order, for each section. This way you don't get confused and you can get a better understanding to learn more from each section.

If someone hands you a guide and it has all sections on the front page but all the different topics placed randomly throughout, you'll essentially not learn anything at all and just stop reading.

The crawlers work in a similar way and you need to direct them in the most simple, understandable way possible. sorry for not giving a more direct answer but it's more important you look at it this way as the EXACT structure really depends on what site you have, niche etc. Hopefully, you have a better understanding.

Jabbz18 said:

You need to link your site ALWAYS with crawlers in mind like they're reading a manual or book is how I go about it. For example:

If someone hands you a guide you'll have all of the categories on the front page and then all topics, in order, for each section. This way you don't get confused and you can get a better understanding to learn more from each section.

If someone hands you a guide and it has all sections on the front page but all the different topics placed randomly throughout, you'll essentially not learn anything at all and just stop reading.

The crawlers work in a similar way and you need to direct them in the most simple, understandable way possible. sorry for not giving a more direct answer but it's more important you look at it this way as the EXACT structure really depends on what site you have, niche etc. Hopefully, you have a better understanding.

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I understand. I have just gotten mixed signals about what should be done. Like your answer sounds great but someone also told me to optimize based on user experience which somewhat goes against that. Honestly, for now I am just going for it and hoping for the best lmao. So far the keywords I am targeting are increasing in rank which is great. I just don't want to take a hit from a bad internal linking strategy.

From your response it sounds like I should be using the tree method and not linking people back up to the top of the ladder once they reach the end? Or am I misunderstanding?

ErrlyBird said:

How I have it right now is that my main category links to its sub categories. Those sub categories link another level down

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looks like a good plan to me. But also link between posts in the same category where it makes sense, just for extra juice and better user engagement.

ErrlyBird said:

And at the bottom level of the tree, I point back to the first category which I assume creates a loop. Is this bad practice?

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I've not heard of this before, so I don't think it's bad practice

ErrlyBird said:

I understand. I have just gotten mixed signals about what should be done. Like your answer sounds great but someone also told me to optimize based on user experience which somewhat goes against that. Honestly, for now I am just going for it and hoping for the best lmao. So far the keywords I am targeting are increasing in rank which is great. I just don't want to take a hit from a bad internal linking strategy.

From your response it sounds like I should be using the tree method and not linking people back up to the top of the ladder once they reach the end? Or am I misunderstanding?

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Yeah, i think that sounds like a solid plan to be fair mate, the fact on user experience you mentioned also is correct as well but improvements to this can always be done after your ranking and have got data as it wont matter unless you get traffic in the first place.

To answer your question, linking back up to the top and where you direct your visitors entirely depends on the type of your site IMO, if its e-commerce there isn't much point doing this as you're trying to lead them to a direct path.

internal link structure should be like you are going to plant a tree in which everything is connected with Root give more strength to your Root that is your domain and then give other categories.

Jabbz18 said:

if its e-commerce there isn't much point doing this as you're trying to lead them to a direct path.

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Hmmm. This struck me pretty good but only furthers my frustration. I want to lead them to a conversion based on what they showed up for. I just like the idea of saying, "hey, if this isn't for you, we have other similar great options and you can start here".