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.
Many times you hear people discussing linking in the SEO world. If you are new to search engine optimization you might be asking what is internal link? Good question!! Let’s look into internal linking and what this means to a website owner.
If you own a website, you need to be involved in the linking process. One of the ways to link is called internal linking. This involves creating hyperlinks to another web page within your own website. Note in this paragraph a perfect example of internal linking. I created hyperlinks to the SEO glossary page within our own website. In addition, make sure to use anchor text in the hyperlinks. Many times website owners overlook this entire process!
Another important factor to an internal link is that search engines value a hyperlink within a paragraph more then a list of hyperlinks on a web page. Many times people will create a page for links without any content. Be aware that something is better then nothing but if you desire to be successful, add the internal link within the paragraph just like I did in this post.
Google, Yahoo and other search engines value the structure of your website. In addition to the structure, internal linking provides the spiders additional way to find all of your web pages. (This is in addition to the xml sitemap and html sitemap navigation.)
That being said, are you applying this valuable SEO tip into your website? If not, you need to! Many people hear the word linking and assume this means back-linking. Inbound links are important, but this post is specifically focusing on the importance of an internal link. I hope this answers the question, “What is internal link for SEO?” If you need a little help with this task or are still confused, contact us and don’t wait another day!
Do RSS feeds help SEO on your website? Yes, they do! RSS feeds should be incorporated into every site you have.
Why? Because RSS feeds get picked up quickly by Google. A quick and easy way to accomplish this is by using a great site called Feedage which is a searchable RSS directory website. You can create an account and add multiple websites to your account. For more in-depth information, read from the Feedage blog, How to Get the Most Benefit from Feedage.com. Promote your content and you will see the difference!
From week to week when I visit a new website, it’s common to see a website with no RSS feeds. That’s why I am writing today to help get the word out that RSS feeds help SEO and will get your site noticed more frequently by search engines! It’s simple and easy enough to promote it and it doesn’t take much time.
So why don’t I see businesses and organizations add this to their website? I’m not sure. I guess they just don’t know or aren’t aware of the SEO benefits RSS feeds have for their websites. I hope this post will help YOU to move forward and take the initiative and be one step closer to a website optimized with SEO practices.
If you are uncertain or need some help how to accomplish this task, contact us today and we’ll get you going in the right direction. Don’t wait another day because something like RSS feeds and Feedage is a basic step for beginners or intermediate web businesses to take. ~To help you out, I added the logo to Feedage below. Click on the graphic and create an account today. Don’t delay another day! 🙂
Do you know what search engine optimization (SEO) means and how it can help you get leads for your business? If you don’t, you aren’t alone. Learn the basics of internet marketing from our South Florida search engine optimization blog. Use these tools to begin an on-line business and be successful on the world wide web!
Many people can build a web site, but more importantly, is your site found in search engines (Google, Yahoo or Bing) using keywords people search for? Once your site is listed in the first page of Google, it has to be clicked on. When the visitor gets to your site, they have to take some kind of action. This is typically called a conversion. That is the goal of good web site optimization.
Does SEO matter? Yes, it does!
If you are new to SEO, glance at our SEO glossary and learn the basics of search engine optimization. You can learn how to implement web marketing through consultation on our SEO blog! Contact us with your questions or leave a comment on our blog.
If you want us to do all the web work, we can do web development while you do something better with your time! 🙂
A Search Engine Optimization (SEO) blog is typically a resource filled with tips, insights, and strategies aimed at helping businesses improve their online presence, ranking, and visibility on search engines like Google. These blogs cover a wide variety of topics, ranging from beginner-friendly guides to advanced SEO techniques. Here are some of the things you might commonly find on an SEO blog:
1. SEO Best Practices
- On-Page SEO: Tips on optimizing individual web pages for target keywords, improving meta tags, headings, and content relevance.
- Off-Page SEO: Guidance on building high-quality backlinks, social signals, and brand mentions that improve a website’s authority.
- Technical SEO: Insight into website speed optimization, mobile-friendliness, crawlability, and improving overall site architecture.
- Local SEO: Strategies to improve local rankings, including Google My Business optimization, local citations, and geo-targeted keywords.
2. Keyword Research
- Keyword Tools: Tutorials on using keyword research tools like Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, Ahrefs, and Ubersuggest.
- Long-Tail Keywords: The importance of using long-tail, lower-competition keywords to rank faster and attract more qualified traffic.
- Competitor Analysis: How to research competitors’ keyword strategies to identify opportunities.
3. Content Creation for SEO
- SEO-Optimized Blog Posts: Guides on writing high-quality, keyword-optimized blog posts that rank well and provide value to readers.
- Content Clusters: Explanation of creating topic clusters or pillar pages to improve topical relevance and internal linking.
- Content Refresh: How updating old content can improve rankings by adding new information, keywords, and optimizing for current trends.
4. Link Building Techniques
- Guest Blogging: Guides on using guest posts to build quality backlinks from reputable sites.
- Outreach Campaigns: Step-by-step processes for running successful email outreach campaigns to acquire backlinks.
- Broken Link Building: How to identify broken links on other websites and offer your content as a replacement to build backlinks.
5. SEO Tools and Reviews
- SEO Software Reviews: In-depth reviews of popular SEO tools like Moz, Ahrefs, SEMrush, Yoast, Screaming Frog, and Google Analytics.
- How-To Guides: Tutorials on how to effectively use these tools for audits, keyword research, competitor analysis, and link building.
- Free vs Paid Tools: Articles comparing free SEO tools with their paid counterparts and when it’s worth investing in premium options.
6. SEO News and Algorithm Updates
- Google Algorithm Updates: Timely posts that explain major Google algorithm changes (like Core Updates, Penguin, or Panda), how they impact search rankings, and how to adapt your SEO strategy accordingly.
- SEO Trends: Coverage of evolving SEO practices, emerging technologies like voice search, AI-driven SEO, or video SEO, and how to stay ahead of the curve.
- SERP Features: Information on how to rank for rich snippets, featured snippets, and answer boxes.
7. Technical SEO and Site Health
- Website Speed: Insights on improving site load times, optimizing images, and utilizing Content Delivery Networks (CDNs).
- Mobile Optimization: Posts that emphasize the importance of responsive design and how mobile-first indexing affects rankings.
- Schema Markup: How to implement structured data (schema markup) to help search engines better understand your content and display rich results.
8. Analytics and Measuring Success
- Google Analytics: Guides on tracking SEO performance, understanding organic traffic, setting up goals, and measuring conversions using Google Analytics.
- Google Search Console: Tutorials on monitoring site performance, diagnosing issues like crawl errors, and analyzing search queries through Search Console.
- KPIs for SEO: Explanation of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) like organic traffic, bounce rates, click-through rates (CTR), and keyword rankings.
9. SEO for Different Types of Businesses
- Local Businesses: Tips on optimizing websites for local search results, gaining reviews, and ensuring proper local citations.
- E-commerce SEO: Specific advice for optimizing product pages, category pages, and building backlinks for online stores.
- Service-Based SEO: Best practices for businesses offering services, including how to rank for localized service keywords and customer intent.
10. Voice Search Optimization
- Voice Search Trends: How the rise of voice search with devices like Alexa and Google Home is changing SEO and the importance of optimizing for voice queries.
- Conversational Keywords: How to optimize for the more conversational, natural language used in voice search queries.
11. SEO for User Experience (UX)
- Site Navigation: Best practices for structuring your website to make it easy for users (and search engines) to find information.
- Engagement Metrics: How user metrics like dwell time, pages per session, and bounce rate affect SEO, and how to improve them.
12. Video and Image SEO
- Video SEO: Strategies for optimizing video content on platforms like YouTube and integrating videos into your website for higher rankings.
- Image SEO: How to properly tag images with alt text, optimize file sizes, and use the right formats to improve SEO and site speed.
13. Social Media and SEO Integration
- Social Signals: Explaining how social media activity (shares, likes, engagement) can indirectly impact SEO.
- Sharing and Link Building: Tips on using social media to promote content and acquire natural backlinks through sharing.
14. Local Listings and Citation Building
- NAP Consistency: The importance of having consistent Name, Address, and Phone number (NAP) across all directories and listings.
- Directory Listings: How to get listed on local and industry-specific directories like Yelp, Yellow Pages, and niche platforms for added visibility.
15. Case Studies & Success Stories
- SEO Case Studies: Real-life examples of businesses that improved their rankings through SEO, detailing the strategies used and the results achieved.
- Client Success Stories: Showcasing specific businesses or brands that used certain SEO tactics to grow their traffic or revenue.
16. SEO Myths & Mistakes to Avoid
- Common SEO Mistakes: Lists of things to avoid, like keyword stuffing, ignoring mobile optimization, or not having a proper site structure.
- SEO Myths: Articles debunking myths like “SEO is dead” or “paid search directly influences SEO rankings.”
In short, an SEO blog is a treasure trove of knowledge that covers everything from beginner-level SEO strategies to advanced optimization techniques, industry news, and real-world case studies. The purpose is to help businesses stay up-to-date on SEO trends and apply strategies that will increase their visibility, drive traffic, and improve rankings.
The question, “How much does it cost to build a website?” has a wide array of answers. I have read about websites literally costing a half a million dollars! Custom-built websites can easily cost $10,000-$20,000!
But let me ask you this question. What is the goal and purpose for the site? Do you want to gain an audience? Do you want to sell a product? Do you only want your clients or family to see it? Typically, the answer involves wanting traffic, leads, and more business sales. If that is your answer, take this into account:
Building a pretty site that can cost thousands of dollars will not get your site on the first page of Google. You can get a pretty, custom-built site and no one but your Mother will see it!
So what’s the answer to this potential problem? It’s optimizing your website from the very beginning that does it. Think about using a template to build your desired website at a fraction of the cost then getting a reputable search engine optimization specialist to get your website in Google and other search engines. The cost is minimal compared to the custom built site! Shop around and see what you find.
Businesses need a web presence. Unfortunately, many believe they need to spend tens of thousands of dollars to achieve success on the web. Not true!! Contact us today! We can help with your internet marketing needs before you lose any more time or money.
Are you new to internet marketing? If so, you probably know you need to get a domain name. Picking a domain name is an important part of search engine optimization! Many times, people don’t find out till after they buy a domain. Here is some help before you make this mistake – 5 SEO tips for picking a domain name:
- Research for good keywords in your field.
- Use a string query of good keywords in your domain name.
- If your desired domain name is not available, try it with dashes.
- Purchase the domain for a longer period of time so search engines know you are serious about your website business.
- .com, .org, .net, .us, .info all have the same value to Google. Extensions like .mx (Mexico), .uk (United Kingdom), or .ca (Canada) are geared towards those specific countries.
One other SEO tip for picking a domain name is understanding how your website gets marketed in search engines. Here is SEO Does Matter’s example of internet marketing:
Your website is a billboard on the world’s search engine highway. Do you want the possibility of some one seeing your one billboard or passing by several of your billboards? Which is better for your marketing needs?
This is why we recommend having more then one website. Normally, the best you can do with one site is to be on the first page of Google two times. With multiple websites, you improve your exposure in Google results.
Picking a domain name is a very important aspect for your business and marketing plans. Feel free to contact us if you have a question and need clarification. We wish you the best on the world’s internet marketing highway!
If you just realized the importance of an online presence, you have probably asked this question, “What do you need to make a website?” The basics of a website involves the following components:
- Domain Name – The address you type into the internet browser (typically is says www.) is purchased and owned by you. If you are just starting out, please wait to purchase this and contact us about the domain name. If this is for business purposes, you will want to include good keywords in the domain name to help with your placement in search engine results.
- Website – This can be created from scratch but you need to understand web development languages to do this. In today’s technology, there are many ways this can be achieved. If web development is a foreign concept, you can pay someone to make your site or build it yourself with a free tool like WordPress.
- Hosting – This will be where the actual web site files will reside and be accessible from the web. If you are intending on creating multiple websites, you can purchase a plan that will allow unlimited domains. (This decision should be based on what your objective is for the website.) Although there are many hosting companies, BlueHost is less expensive then many and their customer service is good.
- SEO – Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is not required to make a website. But if a website is constructed with the best components, you will get the best results. Sometimes people need to back step when they realize the need to add SEO to their website. It’s always much easier to implement this from the beginning. If you intend to make a website for business purposes, and expect t0 be found in search engines, you will want to have your website optimized. This should be started BEFORE you pick out a domain for your business.
If you are just starting out, you might be overwhelmed. I hope this helps you with the question, “What do you need to make a website?” Let us help you get started! Contact us today so we can point you in the best direction for your goals and needs.
Can you improve your marketing in 2010? Did you end well with your business in 2009? If not, you want to plan on making some marketing resolutions for 2010!
Many people do not have a budget for internet marketing in this economy. But there are some marketing resolutions any business can set up to do better with your customers in addition to potential customers.
Here are five marketing resolutions your business should put into practice:
1. Marketing Plan – Does your marketing plan consist of primarily print ads, television ads or radio ads? If so, you need to rethink the potential available in internet marketing. There are many different arenas of the web that can be marketed to meet the demands and information being sought right this very moment!
2. Your Website – Update your website and make sure it is optimized for search engines. Does your website help customers know what to do with a great call-to-action? With technology constantly changing, so do websites. Don’t think just because you own a website that you will get leads or that people will want to buy a product from you. There are specific ways to enhance and give value to your site!
3. Web Reports – Do you look at any type of monitoring of your website? Have you compared different versions or styles to see what works best with your customers? Do you get any type of analytics or reports to see what web pages are doing well and which need to be changed? If not, track and measure your website and make modifications to get better results.
4. Social Media – Like it or not, social media is here and still growing every day! Do you have a presence in sites such as Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn or Youtube? If not, there is a way to do this successfully with social media optimization and engaging with your customers.
5. Listen – The key to Social Media is listening to your customers. Today’s businesses have become lax in this area. Not only do you need a web presence, but to do the job well, you need to listen to what people are saying and change the situation to build integrity, trust, and RELATIONSHIPS. Organizations fail in this important area of social media. Don’t be another company to contribute to this problem!
If you do any of these marketing resolutions, you are going to benefit and see results in 2010. Don’t be afraid to try and test this out. Don’t be a wimp and sit there and say, “Yeah, I need to do that some day!”
Be one step ahead of the rest! Connect and market to the people who want to purchase your products! Enjoy your customers, build new customers and see results in 2010.
Have a Great and Happy New Year!
It’s that time of year….the time for internet marketing! Companies want you to buy and get their product for a Christmas gift or give an end of year donation. But is it really? Jesus is the reason for this season. Are you using Christian Internet Marketing this time of year Christians celebrate the birth of Christ?
Are you hustling and bustling for gifts? If you are a business, you know that your e-commerce is important this month. People are buying gifts for Christmas and searching for products. The funny thing is that I do get the great deals and sales in emails…but I have tried to search for some items in search engines and don’t find them in the results. Makes me wonder if companies see the importance of search engine optimization.
But this time, I am writing this post because I want to remind Christian businesses what the priority should be this time of year. Christian Internet Marketing should be helping the lost know that Jesus is the reason for this season and Jesus Christ is the savior for you and me! I know we all need money to survive and pay the bills but those of us who are Christians need to make sure we keep our priorities straight. It’s not about shopping. It shouldn’t be about the hustle and bustle. It shouldn’t be stressful. We should be sharing the good news of Jesus Christ.
So, how are you marketing this Christmas season? If you want to know more about Christian Internet Marketing, now is the time. Contact us today and learn how you can make a difference this Christmas 2009!
Have a blessed and Merry Christmas!