Search Marketing Agency
In SEO, “external” typically refers to elements or factors outside a specific website, especially in the context of links. An external link also known as an outbound link, originates from one website and points to a different website. For example, if website A includes a link to website B, that link is considered an external link for website A and an inbound link for website B.
External links are crucial for SEO for several reasons:
When reputable websites link to your site, search engines interpret these as endorsements or votes of confidence in your content. These can boost the perceived authority and trustworthiness of your site.
External links can drive traffic from one site to another, potentially introducing new visitors to your content.
Earning links from other websites can foster professional relationships and collaboration opportunities.
Search engines use external links to determine search rankings as part of their algorithms. A website that has many high-quality external links pointing to it can benefit in terms of search visibility.
However, it’s essential to approach external linking with caution. Excessive, irrelevant, or spammy outbound links from a website can be seen as a sign of low-quality content, which can harm SEO. Similarly, attracting links from low-quality or spammy sites can also be detrimental. As with many SEO practices, quality is more important than quantity regarding external links.