Outbound links point from your site to external websites. Link to authoritative sources to support claims and provide value. Quality outbound links can actually improve your content’s trustworthiness.
Why an Outbound Link Matters
Outbound links are a crucial part of a modern SEO strategy. They matter because they are a direct signal of your website’s E-E-A-T (Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness). A website that links to high-quality, relevant, and authoritative websites is more likely to be seen as a high-quality resource itself. A website that is not using outbound links can be seen as a low-quality resource, which can harm its rankings and its brand’s reputation. Outbound links also:
- Improve User Experience: They provide a user with a clear path to more information, which can reduce a website’s bounce rate.
- Build Relationships: They can be a great way to build relationships with other website owners in your niche.
- Increase Visibility: They can lead to a significant increase in qualified traffic and sales.
Across Different CMS Platforms
The management of outbound links is a content and technical SEO strategy that can be applied to any CMS.
WordPress
WordPress users can easily add an outbound link to their content. A good SEO plugin like Yoast SEO or Rank Math can help you analyze your content and ensure you are using a variety of keywords that are relevant to your content.
Shopify
On Shopify, outbound links are essential for your product descriptions and blog posts. You can use a variety of tools to find a backlink from a relevant website. A link from a high-quality blog or a news site can significantly boost your rankings.
Wix
Wix has a streamlined, user-friendly system, but you can still optimize for outbound links. The platform’s built-in SEO tools make it easy to manage your titles, meta descriptions, and on-page content.
Webflow
Webflow gives you granular control over your website’s design and code, which is perfect for a sophisticated link strategy. You can use it to create a perfectly structured page that is optimized for a specific keyword or set of keywords.
Custom CMS
With a custom CMS, you have the most control but also the most responsibility. You can build a system that automatically tracks and analyzes your link performance and provides your content creators with data-driven insights.
Across Different Industries
The way you use outbound links will depend on your industry and your goals.
E-commerce
E-commerce sites can use outbound links to build a stronger brand reputation. A site that sells running shoes could get a backlink from a blog that reviews running shoes.
Local Businesses
Local businesses can use outbound links to build a stronger community. A local restaurant could get a backlink from a local newspaper or a local blog.
SaaS Companies
SaaS companies can use outbound links to build a stronger brand reputation. A company that sells project management software could get a backlink from a blog that reviews project management tools.
Blogs
Blogs are a great way to capitalize on outbound links. A blog that writes about cooking can get a backlink from a blog that writes about baking.
Dos and Don’ts of Outbound Links
- Use a dofollow attribute: This is the default link type and allows search engines to follow it and pass link authority.
- Use descriptive anchor text: The anchor text is the visible, clickable text. It should be relevant and descriptive of the page you are linking to.
- Use a variety of link building tactics: A good link building strategy includes a mix of guest posting, broken link building, and a backlink from a news site.
- Avoid a link exchange with a low-quality website: This can harm your SEO.
- Avoid using a black hat link building tactic: This can lead to a severe penalty.
- Avoid a link exchange with a low-quality website: This can harm your SEO.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Failing to do keyword research: This is a basic but critical step. You cannot improve what you do not measure.
- Ignoring a user’s intent: A keyword should be used with a user’s intent in mind.
- Focusing on short-tail keywords alone: Long-tail keywords are often easier to rank for and can be a great source of organic traffic.
FAQs
How do outbound links affect my SEO?
It can help with your SEO by signaling to search engines that your content is well-researched and that you are a credible source. By linking to a high-quality, authoritative, and relevant website, you are essentially vouching for your expertise, which helps to build your site’s E-E-A-T signals.
What is the difference between an outbound link and a backlink?
An outbound link is a link from your website to another. A backlink is a link from another website to yours.
What is a “dofollow” link?
A dofollow link is the default link type and allows search engines to follow it and pass link authority.
Can a website with a low domain authority still rank?
Yes, a website with a low domain authority can still rank. The key is to create high-quality, in-depth content that is relevant to a user’s search intent.
What is the difference between an outbound link and an internal link?
It is a link from your website to another. An internal link is a link from one page on your website to another page on the same website.
