Sitemaps and internal links address discovery efficiency. Sitemaps inform crawlers which pages exist, while internal links define how those pages relate. Together, they minimize orphaned pages and help search engines index important content faster.
Sitemap grouped by section, listing public article URLs and last updated dates. Exclude login-required pages. Remove articles from the sitemap promptly when unpublished or set to draft. Split sitemaps by section as file size grows, and reference them in a single index file.
Internal links should point to genuinely relevant content. Link category pages to articles within that category, and link articles to related reads on the same topic. Use anchor text that clearly describes the target page's content—avoid keyword stuffing. Keep the number of links moderate; don't clutter a page with excessive, irrelevant redirects.
Regularly audit broken and redirect chains with tools, and fix links pointing to non-existent pages. A clear link structure ensures smooth user navigation and helps crawlers understand your site hierarchy. Make this a monthly routine to prevent issues from accumulating.