Beyond Your Own Backyard: A Guide to External Links and SEO

In the vast, interconnected ecosystem of the web, your website is just one part of a much larger whole. External links are the bridges that connect your site to the rest of that ecosystem. They come in two forms: **outbound links** (links from your site to others) and **inbound links** (or backlinks, from other sites to yours). A smart external linking strategy is crucial for establishing your site’s authority, providing value to your users, and building a strong reputation with search engines.

Think of the web as a giant city. Your website is your own personal shop. Linking out to other reputable shops shows that you are a helpful, knowledgeable member of the community. Earning links from other well-respected shops is a powerful endorsement of your own quality. For Google’s official guidance, see their documentation on how Google uses links.

Key Topics in External Link Management

A complete external linking strategy involves carefully managing the links you make to other sites. The following guides provide actionable advice for common issues related to your outbound links.

For another excellent resource on this topic, check out this guide to link building from Moz.

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