Have you wondered “What is external link for SEO?” The subject of linking can get confusing especially when there are several different types to grasp in the SEO world.
An external link (Also called inbound linking or backlinking) is when you add a hyperlink to a web page on another website. The site you add the link to can be a blog, social media, directory, or many other sites that can help market your site!
But in relation to search engines and it’s meaning, what is external link? When you use external websites to promote your own website, search engines will see your site valued. One of the goals is for others to share the link and help increase the numbers of hyperlinks that are connected to your website.
If you are still reading this post you might be interested in knowing anyone can look to see how many external links exist to your site or any site. If you go to Yahoo, type in the search bar link:http://www.(yourwebsite) Yahoo will take you to Yahoo Site Explorer and you can view any external link to your site!
I hope this answers “What is external link for SEO.” This is part two of a three part series on linking and how links effect and promote your site! In the SEO realm, linking needs to be considered a main factor to any small business owner who wants to improve their results in search engines.
If you want us to glance at your site or help with the linking needs for your small business website, contact us today. I hope this post takes your website one step closer in search results and the huge possibilities of internet marketing!
An external link (also called an outbound link) is a hyperlink that directs users from one website to a different website. In the context of SEO (Search Engine Optimization), external links are important because they connect users to additional resources and can impact both the linking and linked websites’ SEO performance.
Here’s a breakdown of what external links are and their significance for SEO:
1. What is an External Link?
- An external link is a link that points from your website to another domain. For example, if you include a link on your website to an article on another blog, that would be considered an external link.
- Similarly, when another website links to your website, that’s also considered an external link from their perspective (but an inbound link for you).
2. Importance of External Links for SEO
External links are important for several reasons in SEO. They help search engines like Google understand the relevance, authority, and trustworthiness of web content. Here are the main reasons they matter:
a. Building Credibility and Authority
When you link to high-quality, authoritative websites, it helps signal to search engines that your website provides well-researched, credible content. External links can demonstrate that your content is supported by reputable sources, which can enhance the trustworthiness of your website.
b. Providing Value to Users
External links can improve the user experience by offering readers additional useful resources or related information that complements your content. When users find valuable resources through your website, they are more likely to view your content as authoritative and helpful, which can reduce bounce rates and increase engagement—both of which indirectly benefit your SEO.
c. SEO for the Linked Website (Backlinking)
When another website links to your content, it passes link equity (also called “link juice”) to your website. This boosts your website’s authority and can improve your rankings in search engine results. The more high-quality external links pointing to your website, the more trustworthy your site appears to search engines.
For example, if a well-known pet care blog links to your dog training website, that external link acts as a vote of confidence, potentially helping your rankings.
d. Linking to Relevant, High-Authority Sites Helps SEO
When you add external links to high-quality, relevant websites, it helps Google better understand the context of your content and what niche or industry your website belongs to. This can strengthen your content’s relevance and signal to search engines that your page is valuable.
For example, a dog training website linking to recognized pet care authorities like the American Kennel Club (AKC) or reputable dog training resources can enhance the perceived value of your content.
e. Encourages Partnerships and Link Exchanges
By linking to high-quality websites, you may build relationships with the owners of those websites. Sometimes, these relationships can result in them linking back to your site, which is known as a link exchange or reciprocal linking. However, these types of links should be natural, not forced or manipulative, as unnatural link schemes are discouraged by Google.
3. Best Practices for External Links in SEO
To make the most out of external links, you should follow a few key best practices:
a. Link to High-Quality, Trusted Sources
- Always ensure that you are linking to reputable, authoritative websites. Low-quality or spammy websites can actually hurt your SEO, as Google may consider your content less trustworthy if you’re linking to poor-quality sources.
b. Use Relevant Links
- The external links you provide should be directly related to the content on your page. For example, on a dog training website, you would want to link to relevant pet care sites, training resources, or vet blogs—not to unrelated topics like car mechanics.
c. Don’t Overdo It
- While external links are important, don’t flood your content with too many outbound links. Balance is key. Over-linking can dilute the value of your page and confuse readers, while also leading to potential penalties from Google for appearing spammy.
d. Use Proper Anchor Text
- The anchor text (the clickable text in a hyperlink) for external links should be descriptive and relevant. Avoid generic phrases like “click here” and instead use keywords or contextually relevant phrases that describe the content of the page you are linking to.
For example, if you’re linking to an article about positive reinforcement training methods, the anchor text should be something like “positive reinforcement training techniques” instead of “read more.”
e. Nofollow vs. Dofollow Links
- Dofollow links are regular links that pass on link equity (SEO value) from your site to the external site. Nofollow links, on the other hand, tell search engines not to pass on SEO value to the external site.
While most external links are naturally dofollow links, you may want to use nofollow for links to paid content (e.g., sponsored links) or to websites you don’t fully trust but still want to reference.
4. How External Links Differ from Internal Links
It’s important to understand the difference between external links and internal links:
- Internal Links: These are links that point to other pages within the same website. For example, if you link from your homepage to your “About Us” page, that’s an internal link.
- External Links: These point to different websites entirely, helping to connect your content to the wider web.
Both internal and external links are important for SEO, but external links are particularly valuable because they help establish trust and authority beyond your website.
5. Potential Risks of External Linking
While external linking is important, there are a few risks to watch out for:
- Linking to Spammy or Low-Quality Sites: Linking to websites that are considered spammy or low-quality by Google could harm your SEO. Be careful to vet the websites you’re linking to.
- Broken Links: External websites can change, and links may become broken (404 errors), which can negatively impact your user experience and SEO. It’s important to periodically check your external links to ensure they are still valid.
Conclusion
External links are a critical component of any SEO strategy. They can help your website build authority, improve user experience, and enhance your content’s relevance. For dog training businesses, strategically linking to well-known pet care resources, dog training articles, or relevant news in the pet world can boost both your SEO and credibility.
However, it’s important to be selective in who you link to, ensuring that your external links are high-quality and relevant to your audience.