In the interconnected world of the web, no website is an island. Linking to external resources is a natural and important part of creating a valuable and authoritative website. By providing your users with links to other high-quality, relevant resources, you can enhance their experience and establish your own site as a trusted hub of information. This guide will explore the benefits of linking to external resources and how to do it in a way that benefits your SEO.

Think of your website as a library. While you may have a great collection of books, you can’t possibly have every book on every topic. By providing your users with a map to other great libraries, you can help them to find the information they’re looking for and establish your own library as a valuable starting point for their research. For a deeper dive into the world of linking, see our article on link structure. You can also learn about internal other resources and browse the full list of External Pages category pages.

An illustration of a bridge connecting two islands, symbolizing the connection created by linking to external resources.

Your Guide to a More Connected and Authoritative Website

Linking to external resources is a great way to provide more value to your users, but it’s important to do it in a way that benefits your SEO. Here are some tips for linking to external resources:

  • Link to High-Quality, Relevant Resources: Only link to websites that are reputable, authoritative, and relevant to your own content.
  • Use Descriptive Anchor Text: As with internal links, it’s important to use descriptive anchor text for your external links. This will help both users and search engines to understand the content of the linked-to page.
  • Don’t Overdo It: While linking to external resources is a good thing, you don’t want to overdo it. A few well-placed external links are much more valuable than a long list of irrelevant links.
  • Use the ‘nofollow’ Attribute When Appropriate: If you’re linking to a site that you don’t want to endorse, such as a competitor or a site with questionable content, you should use the ‘nofollow’ attribute to prevent it from passing link equity.

The SEO Power of a Well-Connected Website

Linking to external resources can have a positive impact on your SEO. By providing your users with links to other high-quality, relevant resources, you can establish your site as a trusted authority on a topic. This can lead to increased engagement, more backlinks, and improved rankings. For more on the importance of a well-rounded SEO strategy, check out this guide to external links from Moz.

Don’t be afraid to build bridges to other websites. By taking a strategic approach to your external linking, you can create a more valuable and successful website. For more on how to create a winning on-page strategy, see our article on on-page SEO. For another great resource on external linking, check out this article from Search Engine Land.

An illustration of two hands shaking, symbolizing the mutually beneficial relationship created by linking to external resources.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it bad to link to other websites?

No, it’s not bad to link to other websites. In fact, it can be beneficial for your SEO. Linking to high-quality, relevant resources can help to establish your site as a trusted authority on a topic.

How many external links should I have on a page?

There is no magic number of external links that you should have on a page. The important thing is to only link to high-quality, relevant resources that will provide value to your users.

Should I use ‘nofollow’ on my external links?

You should use the ‘nofollow’ attribute on any external links that you don’t want to endorse, such as links in user-generated content or sponsored links. For most other external links, it’s fine to let them pass link equity.

Ready to build some bridges? Start your Creeper audit today and see how you can improve your external linking strategy.