A 2026 SEO article claimed topically relevant internal links strengthen a destination page’s perceived authority on a subject, while unrelated links can dilute it.

Sources

• Internal Linking Strategy: The Complete Guide to Moving Authority

  Airfleet · primary source · retrieved 2026-08-18

  “links connecting topically similar pages strengthen the destination page's perceived authority, while links from unrelated pages can dilute it” — Topic-cluster section citing Search Engine Journal

• Is Your Internal Linking Helping Or Hurting Topical Authority? Ask An SEO

  Search Engine Journal · primary source · retrieved 2026-08-18

  “topically relevant pages together help to strengthen the perception of the destination page’s authority” — How Is It Affected By Internal Links, line 158

  “can dilute the destination’s topical authority” — How Is It Affected By Internal Links, line 158

• Powerful Internal Links Strategy to Boost Rankings in 2026

  ClickRank · retrieved 2026-08-18

  “The Silo structure, by preventing links to unrelated topics, reinforces the topical purity of the cluster.” — Silo structure benefits section

  “This dilutes topical authority.” — Common mistakes: linking out of the silo

• Internal Linking Best Practices for SEO 2026

  Upward Engine · retrieved 2026-08-18

  “Linking to unrelated pages can make it harder for Google to recognize your expertise in specific topics.” — Link relevance section with Semrush case study

• Topical authority and internal-linking silos

  SEOmatrix · retrieved 2026-08-18

  “A leaky silo links out to unrelated pages so often that its authority bleeds away” — Topical silo discussion