What is an External Link? (+ How to Use Them Effectively)

Last Updated August 17, 2024

Have you ever clicked a link on a website and ended up on another site? We’ve all done that, right? That’s called an external link.

An external link is when you include a link in your blog post that directs readers to another website, blog post, video, or any external resource.

Watch "External Links Explained: How They Benefit Your Blog" on YouTube

External links are incredibly useful for bloggers. They provide additional value to your readers by pointing them to resources where they can learn more about a topic, especially if you don’t have room to fully expand on it within your post. Search engines like Google also love external links to authoritative websites – their algorithms take this into account when evaluating your content’s authority.

The Benefits of Using External Links

Using external links on your blog offers several advantages:

1. Increased Authority: By linking to reputable, high-quality websites, you demonstrate your blog’s authority and credibility in your niche.

2. Better User Experience: External links give your readers easy access to additional information, enhancing their overall experience on your blog.

3. Search Engine Optimization: Search engines favor content that links to authoritative sources, potentially boosting your search rankings.

How to Use External Links Effectively

While external links are beneficial, it’s important to use them strategically. Here are some tips:

Link to Relevant, High-Quality Sources: Make sure the websites you link to are trustworthy, informative, and directly relevant to the topic at hand.
Avoid Linking to Direct Competitors: If you’re trying to rank for a specific keyword or topic, don’t link out to a competitor’s content that directly competes with yours.
Use Descriptive Anchor Text: Instead of using generic phrases like “click here,” craft descriptive anchor text that accurately represents the linked content.
Open Links in a New Tab or Window: This ensures that readers can easily return to your blog after visiting the external link.

Conclusion

External links are a powerful tool for bloggers. They enhance the user experience, establish your authority, and can even boost your search engine rankings.

However, it’s crucial to use them judiciously, linking only to high-quality, relevant sources while avoiding direct competitors. By striking the right balance, external links can take your blog to new heights.

What is an external link, and how is it different from an internal link?

An external link is a link on your site that takes readers to a different website.

An internal link keeps people on your own site by sending them to another page you own. If you want a deeper walkthrough, see this guide to internal linking.

Use external links when a trusted source adds helpful proof, stats, or extra steps. Use internal links when you want readers to continue learning from your own related posts.

Do external links help SEO, or can they hurt my rankings?

External links can help SEO when they point to high-quality, relevant sources. They show search engines and readers that you did your homework and that your content is connected to trusted info.

They can hurt if you link to spammy sites, unrelated pages, or pages that look unsafe. Always check the source and make sure it truly supports the point you are making.

Also remember that links are part of how authority flows on the web. If you want the basics behind that idea, read PageRank basics.

When should I use nofollow on external links?

Use nofollow when you do not want to pass SEO value through a link. This is common for paid links, affiliate links, sponsored content, or user-generated links like blog comments.

Nofollow can help you stay compliant with search engine guidelines while still giving readers a useful resource. It is a simple way to be transparent and protect your site.

If you want a clear explanation and examples, see RightBlogger’s nofollow link guide.

How many external links should I include in a blog post, and where should they go?

Include external links only when they add real value, not just to stuff your post with sources. A few strong links usually beat a long list of weak ones.

Place links near the sentence they support, like a stat, quote, or definition. This helps readers understand why the link is there and what they will get from it.

Try to avoid linking to a direct competitor’s page that targets the same keyword as your post. If you need to reference a competing idea, look for a neutral source like a study, tool docs, or a well-known publication.

How can RightBlogger help me use external links more effectively?

RightBlogger can help you plan and improve your linking as part of a smoother writing and SEO workflow. The goal is to save time while still keeping links relevant and useful.

If you share links in emails, ads, or social posts, you can build UTM links to track clicks in your analytics. This makes it easier to see which external resources and promotions actually work.

After publishing, you can use SEO Reports to spot SEO issues and improvement ideas. That includes making sure your content is well supported and easy for readers to trust.