Sharing is Caring
If you share numbers or facts in your content, link to where you found this information. This shows you’re not just making things up.
For example: “According to a recent study, 85% of people search online before making a purchase.”
You should link to the study so readers can check it themselves if they want to.
If you talk about someone else’s article, video, or research, link to it. This gives proper credit to the original creator.
If you suggest that your readers try a product or service, link to it. This makes it easy for them to find what you’re talking about.
Sometimes you don’t need to explain everything in your own content. You can link to other websites that cover topics in more detail.
Only link to websites you trust. This includes:
Linking to low-quality or spammy sites can hurt your reputation and your search rankings.
The words you make into a link (called “anchor text”) should clearly tell readers where the link will take them.
Good example: “Check the weather forecast on Weather.com.”
Bad example: “Click here to see the weather.”
The first example tells readers exactly where they’re going. The second one doesn’t give any clues.
These are links on your website that point to other websites. When these links break, your visitors end up at error pages. This gives them a bad experience.
Websites change all the time. A link that worked last year might be broken now. Check your external links every few months to make sure they still work.
When someone clicks an external link, you can choose whether it opens in: The same tab (replacing your page) A new tab (keeping your page open too) Many website owners prefer opening external links in new tabs. This way, visitors can check out the other site without leaving yours completely. When they’re done, your site is still open in the original tab. To make a link open in a new tab, you add a special code: target=”_blank”. Most website builders have a simple checkbox or option for this.
Too many external links can make your content hard to read. Your visitors might click away and never come back. As a general rule, most normal pages shouldn’t have more than 3-5 external links.
One really helpful link is better than five so-so links. Only add external links that truly add value for your readers.
Don’t put all your external links in one paragraph. Spread them throughout your content where they make the most sense.
If you have a page where you want visitors to buy something or sign up for your service, you might want to avoid external links. You don’t want to distract people when they’re about to become customers.
Be careful about linking to websites that offer the same services or products as you. You probably don’t want to send your visitors straight to your competition.
Never link to websites with:
Links that go to pages that no longer exist are called “broken links.” They frustrate readers and make your site look poorly maintained.
A paragraph full of links is hard to read. Use links sparingly and naturally.
Always make your link text descriptive. Avoid generic phrases like “click here” or “read more.”
Always visit a website before linking to it. Make sure it’s high-quality and contains the information you expect.
You might want to know how many people are clicking your external links. This helps you see which resources your visitors find most interesting.
You can track external link clicks using:
This information helps you understand what your visitors care about. You can use this knowledge to create better content in the future.
John, the driving force behind Optisite Rocket, spent 10 fulfilling years as the owner of a contracting company, where he honed his skills and developed a deep love for the contracting industry. Seeing the dismal results from hiring many “experts” to build his website and do his SEO, he realized he needed to learn how to do this himself. This allowed him to build a thriving company in his local area. A sudden injury, however, curtailed his ability to continue hands-on work. Undeterred, John now channels his passion into educating and inspiring others. He aims to equip aspiring professionals with the necessary knowledge and tools to excel in this rewarding field.
No, good external links won’t hurt your SEO. In fact, linking to relevant, high-quality websites can help your SEO. Search engines see these links as a sign that you’re providing valuable information. Just make sure you link to trustworthy sites that relate to your content.
There’s no exact number, but too many external links can distract your readers. For most pages, 3-5 external links is a good range. The quality of links matters more than the quantity. Only include links that truly help your readers.
A “nofollow” tag tells search engines not to count a link as a vote for the other website. You should use “nofollow” tags on:
For regular links to good websites that you’re naturally including in your content, you don’t need to use “nofollow” tags.
No, you don’t need permission to link to another website. Linking is a basic part of how the internet works. However, you should never copy content from other sites without permission – just link to it instead.
Not if you use them wisely. If you provide valuable content, visitors will come back to continue reading. You can also make external links open in new tabs so your site stays open. Most visitors appreciate helpful external links and will think better of your site for providing them.
Optisite Rocket, based in Gainesville, GA, propels your business with expert SEO and website design. From Local SEO to Technical SEO, Link Building, and SEO Audits, we ensure your business stands out online.
5745 Field View Cir.
Gainesville, Ga. 30506
Monday - Friday 9:30 am - 4:00 pm
