# Pathway Optimizer

> Redesign internal link flow and site architecture for maximum authority distribution and crawl efficiency. 内链优化/路径优化

- Skill: `excelle/pathway-optimizer` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add excelle/pathway-optimizer`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/excelle/pathway-optimizer/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- License: MIT
- Author: excelle (https://skillmd.com/u/excelle)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/excelle/pathway-optimizer

---


# Pathway Optimizer

Redesigns internal link pathways so authority flows to high-value pages and crawlers discover everything important.

## Quick Start

```
Optimize internal links for [domain]
```

```
Build a content silo structure for [topic]
```

```
Find orphan pages and fix pathways on [domain]
```

## Engine Contract

- **Reads**: site structure, target pages, business priorities, crawl data if available
- **Writes**: optimized link architecture plan with anchor text recommendations
- **Promotes**: architecture decisions and hub pages to hot cache
- **Next handoff**: signal packet with link map and implementation steps

## Instructions

Run four phases:

1. **Map Current** — inventory all pages, internal links, anchor texts, and click depth from homepage
2. **Identify Hubs** — determine pillar pages and cluster content based on business value and search demand
3. **Design Pathways** — create hub-and-spoke architecture with contextual links, breadcrumb flows, and navigation menus
4. **Anchor Strategy** — recommend descriptive, varied anchor texts; avoid exact-match over-optimization

## Best Practices

- Every important page reachable within 3 clicks from homepage
- Contextual links in body content weighted higher than footer links
- Pillar pages receive links from all cluster pages
- Related clusters cross-link where topically relevant
- Anchor text variation: 30% exact match, 40% partial match, 30% branded/generic

## Next Best Engine

- **Primary**: [content-refresh](refine/content-refresh/SKILL.md) — refresh hub content to maximize authority
- **Alternatives**: [site-health-audit](refine/site-health-audit/SKILL.md), [page-diagnostics](refine/page-diagnostics/SKILL.md)