=== 4Linking — Internal Linking on Autopilot: Rules, Pillar Pages & Link Map ===
Contributors: 04codedev
Tags: internal linking, pillar pages, link building, seo, interlinking
Requires at least: 6.0
Tested up to: 7.0
Requires PHP: 7.4
Stable tag: 4.6.126
License: GPLv2 or later
License URI: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html

Automatic internal linking for WordPress — no more adding links by hand. Keyword rules, pillar pages and a visual link map.

== Description ==

**4Linking** automates internal linking in WordPress. You define the rules once — which keywords link to which pages — and the plugin keeps your internal link structure clean and consistent across the whole site, from a small blog to an editorial site with thousands of posts, without the manual work internal linking usually requires.

https://youtu.be/qxHGYREUh18

4Linking is built around a simple, controllable idea: **rules**. Instead of guessing or linking by hand, you tell the plugin how your content should connect — and it applies those relationships automatically as you publish.

= Key features =

* **Rule-based internal linking** — decide which keywords link to which URLs, with custom anchor text, frequency caps and priority. You stay in full control of every link the plugin creates.
* **Pillar pages** — mark your strategic pages so related content sends them preferential internal links, reinforcing your most important URLs.
* **Visual link map** — see how internal links are distributed across your site at a glance, with totals per rule and per page.
* **URL exclusions** — keep specific URLs (legal pages, login, checkout…) out of internal linking entirely, so links only land where you want them.
* **Synonyms and variations** — a rule can match a keyword and its variations, so natural writing still triggers the right links.
* **Bulk processing** — apply your rules across existing posts in one pass, not just on new content.
* **Block editor and Classic editor** — works with both, no setup friction.
* **Runs entirely on your server** — no external services, no account, no signup. Your content never leaves your site.

= Who it's for =

* **Bloggers and site owners** who want a tidy internal link structure without editing every post by hand.
* **Online editors and media sites** publishing daily, who need internal architecture to scale without becoming a full-time job.
* **SEO agencies and content teams** that need to apply consistent linking rules reliably across one site or many.

= Why 4Linking =

There are many SEO plugins, and they all have their place. 4Linking does one job well: **serious internal linking, with full control**.

* **Alongside your SEO plugin (Yoast, Rank Math)** — those handle analysis and on-page SEO; 4Linking handles the actual mechanics of internal linking. They complement each other.
* **Versus manual linking** — no more opening old posts to add links by hand. Define a rule once and it applies everywhere, including posts you publish later.
* **Versus guesswork** — every link follows an explicit rule you wrote, so you always know why a link exists and where it points.

= Privacy and data =

4Linking runs **entirely on your own server**, using WordPress's standard database and APIs. It makes **no calls to any external service**, requires no account and collects no data. Your content stays on your site.

= Looking for AI content and semantic linking? =

4Linking has a separate commercial version, **4Linking PRO**, available at [4linking.com](https://4linking.com). It adds AI article generation, semantic internal linking, knowledge bases, AI image generation, translation and automation pipelines. PRO is a separate product — this free plugin is fully functional on its own and is not time-limited or feature-gated in any way.

= Requirements =

* WordPress 6.0 or higher
* PHP 7.4 or higher

== Installation ==

1. In your WordPress admin, go to **Plugins → Add New** and search for **4Linking**, or upload the plugin ZIP under **Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin**.
2. Activate the plugin through the **Plugins** menu.
3. A **4Linking** entry appears in your admin menu. The welcome screen walks you through the basics.
4. Go to **4Linking → Linking** to create your first pillar pages and linking rules, then run a bulk pass over your existing posts.

== Frequently Asked Questions ==

= Is 4Linking really free? =

Yes. This version is completely free, fully functional and runs entirely on your server. There's no account, no signup, no usage limit and no time limit.

= Does 4Linking work with my SEO plugin (Yoast, Rank Math, etc.)? =

Yes. 4Linking complements general SEO plugins rather than replacing them. Yoast and Rank Math handle analysis, meta tags and on-page SEO; 4Linking handles internal linking mechanics. Many users run both together without issues.

= Will it touch links I added myself? =

No. 4Linking only manages the links it creates from your rules. Your manual links are left untouched, and you can exclude any URL you don't want it to act on.

= Can I apply rules to posts I already published? =

Yes. Besides linking new content as you publish, you can run a bulk pass that applies your active rules across existing posts.

= Is 4Linking compatible with WooCommerce? =

Yes. The plugin works alongside WooCommerce without conflicts and treats product pages like any other content type.

= What happens to my data if I uninstall the plugin? =

By default, uninstalling 4Linking removes its data: rules, pillar pages, exclusions, settings and the link map. There's an option in the plugin settings to preserve your data on uninstall if you prefer.

= Where do I get support? =

Please use the [WordPress.org support forum](https://wordpress.org/support/plugin/4linking-free/). Community support is provided there.

== Screenshots ==

1. Visual link map showing how internal links are distributed across the site.
2. Creating an internal linking rule with anchor text, frequency cap and priority.
3. Pillar pages configuration: strategic content that receives preferential internal links.
4. URL exclusions: pages that should never receive or emit internal links.
5. The welcome screen, with a short video and the three steps to get started.

== Changelog ==

= 4.6.126 =
* Fixed: the link map no longer shows a "Semantic" column, which belongs to the premium edition. Added a safeguard so cached scripts can't bring it back.

= 4.6.125 =
* Fixed: a few interface labels on the rules screen showed in Spanish regardless of the site language. Everything now follows the WordPress language setting.

= 4.6.124 =
* Fixed: the link map no longer shows a "Semantic links" card or column, which belong to the premium edition.

= 4.6.123 =
* Fixed: the link map could show an empty table. The stats queries no longer reference a table that only exists in the premium edition.

= 4.6.122 =
* Updated plugin listing: clearer description, refined tags and an introduction video.

= 4.6.121 =
* Onboarding: the welcome screen now opens with an introduction video.

= 4.6.60 =
* Menu order: Linking now comes before the other sections.

= 4.6.58 =
* The rule link-detail view now uses a slide-in side panel with a stats bar and search filter, matching the pillar detail view.

= 4.6.56 =
* Fixed the rule link-detail, confirm and CSV import dialogs appearing unstyled at the bottom of the page; they now display correctly centered.

= 4.6.54 =
* Database upgrade routine now verifies a table exists before altering it, avoiding notices in partially-initialised environments.

= 4.6.53 =
* CSV import/export no longer raises PHP 8.4 deprecation notices.

= 4.6.50 =
* The CSV rule import button is now always enabled; it validates and prompts for a file on click.

= 4.6.49 =
* Plugin Check compliance: safer export filenames and stream handling, "Tested up to" bumped to 7.0, and language files aligned with the plugin slug. Translations load automatically through WordPress.org.

= 4.6.44 =
* Output escaping: admin markup is now passed through wp_kses() with an explicit allow-list at output time. No visual change; hardens output following WordPress.org guidelines.

= 4.6.43 =
* Hardened database queries: post-type filters and ID lists now use prepared statements with placeholders.

= 4.6.40 =
* Backup restore now works reliably for everything the plugin manages (pillar pages, rules, exclusions and settings).

= 4.6.36 =
* Pillar pages and rules are unlimited, and the synonyms field is always available.

= 4.6.29 =
* Menu restructure: the sidebar is organised into clear sections. All old page URLs still resolve and redirect, so nothing breaks.

= 4.4.38 =
* First release: rule-based internal linking, pillar pages, exclusions and a basic link map.

== Upgrade Notice ==

= 4.6.126 =
Removes the Semantic column from the link map in this edition.

= 4.6.125 =
Interface labels now follow the site language correctly.

= 4.6.124 =
Cleans up the link map so it only shows what this edition includes.

= 4.6.123 =
Fixes the link map showing an empty table.

= 4.6.122 =
Improved plugin listing (description, tags and intro video). No changes to the internal linking engine.

= 4.6.121 =
Adds an introduction video to the welcome screen. No changes to the internal linking engine.
