Why are Outbound links talked about so little?

10 years ago

Originally Posted by sierracharlie

Everybody talks about content, content and more content.

But, good content, no matter how original is always going to reference other sources. ( just look at any academic journal and you will see how many references there are in it)

But, compared to other SEO techniques, I rarely hear people say "the problem with your site is you have too few outbound links..."

Can anyone explain this one?

I guess it is because there is no (hard) evidence that Google is rewarding sites with more outbound links at this moment, however high quality sites these links are pointed to. Although I think it is a good idea to mix in some OBLs to authority sites here and there, if they are relevant.

Once Google starts to do it (or becomes obvious it does), I'm sure everyone will start talking about it...

Thanks

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sierracharlie

10 years ago

I think it makes perfect sense for Google.

Does'nt Matt Cutts always state how you have to make your sites for your users first and foremost?

I mean lets say, for example, if you were to write an article on "Mars Exploration"

If that article had any rigour to it - it would include links to NASA, Science Journals, Popular Science Magazines, University pages.

This would inform your users more and make their research easier.

Thanks
2 replies

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PBScott

10 years ago

Originally Posted by sierracharlie

I think it makes perfect sense for Google.

Does'nt Matt Cutts always state how you have to make your sites for your users first and foremost?

I mean lets say, for example, if you were to write an article on "Mars Exploration"

If that article had any rigour to it - it would include links to NASA, Science Journals, Popular Science Magazines, University pages.

This would inform your users more and make their research easier.

Rumors have it that they do this already, and that it is related to your authority score.

BTW Matt Cutts is not SEO, SERPS or Page rank, he is on the "Webspam Team". He would only care if you we're spamming links to try and gain power in Google. His job is to eliminate spam. Larry Page I think is still the guy that still makes the algorithms which decide what is "of value".

Thanks

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nettiapina 10 years ago

Originally Posted by sierracharlie

If that article had any rigour to it - it would include links to NASA, Science Journals, Popular Science Magazines, University pages.

But it doesn't have to. Web users are not writing for peer reviewed scientific publications so they have no requirement to list their sources. Even most of the more rigorously investigated pieces don't have links.

Granted, I'd also find it somewhat plausible that Google might do something like this, but the SEO benefit claim would have to come from an industry source I trust. Until that it's just a fun little thought experiment.
- Thanks
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Who told me this? An ex Google web spam engineer.

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yukon

Banned 10 years ago

Originally Posted by sierracharlie

Everybody talks about content, content and more content.

But, good content, no matter how original is always going to reference other sources. ( just look at any academic journal and you will see how many references there are in it)

But, compared to other SEO techniques, I rarely hear people say "the problem with your site is you have too few outbound links..."

Can anyone explain this one?

It doesn't matter for ranking pages, that's why it's not a big deal.

You didn't make any references in this forum thread, does that make this thread unworthy of ranking?

Thanks

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narenfomax

10 years ago

I guess if we're giving outbound links to some authority sites. It will help to build authority and kind of trust among users and also to search engine.

Thanks
1 reply

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multiplecloud 10 years ago

Originally Posted by narenfomax

I guess if we're giving outbound links to some authority sites. It will help to build authority and kind of trust among users and also to search engine.

People who use their website to manipulate ranking tend to not link to other website. However, I agree with you as the internet is about share the thing and reference each other.
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- sierracharlie 10 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by multiplecloud
  
  People who use their website to manipulate ranking tend to not link to other website
  
  Exactly.
  
  Surely Google must know this when they designed their search algorithm.
  
  Thanks
  
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- DeskCoder 10 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by multiplecloud
  
  People who use their website to manipulate ranking tend to not link to other website.
  
  This isn't true at all. Almost all the ecommerce sites, or any site trying to sell something don't link out. Look at Amazon, they don't link to other websites ... except for the ads they run at the bottom of some product pages (which they make money on).
  
  Thanks
  
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- yukon Banned 10 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by multiplecloud
  
  People who use their website to manipulate ranking tend to not link to other website.
  
  Take a gander at ehow, you won't be disappointed.
  
  Thanks
  
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Oscarfishlover

10 years ago

It would be too easy if all you needed to do was put outbound links on your own website. I've got a ton of outbound links to very good quality websites on my links page and I can't say I have noticed a big difference. Surely the whole point of inbound links is to pinpoint the good quality websites? Any crappy old website could put a pile of outbound links on their site, but that wouldn't mean that they deserve a reward.

Thanks

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DeskCoder

10 years ago

No one mentions it because (most) everyone here builds sites to make money. And any outbound link that does not somehow make you money doesn't make sense.

But this got me thinking ... what if I link to Godaddy like this:
<a href="hxxp://godaddy.com>Godadday</a>

But when the user clicks the link, I just use javascript to redirect to my affiliate link. Seems dirty, but bots will see a legit link, users (with javascript) will click the affiliate link.

Thanks

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webdevpro

10 years ago

Just guessing that the sites that are getting backlinks (via outbound) will have more benefit (traffic and/or PR wise) compared to the ones that are providing it.

Thanks
1 reply

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paulgl

10 years ago

Like, um,...I want to tell people that I ripped off another site? That I
want people to surf out of my site because there's a better one? I
want people to not stay on my site? I want to just be a doorway page
for another?

Holy cow people. If you can't get your own traffic, I aint gonna donate
mine.

Any fool who wants to link out, go for it. I only want people to click on
an ad when surfing out...not to get more information because my site
sucks.

I can't believe what some of you believe.

Paul

Thanks
2 replies

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jxam69

10 years ago

Originally Posted by paulgl

Like, um,...I want to tell people that I ripped off another site? That I
want people to surf out of my site because there's a better one? I
want people to not stay on my site? I want to just be a doorway page
for another?

Or, like, um....

I want to link to the research paper/authoritative source which validates the claims I'm making
I want to link to additional resources which would benefit the reader but which aren't appropriate for including in my article or a separate article on my site
I want to link to another site as part of a strategy to gain their attention

Paul, you have some good things to say at times, but the signal to noise ratio of your contributions is in decline.

Thanks

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nik0

Banned 10 years ago

Originally Posted by paulgl

Like, um,...I want to tell people that I ripped off another site? That I
want people to surf out of my site because there's a better one? I
want people to not stay on my site? I want to just be a doorway page
for another?

Holy cow people. If you can't get your own traffic, I aint gonna donate
mine.

Any fool who wants to link out, go for it. I only want people to click on
an ad when surfing out...not to get more information because my site
sucks.

I can't believe what some of you believe.

Paul

Totally agree with this.

Thanks

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UnkwnUsr

10 years ago

Linking to a spammy site may hurt you but linking to an authority site isn't going to help your rankings at all. It will help keep the authority site firmly established on the front page of Google though. So if that's what you're after then go for it.

Thanks

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sweezeter

10 years ago

Outbound links have been talked about FOREVER, I mean I know SEO guys that would link out to credible sources when SEO for Google first started.

I believe you are mistaken link building for outbound links, but maybe I'm wrong. This is a very old strategy and discussion.

[ 1 ] Thanks

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whitehart

10 years ago

I'm not an expert. However, the following Moz Blog illustrates the benefit of outbound links:

External Linking Good For SEO? - Whiteboard Friday - Moz

Thanks
1 reply

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yukon Banned 10 years ago

Originally Posted by whitehart

I'm not an expert. However, the following Moz Blog illustrates the benefit of outbound links:

External Linking Good For SEO? - Whiteboard Friday - Moz

Great, moz, reciprocal links and an author that wasn't sure he's doing the right thing.

I am not sure which method is right. I know I prefer this one, but a lot of people actually prefer this one.
- Thanks
- 1 reply
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- whitehart 10 years ago
  
  I think there are +'s and -'s to both approaches.
  
  Personally, I favour linking out.
  
  Thanks
  
  1 reply
  
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  dburk 10 years ago
  
  Hi sierracharlie,
  
  The benefits of outbound linking for SEO has been discussed many times on this forum, it just gets lost in all the noise.
  
  Let me google that for you
  
  Thanks
  
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MillionDollarBucks

10 years ago

Outbound link doesn't harm so bad if they are relevant and from authority site.

Thanks

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arianna143

10 years ago

Originally Posted by sierracharlie

Everybody talks about content, content and more content.

But, good content, no matter how original is always going to reference other sources. ( just look at any academic journal and you will see how many references there are in it)

But, compared to other SEO techniques, I rarely hear people say "the problem with your site is you have too few outbound links..."

Can anyone explain this one?

Have you ever listen Google new link building algorithms. There was a statement that your website should have less OBL and you have good backlinks from those website which have low OBL.
Do you know why we use OBL??? We use OBL for only to send the forward links to another website then why this would plus point. It would be negative point as your website link juice is going forward to other website.

Thanks

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Why are Outbound links talked about so little?

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