# New Template Linking Checklist

**Last Updated:** 2026-03-18

Use this checklist when publishing a new template to ensure proper internal linking. Parallel to [NEW_TOOL_LINKING_CHECKLIST.md](../../content/tools/NEW_TOOL_LINKING_CHECKLIST.md) and [NEW_POST_LINKING_CHECKLIST.md](../../content/blog/NEW_POST_LINKING_CHECKLIST.md).

## Pre-Publication Checklist

### 1. Data and Mapping Updates

- [ ] **blog-template-mapping.json** – Add topic→template URL mappings in `docs/data/blog-template-mapping.json` templates section (e.g. `"Dienstplan"`, `"dienstplan"` → `["/vorlagen/dienstplan-excel-vorlage"]`). Include synonyms and common variants.
- [ ] **template-internal-link-targets.json** – Add entry to `docs/systems/templates/template-internal-link-targets.json` (product, tools, related_templates, blog)
- [ ] **template-internal-link-mapping.json** – Add entry to `docs/data/template-internal-link-mapping.json` (lexikon, tools, product per topic)

### 2. Run Audits

- [ ] Run `php v2/scripts/blog/audit-blog-template-links.php --suggest-placements`
- [ ] Review `docs/data/blog-template-links-audit.json` for posts missing the template link
- [ ] Run `php v2/scripts/templates/suggest-template-contextual-links.php --template={slug}` (for the new template's own content)
- [ ] Run `php v2/scripts/templates/validate-template-internal-links.php --template={slug}`

### 3. Blog Post Links

- [ ] Add contextual links to relevant blog posts (1–2 per post when topic matches)
- [ ] Use descriptive anchor text (e.g. "kostenlose Dienstplan-Vorlage")
- [ ] Add entries to `internal_links` in post JSON with `target_type: "template"`, `normalized_url`, `anchor_text`, `reasoning`

### 4. Tools and Downloads Cross-Linking

- [ ] Find content mentioning the topic: `php v2/scripts/internal-linking/find-content-mentioning-topic.php --topic={topic}` (or `grep -r '{topic}' v2/pages/tools_*.php v2/pages/download_*.php`)
- [ ] Add at least one contextual link where topic is discussed

### 5. Documentation and Cursor Rules

- [ ] Add to INTERNAL_LINKING_GUIDE.md Topic-to-Template table if applicable (see `docs/content/blog/guides/INTERNAL_LINKING_GUIDE.md`)

## Post-Publication

- [ ] Run link validation: `python3 v2/scripts/blog/validate-all-links.py` (or equivalent)
- [ ] Manual spot-check: template page, templates index, 1–2 blog posts with new links
- [ ] Verify links work and anchor text is natural

## Quick Reference

### Topic-to-Template Mapping (Example: Dienstplan)

| Topics | Template URL | Example Anchor |
|--------|--------------|----------------|
| Dienstplan, dienstplan | `/vorlagen/dienstplan-excel-vorlage` | kostenlose Dienstplan-Vorlage |

### Best Practices

- **Contextual links:** In main content, not only navigation
- **Anchor text:** Descriptive (e.g. "kostenlose Stundenzettel-Vorlage"), not "click here"
- **Placement:** Near top of relevant sections, first meaningful mention
- **Quantity:** 1–2 template links per post when topic matches; avoid over-linking
- **At least one link:** Add at least one contextual link in each piece of content (blog post, tool page, download page, FAQ answer) that meaningfully mentions the template topic

## Related Documentation

- [TEMPLATES_TOOLS_DOWNLOADS_INTERNAL_LINKING.md](../internal-linking/TEMPLATES_TOOLS_DOWNLOADS_INTERNAL_LINKING.md)
- [INTERNAL_LINKING_WORKFLOW_2026.md](../../content/blog/INTERNAL_LINKING_WORKFLOW_2026.md)
- [TEMPLATE_CREATION_2026.md](TEMPLATE_CREATION_2026.md)
- [templates-new-template-creation.mdc](../../../.cursor/rules/templates-new-template-creation.mdc)