The difference between internal links and backlinks lies in their origins. While internal links come from the same website as the destination pages, backlinks come from external websites. Both types of links create connections between pages; however, they perform different basic functions in SEO and provide different levels of control for website owners.
Let’s take a closer look at the difference between internal links and backlinks.
Internal Links Connect Pages on One Website
An internal link starts from one page on a certain website and leads to another page on the same site.
For instance, if there is a website containing two articles, one about link building and another one about anchor text, the connection between them can be made through a link from the link building page to the anchor text page. This is an internal link.
Both ends of this link are managed by the website owner.
Internal links are often used for providing visitors with an opportunity to move between pages with relevant content, helping search engines find other pages, and establishing connections between various pages on the website. In addition, they can be used for distributing link equity inside the site.
All this can be done without involving any other website in the process. The connection is created only inside the site.
Backlinks Originate on Other Websites
A backlink is a link from a page on one website to a page on another website.
So, for example, if some SEO publication contains an article that references the research page on your website, your research page has received a backlink.
This changes one of the crucial elements of this connection. It originates outside the website.
In most cases, you do not have as much control over a backlink as over an internal one. It is another publisher who decides whether to create a backlink, which page to reference, and even whether to keep this link active.
This external origin determines another aspect of the backlink’s nature. The link from another website can be considered an external reference to the content of your website rather than a connection created between your pages.
Control over the Link Is a Key Difference
This difference becomes more evident when looking at the possibilities of creating and manipulating the link.
In the case of internal links, it is possible to add, move, edit, or delete links on a website. For instance, you can create an internal link to a new article connecting it with an old one.
A backlink depends on another website.
Even if you inform some publisher about the existence of your page, the link will appear on a page you don’t control. Its content and links can be edited or deleted at any time.
It means that control over the link is one of the main differences between these types of links.
They Have Different Basic SEO Functions
Internal links and backlinks can both be used for SEO, but their roles can be significantly different.
Internal links are used for connecting the site’s pages. In this way, they provide navigation opportunities, help in finding pages, and establish connections between related content. In addition, they can be used for distributing link equity between the site’s pages.
A backlink creates a connection to the site from outside. It can provide additional referral traffic and external signals for search engines.
Although these two types of links can perform some similar functions, they start from different points.
One is used within the site. The other establishes a connection between the website and external pages.
Both Types of Links Can Be Used Together
It doesn’t mean that one of the types should be preferred over another.
Let’s imagine that a detailed guide has received backlinks from several external websites. So, this page is already connected to several external sites. If this guide has internal links to other pages of the same website, these pages get connected with the guide internally.
Thus, backlinks and internal links do different things here.
The backlinks create external connections to the guide. Internal links create ways for visitors to move from the guide into other areas of the site.
This is why the question about internal links vs. backlinks being better is irrelevant. Each link solves a specific problem.
Source of the Link Determines the Difference
When comparing internal links vs. backlinks, we need to consider the source of the link first.
If one page contains a link to another page of the same website, it is an internal link. If a page of another website contains a link to your website, your website has received a backlink.
And from this point come several other differences: control over the link, the place where it was created, and the basic function in SEO.
Internal links create connections inside the site. Backlinks create connections between the site and other sites on the Internet. And the site can use them together precisely because of these differences.
