What is an External Link?

An external link is also known as an outbound link or an outward link. It is a hyperlink that directs users from one website to another. It serves as a virtual bridge connecting diverse online sources. The distinction between internal and external links lies in their destinations. Outbound links lead users to different domains. Internal links navigate within the same website.

External Link vs Internal Links

External and internal links play distinctive roles in online navigation. Internal links are links pointing to the pages in the same domain. External links, on the other hand, leads people to pages on other websites. It connects content across the vast landscape of the internet.

Internal linking takes place when a website connects to other URLs within the same site. In contrast, external linking occurs when a site establishes links to URLs on a separate site.

Internal links pass link equity by distributing the ranking power within a website. When one-page links to another page, it signals importance to search engines.

Importance of external links

It serves multiple purposes in search engine optimization (SEO) and online visibility. Here's why they matter:

• Credibility and Authority - Whenever a website links to another reputable source, it adds credibility to the content and the linked site.
• Relevance and Context - Websites can reference external sources. This offers users diverse perspectives and extra information, enriching their experience.
• Higher Search Rankings - Links from trusted websites can improve your position in search results. It attracts more visitors to your site.
• Improved Website Traffic - It leads users from popular sites to yours, increasing your visitors and leads.
• Better User Experience - A good link can offer helpful information, keeping users happy and interested.

How do External Links Help Websites?

External links don't just improve your Search engine rankings and website traffic. It also contributes to your website's overall health and authority. They can:

• Build Backlinks: Links to your website are called backlinks and are key for good SEO. Valuable backlinks can boost your site's trust and search engine ranking.
• Increase Brand Awareness: More people learn about your brand when good sites link to yours. This can foster trust and credibility, leading to more loyal customers and partners.
• Drive Targeted Traffic: Well-placed links to related pages can attract more visitors to your site.
• Link-Building Strategies: External links are key to link-building, helping to improve a website's SEO.

External Linking Best Practices

Not all external links are created equal. To maximize their impact, follow these best practices:

Relevance Matters: Ensure that your outbound links are contextually relevant to your content. Linking to authoritative sources enhances the credibility of your own content.

Quality Over Quantity: Build external links from reputable and relevant websites instead of many poor-quality ones. 

Diverse Sources: Don't limit yourself to just a few websites. Aim for a diverse range of external links to avoid appearing manipulative or spammy.

Regularly Audit Links: Check and update your links often to keep them useful and working. Broken links or outdated links can negatively impact user experience and SEO.

External Links and SEO Glossary

Understanding the role of outbound links is key to digital marketing and website success. They help improve your online presence and SEO.

To delve deeper into the world of external links, explore the SEOLeverage SEO Glossary.