Sitelinks

Sitelinks are additional links to pages within the same website that Google sometimes shows beneath a search result. They usually appear for branded searches and help users jump straight to key sections, such as pricing, contact or product categories. Google generates them automatically; site owners cannot add them manually.

Written by Paul Hoda, SEO consultant since 2005. Last updated 8 November 2026.

What sitelinks look like

Search for a well-known brand and the top result often shows several extra links underneath, each with its own title and sometimes a short description. These are sitelinks. Smaller versions can also appear as a single row of links beneath an ordinary result, or as jump links to sections within one page.

The pages chosen vary by site and can change over time. For an online shop they might be top categories and the returns page; for a local business, services, opening hours and contact details. Google can also change which sitelinks appear depending on the exact query and the searcher’s device.

How Google chooses sitelinks

Google’s documentation says sitelinks are shown only when it thinks they will be useful to the user, and that they are generated automatically. Google has said its systems analyse the link structure of your site to find shortcuts that save users time. In practice, sitelinks are most common when:

  • The search is for your brand or domain name, a branded search.
  • Your site is clearly the best result for the query.
  • The site has a clear structure, with important pages linked prominently.

Why sitelinks matter

  • More space: they make a listing much larger, pushing competitors further down the SERP.
  • Faster journeys: visitors can go straight to the page they need.
  • Trust: a large, well-organised listing signals an established site.
  • Brand protection: they make it harder for other sites to grab attention on searches for your name.

How to make sitelinks more likely

There is no markup or setting that guarantees sitelinks. You can, however, make your site easier for Google to understand:

  1. Build a clear site architecture, with key pages one or two clicks from the homepage.
  2. Use descriptive navigation labels and internal linking with clear anchor text.
  3. Write unique, concise title tags, as these are often used for the sitelink text.
  4. Add breadcrumbs to reinforce hierarchy.
  5. Build brand awareness so more people search for your name.
  6. For in-page jump links, use clear headings with anchor IDs and a table of contents.

Removing an unwanted sitelink

Search Console once had a tool to demote sitelinks, but it was removed years ago. If an unwanted page appears, your options are limited:

  • Add a noindex tag if the page should not be in search at all.
  • Reduce prominent internal links to it.
  • Improve the title and content of pages you would rather see.

Sitelinks search box

Google used to show a search box within some branded results, which could be enhanced with structured data. Google retired the sitelinks search box in late 2024, so that markup no longer has any visible effect.

Further reading: Google’s sitelinks documentation.

Key Takeaways

  • Sitelinks are extra links to pages on your site beneath a result.
  • Google generates them automatically, mostly for branded searches.
  • A clear structure and descriptive titles make them more likely.
  • There is no markup or tool to add or demote sitelinks directly.
  • Google retired the sitelinks search box in late 2024.

Related Terms

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