Once you've finished the initial setup for Rank Math, the next thing you should check is the "link settings."

This setting is an important item that affects how links within the site behave and how their rankings are passed.
Especially in SEO and AI search (LLMO), how links are handled affects content evaluation, so it's essential to configure them correctly.

This article provides a clear explanation of each item found under "General Settings → Links" in Rank Math.

Remove category base

This setting removes "/category/" from category URLs.

example:
example.com/category/sample
→ example.com/sample

Enabling this setting will simplify the URL, making it easier for users to understand.

On the other hand, if you make changes to a site that is already in operation, the URL will change, so you will need to set up redirects.

For new websites, this is generally acceptable, but for existing websites, careful consideration is advised.
It doesn't matter whether it's ON or OFF.

Redirect attachments

In WordPress, when you upload an image, a separate page (attachment page) is automatically created for that image.

Enabling this setting will redirect users to the parent page (article page) when they access an image page.

It's generally recommended to keep this enabled, as it prevents thin content pages from being indexed.

Redirecting orphaned attachments

This setting redirects access to image pages that do not have a parent page (orphaned attachments) to a specified URL.

Typically, the setting is to redirect to the homepage.

Unless there's a specific reason otherwise, specifying the homepage is perfectly fine.

External links are nofollow

This setting automatically adds "rel="nofollow"" to all external links in posts and pages.

The `nofollow` attribute is used to prevent the linked site from receiving SEO rankings.

However, if you add the nofollow attribute to all external links, it may become more difficult for trusted sites to be ranked highly.

Therefore, it is recommended to turn this setting off and individually apply the nofollow attribute only to the necessary links.

Image file links are nofollow

This setting automatically adds the nofollow attribute to links to image files.

For normal website operation, it's fine to leave this setting turned off.

Image links themselves are rarely used for SEO purposes, so unless there is a specific reason, there is no need to change them.

Open external link in a new tab/window

This setting will open external links in a new tab when you click on them.

Enabling this setting will make it less likely for users to leave the site, leading to improved user engagement.

From a usability standpoint, it's recommended to keep it enabled.

summary

Rank Math's link settings are important because they affect the internal structure of your site and how your ranking is conveyed.

The points you should pay particular attention to are as follows:

• Enable attachment redirection.
• Do not set the nofollow attribute for external links in bulk.
• External links will open in a new tab.

By setting these correctly, you can create a site structure that is suitable not only for SEO but also for AI search.

Make sure to set everything up properly during the initial setup stage.