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.

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 on a blog, in simple terms?

An external link is a clickable text or button on your blog that sends the reader to another website. It could go to a helpful article, a video, a tool, or any page that is not on your own site.

Bloggers use external links to give readers more details or proof for what they are saying. When you send people to trusted sources, it makes your content feel more complete and reliable.

Search engines also pay attention to how you use external links. Linking to high quality, relevant sites can help show Google that your post is well researched and helpful.

How many external links should I use in a blog post?

There is no perfect number of external links for every post. A good rule is to add an external link only when it truly helps your reader learn more or understand a key point.

On a shorter post, this might be 2 to 4 external links. On a long, in depth guide, you might use 5 to 10, as long as each link is relevant and useful.

If you are writing with a tool like the RightBlogger AI Article Writer, you can scan your draft and look for places where readers might want more data, studies, or examples. Those are often the best spots to add external links.

When should I use nofollow on an external link?

Use a nofollow attribute when you do not want search engines to treat the link as a vote of trust. This is common for sponsored links, ads, or links you did not fully review.

You can learn more about how nofollow works in the nofollow link glossary guide. It explains how nofollow tells search engines not to pass authority through that link.

For most helpful, non-sponsored external links to trusted sources, you do not need nofollow. Save it for cases where the link is paid, user generated, or you are unsure about the site quality.

How do external links affect my SEO and backlinks?

External links can help SEO by showing search engines that you did real research and are willing to point readers to strong sources. This can make your content look more trustworthy and complete.

At the same time, your own site grows stronger when other sites link back to you. Those incoming links are called backlinks, and they are a key ranking factor for Google.

You can use the RightBlogger SEO Reports guide to better understand how search engines view your content and linking. Over time, a smart mix of external links out and backlinks in can boost your organic traffic.