Where to Find This Tab
Go to SEO Rank Genius → Tools & Analytics → Auto-Link Rules (fourth tab under the “Tools” group).
How It Works
Auto-Link Rules scan your post content for specific keywords and automatically insert internal links to a target URL. This happens at render time — your stored content is never modified.
- You define a keyword (anchor text) and a destination URL.
- When a visitor loads a page containing that keyword, the plugin wraps it in a link.
- The link respects your max-links-per-post setting from General Settings.
- Case sensitivity, exact match, and frequency are all configurable per rule.
Creating a Rule
Click Add New Rule and fill in:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Keyword / Anchor Text | The text to match in your content. Multiple keywords can be comma-separated. |
| Target URL | The internal URL to link to. Use relative paths (/my-page/) or full URLs. |
| Max Links per Post | How many times this rule should trigger per page. Default: 1. |
| Case Sensitive | Whether to match exact case or ignore case. |
| Exact Match | Match whole words only, or allow partial matches within longer words. |
Rule Settings
Each rule can be individually enabled/disabled, edited, or deleted. The rules table shows:
- Active/inactive status toggle
- Keyword and target URL
- Number of posts where the rule is currently active
- Last triggered date
Tip: Start with 5–10 rules for your most important pages. Too many rules can over-link your content and dilute link equity.
Dynamic vs. Permanent
| Mode | How It Works | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Dynamic (default) | Links are injected at render time. Your database content stays clean. Disabling a rule removes all its links instantly. | Most sites — safe, reversible, no database changes |
| Permanent | Links are written directly into the post content in the database. Irreversible without manual editing. | Static sites or when you need links visible in REST API / headless CMS |
Warning: Permanent mode modifies your database. Always back up before enabling it. Dynamic mode is recommended for most users.
Troubleshooting
Rule Not Triggering
- Check that the rule is set to Active.
- Verify the keyword exists in your content exactly as typed (check case sensitivity).
- The global max-links-per-post limit may be reached — increase it in General Settings.
- Links are not inserted into headings, existing links, or code blocks.
Too Many Links on a Page
- Lower the Max Links per Post on individual rules.
- Reduce the global max-links-per-post in General Settings.