Sitelinks
Sitelinks are the extra links to a site's internal pages that Google displays grouped beneath that site's main search result. Google generates them automatically by analyzing a site's link structure, and they appear most often on top results for branded queries.
- Sitelinks are a SERP feature in which links to a site's internal pages appear grouped beneath its main search result.
- Google generates them algorithmically by analyzing a site's link structure, and owners cannot choose them directly.
- They show up mostly on the first result for branded queries, and only when Google judges them helpful to users.
- A clear site structure, concise and relevant titles and headings, and well-organized internal links improve the odds of getting them.
- Google retired the Sitelinks Search Box in November 2024, but ordinary sitelinks remain unchanged.
Overview
Sitelinks are a SERP feature in which Google displays a cluster of links to a site's other pages directly below that site's main result. Search for a brand name, for example, and you may see links such as "About," "Products," "Support," and "Careers" sitting beneath the main listing—those are sitelinks. They act as shortcuts that let users jump straight to the page they want in a single click.
According to Google Search Central documentation, sitelinks are generated by analyzing a site's link structure "to find shortcuts that will save users time." When they appear, a site occupies more real estate in the results while gaining brand credibility and click-through power, which makes them an especially valuable asset for branded search.
How It Works
Google generates and ranks sitelinks algorithmically. Its documentation states plainly that "sitelinks are automated," and there is no feature that lets a site owner specify which links surface as sitelinks. Google also withholds them when a site's structure offers no strong candidates, or when it decides sitelinks aren't a good fit for a particular query.
Options for removing a specific sitelink are limited. Google advises that you "consider removing the page from your site, or using noindex." In other words, you can't control whether sitelinks appear or which entries show, but blocking a page from indexing does take it out of the candidate pool.
Main Types
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Organic sitelinks | One to six internal page links shown with descriptions beneath a top organic result, appearing mainly on branded searches. |
| One-line sitelinks | Links laid out horizontally beneath a result without description text; they can attach to results that aren't in the top position. |
| Paid sitelink assets | An ad extension managed in Google Ads, a paid placement separate from organic sitelinks. |
| Sitelinks Search Box | A search field that once let users query a site's interior directly from the results; Google retired it on November 21, 2024. |
Influencing Factors
Sitelinks can't be configured directly, but the factors that improve their odds are documented. Google Search Central recommends the following best practices.
- Titles and headings: Make page titles and heading text informative, relevant, and concise. Google relies on title and header tags to understand sitelink candidates.
- Logical site structure: Build a structure that's easy to navigate and link clearly to your important pages.
- Internal link anchor text: Write anchor text for internal links that is concise and relevant to the page it points to.
- Avoid duplicate content: Steer clear of repeated content so pages remain clearly distinguishable from one another.
Industry analysis points the same way. Semrush notes that "Google frequently displays sitelinks on top results for branded searches" and explains that ranking first is central to earning them. So while site structure and internal linking raise the quality of your candidates, holding the number one spot for a branded query is close to a precondition for winning sitelinks.
Sitelinks Search Box Retirement
The Sitelinks Search Box was once a feature you could encourage with SearchAction structured data (the schema.org WebSite type). Citing declining usage, Google announced its removal on October 21, 2024, and shut the feature down worldwide on November 21, 2024. Leaving the related markup in place causes no Search Console errors and has no impact on site performance, and ordinary sitelinks are unaffected by the change.