Interlinking pages in Confluence is an important way to improve navigation and discoverability of content. Well-connected pages lead to higher user engagement and satisfaction.
Table of Contents
Why Interlink Pages
Here are some of the key benefits of interlinking Confluence pages:
Links allow users to easily navigate from one related page to another, connecting information across your Confluence site. This improves the overall user experience.
Increased Discoverability
Interlinks make it easier to discover related content. Users can follow links to find additional information, rather than having to search for it.
Higher Search Rankings
Pages with more incoming and outgoing links tend to rank higher in Confluence search results. Interlinking shows search algorithms the relationships between pages.
User Engagement
Studies show that users spend more time on sites where it is easier to find related information. Interlinking keeps users engaged with more content.
Best Practices for Interlinking
Follow these best practices when interlinking Confluence pages:
Link to Related Pages
Link to pages that provide additional details, context, or background information related to the current page. Think about what questions users may have and link to pages that answer them.
Use Descriptive Link Text
Avoid generic link text like “click here” or “this page”. Use text that describes what the user will find on the linked page. This helps users evaluate if they want to follow the link.
Link Early and Often
Include links near the beginning of pages, under relevant headings, or anywhere it makes sense contextually. The more quality links you provide, the better.
Check Links Regularly
Check that your links point to existing pages and work correctly. Links to deleted pages negatively impact user experience.
Use Bidirectional Linking
Where appropriate, link back and forth between closely related pages. This strengthens the relationships between the pages in search algorithms.
Link to Section Headings
If a page section is particularly relevant, link directly to its heading rather than the page. This gets the user right to the most useful part.
Confluence Linking Methods
There are several ways to create links between Confluence pages:
Autocomplete
Start typing a page name and select the autocomplete suggestion. This automatically inserts a link using the page title as the text.
Search
Use the link dialog search to find pages to link to based on title, label, or other properties. Select a suggested page from the results to insert a link.
Page Hierarchy
Link to sibling pages under the same parent for logical grouping and relationships. The page hierarchy outlines can help with this.
Recently Viewed
Quickly link to pages you’ve visited recently right from the link dialog, without having to search for them.
Link Macro
For advanced scenarios, use the Link Macro to control link text, tooltips, and other formatting options.
Example Interlinking Strategies
Here are some ideas for interlinking related pages:
Link Between Overview and Detail Pages
Create an overview page that summarizes key information, and link to detail pages that cover individual aspects in-depth.
Link Concept Pages
For broad topics like products, services, processes etc., create an intro page that provides links out to specific concept pages.
Link Related Processes
Document processes that utilize common components in separate pages, with links connecting the integrated processes.
Link to Supporting Information
Link to pages like terminology definitions, acronym lists, standard operating procedures, and reference material from pages that reference those concepts.
Conclusion
By interlinking your Confluence pages, you can create an intuitive, interconnected web of information that engages users. Focus on linking related content with descriptive text to provide a seamless navigation experience. Consistently maintain your links and they will pay dividends in usage and search visibility over the long haul.
