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We all know the importance of inbound links (aka backlinks) but what about outbound links? First, let’s start with what an outbound link is. All we’re talking about here is a link that goes from your blog to another site.
Yes, an external link. Oooooh…scary stuff.
Here’s three common reasons why bloggers don’t like to have outbound links:
- Outbound links take people away from their site.
That’s kind of a bummer if you think about. You do a lot of work to get people to come to your site, then send them away!
- The more outbound links there are, the less link juice other outbound links get.
This is a consequence of how Google’s page rank algorithm works.
- Outbound links don’t help SEO.
It’s often better for SEO to have internal links.
Those are actually very valid reasons. But that’s an extremist’s point of view. As long as you can find a middle ground, outbound links can actually help your blog grow. Let’s revisit the aforementioned concerns and demystify them a bit.
Outbound links take people away from their site
That’s absolutely true but if your goal is to provide real value on your site, wouldn’t it make sense to point your visitors to another expert when it makes sense to do so?
At the end of the day, you can still be the authority on your topic but I’m sure there are many opportunities where there are valuable resources related to your post that you could link to.
Besides, people are savvier than ever these days and you won’t be able to hold your visitors hostage anyway. You might as well provide them with a level of convenience that keeps them happy and coming back.
Finally, providing authoritative outbound links helps establish you as an “authority blogger.”
Increasing outbound links decreases link juice
OK, there’s this thing called Google PageRank that we have to worry about. Basically, if your site has say, a Google PageRank 6, you get a certain amount of link juice, which gets divided evenly amongst all your outbound links.
The more outbound links there are, the less link juice other outbound links their site get.
First of all, how many bloggers even have more than a PageRank 2? Here’s the deal, if you link to real sites with real useful information, you’re doing what’s best for your site. You can’t worry about how much link juice each one is getting. If you are PageRank 0, no one is getting anything anyway. And if you really are PageRank 6, not only will people still like you, they will likely also pay you to get their link on your site. See? No one gets upset at all!
Outbound links don’t help their SEO
You can make a case that outbound links do help SEO. By having outbound links to sites with content that is related to yours, Google looks at you as a potential peer in that network. The more appropriate links you have, the more valuable Google sees you in that arena.
Moreover, indirectly, these links should create some reciprocal links as well.
That means when you link to others, there’s a chance that they link back. Reciprocal links are often a good thing; inbound links are almost always a good thing.
Gabe Young is a business professional with
an entrepreneurial spirit. Gabe has an MBA and managed IT departments in the Fortune
500, creating strategies and tactics for some of the most popular websites. Visit
Gabe at Free Blog Help dot Com.
Gabe, get out of my head. This is exactly what I’ve been thinking about.
Especially your very final point. I think it pays to link out because it notifies others when you link to them – and who has the power to link to you? Other website owners, that’s who!
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Josh! Love that link, man.
You and Gabe have been hanging around here a long time. Nice to see you still dropping in once in a while. I really appreciate it.
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I’ve been here so long I really have no idea how I ended up here in the first place!
I *think* you came in from a SERP.
But I can’t really recall either.
Ditto! I feel like I’m part of the WIAW furniture :{|
I’m pretty sure we came with the domain when Dave purchased it!
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But wait, there’s more!
Two Whole Bloggers… For FREE!
Yes, that’s right. When you purchase website-in-a-weekend.net Right NOW,
we’ll throw in two complete, world-famous bloggers, Gabe Young and Josh Kohlbach, for no extra charge.
Believe me, each of these guys is worth at _least_ double your $10/yr fee.
What a deal!
You’re absolutely right! I have been asked in the past why I don’t put nofollow on legit links in my posts. I tried to explain that links are part of the web – they are in fact what makes this an *inter*net. So many people are afraid to give out links unless it’s within some sort of an official trade off – your post is spot on!
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The irony here, of course, is that I forgot to add any outgoing links to this post when I brought it over from Gabe’s site!
Darn!
I’ll figure something out.
And you’re dead on about the Web. It’s the whole point. Back before search engines, links were about all we had.
Dave Doolin´s last post ..Olympic Blogging- Running your race
The people who are afraid are also usually the ones with poor content!
So true :)
Actually the outbound links can help seo, but will help the sites you link to much more. So you must be sure that they are not competition for that keyword :).
And about Page Rank, it does not matter. Its effect is so little for ranking. If you sell links then PR matters, but even then from internal pages you lose very little PR.
One way that many people look at links is the inbound/outbound ratio. In other words, having more coming in than going out is good.
That said, not everyone plays the numbers game. I know I don’t. I like to treat my sites as organic things — ones that require a nice fluid balance.
I’ve got nothing to lose but I like the idea of giving value to any readers that happen along.
Ralph´s last post ..Outrageous Retirement – What do you love
Providing valuable links only make all of us look good in the long run. Our real visitors will come back!
I just found you…..this is great info for this newbie to blogging. Just signed up for the newsletter. So much to learn but I’m getting there slowly.
Thanks again for a great article. I’m not in this niche but still learned heaps.
Patricia Perth Australia
http://www.lavenderuses.com
all things lavender
Welcome aboard! There’s a lot here, and if you find something lacking, let me know and I might write it up.
Dave Doolin´s last post ..Olympic Blogging- Running your race
Unlike many other niches, blogging sites are for everyone!
Gabe,
All excellent points. I’ve always looked at outbound links as a service to my readers. Providing them with more related and quality information can only help them. And if it helps them, I figure it helps me and my blog’s reputation.
No reason to be afraid of outbound links here!
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Outbound links really are a service to the reader. Can’t build a web without them.
Imagine if no one provided outbound links, what kind of “internet” would it be anyway?
I guess if i considered myself the ultimate authority, I’d skip outbound links… but the fact of the matter is, you improve your credibility with your readers when you offer credible sources to some of your facts. It’s a win-win, IMO.
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Haha! Someone asked me once what the definition of authority was… I told her it’s ranking #1, #2 or #3 on Google search results.
I like Ocracoke photo #1 best.
May I suggest you install Tweetmeme? I have a dedicated group of people who love to tweet out great photo web pages.
Even Matt Cutts has said publicly on his blog that there are certain parts of Google’s algorithm that reward sites that link out a lot. As long as those links are going to good places that are relevant to the anchor text used to link them.
I think Matt was talking about Hub scores. Sites with high Hub scores pass lots of authority which helps you rank much higher.
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An amazing amount of what people debate could probably be settled with a few minutes perusal at Google’s web site.
Like always useful post Dave.. I see many blogs which are afraid of adding values to their post and not adding any useful link which may throw more light on the same topic..
For me..adding more related useful links are useful as this helps you to win trust of your readers and more over your post become more authoritative…
And it takes work, too. Sometimes when I don’t have outbound links, it’s because I just didn’t take the time to put them in.
Thanks for stopping, always a pleasure to have you visit.
Dave Doolin´s last post ..Building Your Blogging Skill Set outsourcing isn’t everything
Just finished a post with a couple of outbound links. I, in fact, am a fan of giving relevant outbound links but I don’t do list posts, weekly round up etc. Bloggers need to clear their heads off any Google page rank algorithms and start linking relevant stuff.
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I never hesitate to link to other blogs/articles in my posts if they are relevant. The thing I love about blogs is the community aspect of it. People find new blogs via blogs they already know and love. If other bloggers see that you link to them, there’s a better chance they will watch your blog and link to it in a future post of theirs (or maybe want to trade links, write a guest post, etc…) The point is, outbound links are good for the blogging community.
First time reader/commenter. I was introduced to this site tonight by my friend Patrick Lake (who is also a friend of Dave’s I believe).
Derek Neuland´s last post ..Interview with Ramsey Beyer
And linking really is the whole point of the web anyway.
I need to get Pat over here for an article. He’s a really good writer as well.
Dave Doolin´s last post ..Building from Nothing- not Building from 5-000
I think people usually over analyze outbound links from their site. They think it is some unnecessary evil, and the only way to dispel that evil is to add a nofollow to the link.
If I find a resource that could be beneficial to my readers, or I included text/advice from where else, I always link back to the original site. I try not to over-analyze linking – I just do it.
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That’s the spirit with which the web was built.
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Outbound links are something people are afraid to incorporate in their blogs!
The truth is the more you link (Appropriately) the more you get back!
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Good article, always thought different, but I see that outbound links can help in some way. thx Alex.
I think the best practice is to just link naturally and let it flow. If a link adds some value then go for it. If not, why do it.
Rob McCance´s last post ..Atlanta Real Estate and Atlanta Homes
I have just found you…..this is great information for the newbie to blogging. But as per my concern, the InBOUND and the OUTBOUND links both has the same importance for a website. By the way, Thanks again for a great article. I’m not in this niche but still learned heaps.