What it is
Internal links pointing at URLs that redirect add an avoidable hop and slightly dilute the signal. I point them straight at the final URL. Links point to redirecting URLs. Adds hops; minor crawl/signal inefficiency. Link to final URLs. Low-medium. Inferred.
Why does internal links to redirects matter for AI search?
Adds hops; minor crawl/signal inefficiency.
How do you fix it?
Link to final URLs.
How do you find it on your site?
- Crawl internal links and flag those whose target returns 3xx.
- Note the final destination of each.
- Update the links to point directly at the final URL.
- Re-crawl to confirm direct 200s.
Which ranking and citation factors does it touch?
Direct internal links pass signals cleanly and speed crawling. Redirected ones are a small cumulative drag.
What is the impact?
Low-medium. Inferred.
What is the evidence?
Link to final URLs to avoid hops. Google Search Central, Redirects and Google Search
Frequently asked questions about internal links to redirects
What does "Internal links to redirects" mean?
Links point to redirecting URLs.
How do you fix internal links to redirects?
Link to final URLs.