---
name: internal-linking-optimizer
description: Audit a supplied page and link inventory for orphan pages, crawl depth, and relevant contextual links; return specific source, target, and anchor recommendations.
---

# Internal links

Use the supplied crawl, URL inventory, content, and business priorities. State coverage and date. A sitemap lists URLs, not incoming links; incomplete link data cannot establish true orphans.

Build a directed graph with every inventoried page, including pages absent from the edge list. Count distinct incoming source pages, excluding self-links. Separate navigational and contextual links when the export identifies them. Keep broken, redirected, and nofollow links visible as separate diagnostics; do not silently reinterpret them as nonexistent links.

An orphan has no incoming links from other inventoried pages. A page with one incoming link is underlinked against Mike's preferred target, not an orphan. Distinguish an isolated component from a page reachable from the homepage. Preserve URL case, query meaning, and trailing slash distinctions unless canonical evidence supports merging them.

Mike's working architecture targets are two relevant incoming links per important page, most useful pages within three clicks of home, and links from home to top-level sections. These are planning targets, not Google ranking requirements. Note justified exceptions instead of adding irrelevant links to meet a quota.

Prioritize topical relationships: hubs and supporting pages, useful return paths, and contextual bridges. Each proposed addition needs a real source passage or topic, an existing target, descriptive anchor text, and a reason. Exclude existing pairs, self-links, and duplicates. If placement evidence is missing, label the proposal for editorial review.

Use graph scores only as optional diagnostics when requested; never invent PageRank shares, authority scores, traffic, or ranking gains. Do not require unrelated skill chains, a paid entity service, or main-PC paths.

Return the requested format. Otherwise give a compact issue table and source–target–anchor action list, with evidence and coverage limits. For large exports, calculate graph metrics with a local script and check a sample of the underlying rows.