Internal Linking 101

There’s an SEO improvement technique sitting inside your existing website. No new content required, no technical overhaul needed. 

If you aren’t practicing internal linking, you’re overlooking easy wins that could significantly boost your rankings. 

What is Internal Linking

An internal link is a link from one page on your website to another page on the same website. E.g.: Blog post to service page. Service page to FAQ. 

They help search engines map your site and distribute authority: when a strong, well-established page links to another page, it passes some of that credibility along.

Think of it like a conversation between pages. Internal links are how your pages talk to each other — and what they signal influences how search engines interpret the whole site.

Why Topical Relevance is the Key

Not all internal links are equally valuable. Links naturally embedded within content do the most work. 

If your site covers SEO services and you have a blog post about keyword research, linking that post to your SEO services page reinforces that connection. But if an unrelated page on your site links to that same SEO services page, that link provides far less topical reinforcement. 

The more consistently your internal links connect pages within the same subject area, the clearer the picture becomes for search engines. 

A clear picture means better rankings for the pages that matter most.

Getting Anchor Text Right

Anchor text (the actual words used as the link) is one of the most impactful and most commonly mishandled parts of internal linking.

Generic anchor text tells neither the reader nor the search engine what the page links to. 

Descriptive anchor text: 

• Confirms the topic
•  Reinforces relevance 
• Helps both users and algorithms understand the relationship between pages 

Not only does the text matter, but so does the context on the linked pages. 

If multiple internal links point to the same page, but some suggest it's informational and others suggest it's transactional, that mixed signal can confuse search engines about what the page is really for. Consistency in both topic and intent across your anchor text makes a meaningful difference.

Where Links Live on the Page

Links should live in the body of your content, rather than relying on links in footers or navigation tabs. New content creates new opportunities to link back to existing pages that cover related topics. 

Done consistently, this practice builds a web of connections that quietly reinforces your site's authority on the topics that matter most to your business.

Where to Start if You've Never Done This

Start with your most important pages — the ones you most want to rank. Assess the anchor text, internal links pointing to that page, and where the links come from. 

Adding three to five well-placed, descriptive internal links from relevant existing content can shift rankings. 

It Compounds Over Time

Internal linking compounds over time, turning each new page into an opportunity to reinforce what matters most. The result is a site with lasting structural authority—something competitors can’t quickly replicate.

That's the kind of foundation that smart online marketing in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is built on — connecting the right pages, in the right ways, with the right words.

Start Building Better Structure Today

Internal linking is one of the simplest SEO improvements you can make. It’s also one of the most powerful when done correctly. If your pages aren’t working together, they’re holding your site back.

Ready to improve your structure? Read our latest article for a deeper breakdown, or connect with a team focused on online marketing in Ann Arbor, Michigan, to start building a site search engines can understand—and reward.

👉 Contact us today and let’s strengthen your site from the inside out.

Your Website Has a Linking Problem… You Just Don't Know It Yet

Your website is a collection of great content. Your service pages are well-written, your blog is taking off, yet there’s something critical missing… 

There’s an underlying layer that many businesses never examine, yet it quietly determines whether all that effort pays off in search rankings or gets buried.

Internal linking, “aka” the way your pages connect.

It's not glamorous or tech-heavy, but it's a consistently underused tool in SEO. Internal linking can change how search engines see your entire site.

The Road Map Your Site Is (Or Isn't) Providing

Think of your website as a city. 

• Your pages are the buildings. Each one serves a purpose and is worth visiting. Internal links are the roads between them.
• If the roads have corresponding signage, are logically laid out, and connect the right destinations, people (and search engines) can move through the city with ease.
• Visitors discover things they were looking for with ease, and things they didn't know they needed.

Now imagine roads that lead nowhere. This is confusing for visitors. 

That's what a poorly structured internal linking strategy looks like — and many websites have more of it than they realize.

What Search Engines Are Actually Looking For

When a search engine crawls your site, it follows your internal links to understand what pages exist, how they relate to each other, and which ones deserve to rank for which topics.

If your pages link to each other in ways that reflect real topical relationships, that reinforces the relevance of both pages. The more consistently your internal links reflect the subject matter of your site, the more clearly a search engine can understand what your site is truly about.

When those connections are muddled, search engines are left guessing. When they guess wrong, pages that should rank highly don’t. 

The Anchor Text Issue Most People Miss

The words you use as your link text matter! 

"Click here" tells a search engine nothing. Utilizing anchor text such as "internal linking for local SEO" or "Ann Arbor web marketing strategy” tells a search engine exactly what the destination page covers.

Descriptive, relevant anchor text is a small detail that creates a large impact. When most of the internal links pointing to a page use topically aligned anchor text, that page's authority on the subject gets stronger. When the anchor text is generic or mismatched, search engines receive mixed signals. 

Where on the Page the Link Lives

Placement of internal links matters.

A link embedded naturally within the body of an article carries more topical meaning than a link that sits in the footer of every page on your site. 

Footer links and navigation links serve a purpose. However, links living within your actual content do the most work for topical authority. 

The more substantive content you have, the more opportunities you create for meaningful, in-context internal links.

The Cumulative Effect

Internal linking is an ongoing practice that compounds.

That’s where online marketing in Ann Arbor, Michigan, really comes into play—because when your site is properly connected, everything collaborates the way it’s intended. 

Every new piece of content is an opportunity to reinforce the authority of existing pages. Every internal link placed with intention is another signal for search engines. 

Sites that rank consistently well aren't just the ones with the most content or the most backlinks. They're often the ones that are most thoughtfully connected. 

Ready to Connect the Dots?

Ready to connect the dots? If you’ve never audited your internal linking structure, there are likely opportunities already sitting inside your content. 

Explore our latest article, or connect with a team focused on results-driven online marketing in Ann Arbor, Michigan, to start building a smarter site structure today.

👉 Contact us today and let’s build a site that ranks, converts, and compounds over time.

Platform by Platform: What to Post, Where — and Why It Actually Matters

You've heard the advice a hundred times: show up consistently on social media, post regularly, and engage with your audience.

There is always a critical piece that gets left out. 

In a landscape where every platform has its own algorithm, culture, and definition of what "good content" looks like, treating them all the same is one of the fastest ways to blend into the background.

Here's a practical breakdown of what actually works, platform by platform — and why understanding the difference changes everything.

LinkedIn: Lead With Insight, Not Announcements

• What works: Ask a question at the end, invite a specific perspective, or give people a reason to say something. 
• What doesn’t work: Generic quotes, announcements with no context, and anything that reads like it was written for a brochure. 

Instagram: If the Visual Doesn't Stop the Scroll, Nothing Else Matters

• What works: High-quality visuals, behind-the-scenes content, before-and-after reveals, and Reels. 
• What doesn't work: Stock images that feel generic, captions that lead with a sales pitch, and content that neglects the visual entirely and leans on text to carry the message.

Facebook: Conversation Over Broadcast

• What works: Questions that invite real answers, local and community-driven content, event promotion, and videos that feel personal rather than produced. 
• What doesn't work: One-way promotional posts with no conversational angle, content that’s copied from another platform, and anything that doesn’t speak to the reader. 

TikTok and Short-Form Video: Win in the First Two Seconds or Don't Bother

• What works: A strong hook in the first frame, fast pacing, genuine personality, and a clear payoff. 
• What doesn't work: Slow intros, over-produced content, and buried intros. 

Small Changes, Big Payoff 

The most effective approach is to identify the two or three channels where your audience actually spends time, get the format and tone right for each one, and build from there.

The brands that show up with intention on a few platforms will always outperform the ones spreading the same post across all platforms with zero tweaks.

When you’re ready to strategize, the team behind social media management in Michigan is ready to help you get there.

Want a Smarter Social Strategy for Your Business?

Understanding how each platform works is the first step. Executing consistently across all of them is the next step. 

For a deeper look at platform content strategy, check out our latest article. 

When you're ready to put it all into action, the team behind social media management in Michigan is ready to help you get there.

👉 Contact Michigan SEO Group and let's build a platform strategy that actually moves the needle.

Why Human-Centered Strategy Still Matters in Marketing

 Is Your Marketing Strategy Missing Its Human Touch?

AI is everywhere, but has your brand started to feel... robotic? 

While automation can save time and streamline processes, it’s the human element that truly drives connection, trust, and loyalty.

So how do you balance innovation with authenticity?

Why Human-Centered Strategy Still Matters

The solution isn’t to ditch AI altogether, but to supervise and supplement it with human creativity, 
empathy, and strategic thinking.

A skilled Internet marketing company in Ann Arbor, Michigan,  can help local businesses use AI the right way:

• We start by understanding your audience and brand voice.
• Then we integrate AI tools with expert review to maintain authenticity.
• Finally, we test, optimize, and improve based on real human feedback—not just data sets.

Your customers deserve more than automated noise. Learn more about the pitfalls of over automation.

Reconnect with What Makes Marketing Work with an Internet Marketing Company in Ann Arbor Michigan

Technology evolves—but the need for real human connection never goes out of style. If your content feels flat, your messaging feels off, or your customers aren’t engaging like they used to, it may be time to bring human strategy back to the forefront.

Ready to make your marketing feel more human and more effective?

Let’s talk and let’s create something your audience will actually care about.

How Good SEO Indirectly Boosts Page Speed

Are you optimizing your website for SEO?

If not, this could be your missing link in attaining faster page speeds for your website! 

It’s widely understood that SEO influences search rankings and organic traffic, yet its indirect impact on page speed is a lesser known but still important aspect worth exploring. 

Here’s how SEO practices work behind the scenes to optimize various elements of your website that collectively contribute to faster loading times: 

Structured Content 

SEO emphasizes high-quality, optimized content. Content that is well-structured, concise and organized not only ranks better in search results, but also results in smaller file sizes. 

In addition to creating streamlined written content, SEO experts also compress images, reduce unnecessary code, and put a strong focus on mobile responsiveness. 

When your website’s content is streamlined and efficient, it translates to reduced page size, ultimately leading to faster loading times. 

User Satisfaction 

Fast loading websites aren’t just optimized to appeal to search engines, they also enhance user satisfaction. 

In today’s digital world, users expect websites to load swiftly and seamlessly. By prioritizing SEO driven optimizations that indirectly boost page speeds, you’ll create a positive user experience that keeps your visitors engaged and satisfied. 

Read our latest article here to learn more! 

Boost Your Page Speed and SEO with an Online Marketing Company in Ann Arbor, Michigan! 

While SEO focuses on visibility and relevance, its ripple effects extend to enhancing website performance, including faster loading times. 

Fine-tune your SEO strategies with an online marketing company in Ann Arbor, Michigan to rev up your page speed and create a win-win scenario for your website.

If you need a hand, contact us today!

Tips to Improve Page Speed

Has a slow website ever caused you ditch your online shopping cart completely?

In today’s fast paced, digital world we have the luxury of not having to wait long for the products and services we desire. From overnight shipping from Amazon, to freaky fast delivery from Jimmy Johns, we have grown accustomed to fast paced living. 

If your website speed can’t compete with your competitors, then you’re in trouble. 

HubSpot reports that even a tiny one-second delay in page load time causes a 7% decrease in conversions. 

That’s why optimizing your website’s speed isn’t just a good idea – it’s a must for keeping visitors around, climbing search engine ranks, and achieving online success. 

Here are some effective strategies to boost your website’s speed and enhance user experience: 

Optimize Images 

Photos and moving graphics are eye-catching and improve user engagement! 

Unfortunately, there’s a catch: their large file sizes tend to slow page speeds down. An effective work around for this is to resize or compress your images, which reduces their file sizes without compromising image quality. 

There are tons of sites out there to help you with compressing images, some popular ones are Adobe Photoshop and JPEGmini. 

Browser Caching 

When browser caching is enabled, your website visitor’s browser will save some of your website’s files on their device. These files include things like images, fonts, and stylesheets. They’re saved in a temporary storage called the cache. 

This process improves website speed because your visitor’s devices won’t need to fetch everything from scratch each time they visit a page on your website. 

Monitor and Test 

We recommend using tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console to regularly monitor your websites speed and performance. 

Google Analytics and Search Console can provide you with a speed report of your page load times for each of your URLs across different browsers. 

Regularly testing your page speed is a proactive way to ensure that your site is properly optimized, so you can increase your number of conversions and overall user satisfaction. 

Read our latest article to learn more! 

Rev Up Your Page Speed with an Online Marketing Company in Ann Arbor, Michigan! 

Slow page speeds are the ultimate buzzkill, especially in the middle of shopping online. 

Give your page visitors a smooth ride but following these strategies and staying ahead of your competitors through practicing regular speed checks. 

If you’re looking for an online marketing company in Ann Arbor, Michigan to take your website to new levels of speed and success, contact us today! 

What Should You Do if You're Hacked?

Have you ever been hacked?

In the age of constant computer use, hacking is a serious crime. Sadly, it’s also very common, and the victims can suffer anything from a minor inconvenience to a completely destroyed livelihood.

If you ARE hacked, the best thing you can do is immediately report it. If you’re hacked on social media, you’ll probably get an email saying that passwords or emails are being changed; make use of the “this wasn’t me” function in those emails. Try to change your passwords and lock down your accounts as soon as possible. It might not be in your power to remove the hacker from the account completely, but you CAN lock down the account to keep them from doing any more damage. 

Once that’s done, you should talk to the support team of the platform you were hacked on. This could be the support team directly tied to the platform, such as the Meta support team for Facebook and Instagram; or, if your business website was hacked, then you may have the option to work with an IT company to restore control.

Secure Your Website with an Ann Arbor SEO Company

When Michigan SEO Group manages your website and social media, we do everything in our power to secure your data and keep out hackers. If you’re looking at Ann Arbor SEO Companies, reach out to our team here or call (877) 815-6974 to get started.

Avoid Hacking: Tips from an IT Company

Are you prepared to deal with potential hacking of your computer or social media platforms?

We decided to take a page from our sister company, Network Services Group, and share their expert advice on protecting yourself from cyber-attacks:

Be aware, be suspicious, be vigilant. Tricking you into giving out personal information is what scammers and hackers do best. Don’t give out any passwords without first verifying the person you’re talking to is legitimate. 

Use strong passwords. We recommend at least eight characters, with a mixture of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and punctuation.

Don’t use the same password for multiple accounts. Your email is a gateway to most of your other passwords, especially with the “forgot password” function. Use a unique and strong password for your email account and change it regularly.

Know where your data is saved, and make sure it is backed up. Ransomware is a new breed of virus/malware, and once a hacker infects your machine, they actively seek out all of your data files and encrypt them, rendering them useless. Make sure your data is backed up so in the case of a security breach, you still have access to it.

Use extreme care when opening attachments or downloads. Be cautious when clicking on links or buttons contained within emails or social media messages. If you’re concerned, visit the requesting site/profile by manually typing the URL. Never click on an unknown link as it may direct you to a phishing site. Never open attachments from an unknown or suspicious source.

 

Get More Tips from an Ann Arbor SEO Company

When Michigan SEO Group manages your website and social media, we do everything in our power to secure your data and keep out hackers. If you’re looking at Ann Arbor SEO Companies, reach out to our team here or call (877) 815-6974 to get started.

The Difference Between Evergreen and Time-Sensitive Content

Does your website have a ton of old content?

Do you know the difference between evergreen and time-sensitive content?

The key to great SEO is quality content. If your website has been around for a long time, you probably have a wealth of content—but contrary to common SEO advice, more content is not always better. If your website is bogged down by old, irrelevant, or repeated content, it may actually hurt your rankings. Overused content and keywords can cause your webpages to compete with each other rather than other websites, and old, low-traffic content can be dead weight to your SEO.

Evergreen vs Time-Sensitive

Evergreen content is always relevant to your business and brings in steady traffic. Time-sensitive content is relevant to your business, but may only be relevant for a short period of time. You can clean up your website by updating or repurposing evergreen content over time and evaluating time-sensitive content to see if it can be removed. Removing old, time-sensitive content is another way to help avoid keyword cannibalization. It helps boost your ranking by making way for fresh time-sensitive content.

Learn more about cleaning up your web content here!

Update Your Content with Online Marketing in Ann Arbor, Michigan

Overwhelmed by the prospect of doing a complete audit?

It’s time to turn over your SEO to a professional!

Michigan SEO Group offers online marketing in Ann Arbor, Michigan. We can take the burden of website maintenance and SEO off your shoulders, and our traditional SEO methods keep your content fresh and relevant. If you want help getting your business to page one of Google, call (877) 815-6974 or submit a contact form
here.