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 the difference between an external link and an internal link?

An external link sends readers from your site to a different website. An internal link sends readers to another page on your own site.

Use external links to point to trusted sources, studies, tools, or guides that add proof and extra detail. This can make your post feel more accurate and helpful.

Use internal links to guide readers to related posts you have already written and keep them on your site longer. If you want to go deeper on that, see the RightBlogger glossary on internal linking.

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

External links can help SEO when you link to high-quality, relevant sources. They show search engines and readers that you did your research and are supporting your claims.

They can hurt if you link to spammy sites, unrelated pages, or too many links that distract from your main topic. Quality matters more than quantity.

A simple rule is to link out only when it truly helps the reader understand something better. If the link does not add value, leave it out.

Should I open external links in a new tab?

Opening external links in a new tab helps readers come back to your post easily. It is a small change that can improve the reading experience.

This is most useful for links that take people to long articles, videos, or tools. Readers can check the resource and return right where they left off.

If you do this, make sure the link text is clear so readers know what they are about to open. That builds trust and reduces confusion.

How do I choose good external links without sending readers to a competitor?

Choose external links that are directly related to your topic and come from trusted sources. Good examples include research, definitions, official documentation, and well-known industry sites.

To avoid helping a direct competitor, do not link to a page targeting the same keyword and answering the same question as your post. Instead, link to sources that support your points without replacing your content.

When possible, use your own content for deeper explanations and use external links for proof or extra detail. For example, if you are explaining link types, you can also reference the RightBlogger glossary on nofollow links.

How can RightBlogger help me add external links the right way?

RightBlogger can help you write content that naturally includes helpful sources and clear anchor text. This makes it easier to add external links that feel useful instead of random.

If you are creating posts faster, you can build a repeatable workflow that includes checking every external link for relevance and quality. That keeps your posts consistent as you publish more.

For improving on-page SEO after you add links, you can use SEO Reports to spot opportunities to strengthen your content and make it easier to understand.