External linking

External linking, also known as outbound links, refers to links from your website to other websites. These links play an important role in on-page SEO because they give users additional, valuable information while showing search engines that your content is trustworthy.

Why external linking matters for SEO

• Trustworthiness: External links to authoritative, relevant sources show search engines that you offer high-quality content.
• User experience: By pointing to further information, you can give users added value and increase their dwell time.
• Relevance: External links help search engines understand the context of your content better and assess the relevance of your page.

Best practices for external linking

• Link to authoritative sources: Choose websites that are trustworthy and recognised in their industry to increase the credibility of your own site.
• Avoid excessive linking: Use external links selectively and only link when it makes sense and gives readers added value.
• Nofollow links: Where necessary, set the “nofollow” attribute to tell search engines that certain external links should not count towards SEO value.
• Regular checks: Make sure external links do not lead to broken pages (broken links), as this can have a negative effect on the user experience and your SEO.

Conclusion

External links are a useful way to build trust with search engines and give users valuable additional information. By linking to high-quality, relevant sources, you can increase the credibility and SEO value of your content.