External links or outbound links are very important and helpful in SEO. They are created from your domain to another domain. More simply, we can put them as links,which you send outside, and for the receptive website they are counted as inbound links. The value of these links have grown by significant measures after Google penguin launch as related links count more now, especially those of trusted domains.
Is it risky to send visitors out through linking process?
No it is certainly not, if you apply common sense while exploiting this option. External links are quite significant from SEO point of view. Search engines give importance to external links and weigh you in the light of trustworthiness that comes from your linked websites.
Below we have examined reasons how outbound links are important for improving search engine rankings:
→ Google looks for ways to improve search standards and provide users what they want to find. If you are linking to authoritative sites, you are being recognized as a valuable source to users as well as Google.
→ Linking out seems natural, as you are citing someone else through a link. It adds to your credibility and displays your expertise and hold on the subject.
→ Your site gets more revisits as the content linked to a reliable source looks well researched and users choose to come back to you for new search.
→ Relevant outbound links make great sense to visitors, so Google praises them in SERPs too, for providing detailed information.
→ Outbound links motivate linking reciprocity. If you mentioned a website source once in your content, it can be reciprocated similarly and help you get inbound link from a dependable domain. All you need to be wary of is the reputation of website you are pointing a link out.
Outbound links are being utilized majorly as modern link building strategies due to their natural merits but there are few conditions that may prove otherwise if avoided by you. Following are the points that describe ‘what not to do’ while playing with your external links:
→ Avoid including too many links as it seems confusing and can put off visitors interest in first glance.
→ Too much links on one page can pose the threat of looking paid and can hurt your credibility.
→ Avoid linking to spammy sites, always verify the acceptability of source you are directing your visitors to.
→ Keep a check that the links you provide in your content doesn’t show any error while opening, because it can disappoint the readers and harm your credulity.
There are various ways that one would suggest you for linking out. If it seems confusing, you can stick to the principle of offering value to users in terms of information. This is one thing which Google can’t deny itself, so just focus on surrounding your links with good content and view the results.