External linking is a fundamental SEO strategy that often gets less attention than it deserves. If you’re managing a website in Nigeria and want to build credibility, boost rankings, and increase your website’s authority, external linking should be a priority. In this article, we’ll explore the best external linking strategies designed for Nigerian websites. We’ll cover the essentials, give examples, and provide actionable steps to help you succeed with external links!
What is External Linking or Outbound Linking?
External linking is also known as outbound linking. It involves linking from your website to other authoritative and relevant websites. These links, unlike internal links that point to pages within your site, direct visitors to external sources. External links can play a significant role in improving your website’s SEO performance by associating your content with high-quality, trustworthy sites.
It is important to know that external or outbound linking is entirely different from “Backlinking”. Backlink is generally a link you get from other website back to your own website while outbound link is the opposite.
In summary, inbound links, also known as backlinks, are links from external websites that point to your website. These links come from other domains and are a strong ranking factor in SEO because they signal to search engines that your site is credible, authoritative, and valuable.
For example, if you link to an authoritative source on SEO techniques from your blog post, that’s an external link or outbound link. These links not only provide additional value to users but also improve your website’s credibility in the eyes of search engines. But when a website whether authoritative or not links back to a web page on your website, that is referred to as a backlink. We shall discuss about backlink in our next blog post.
Advantages of External or Outbound Linking
| Function | Description |
|---|---|
| Boosts SEO | External links from reputable websites signal to search engines that your content is valuable and credible, helping to improve rankings. |
| Improves Website Authority | Linking to authoritative sources enhances your website’s credibility, which builds trust with both users and search engines. |
| Increases Traffic | High-quality external links can drive traffic from other websites to yours, improving visibility and engagement. |
| Builds Relationships | External linking fosters networking and builds relationships with other businesses or influencers in your industry, promoting collaboration and mutual benefits. |
| Enhances Content Quality | Linking to relevant and authoritative content enhances the value of your own content, making it more informative and useful to readers. |
| Improves User Experience | External links to valuable sources provide users with additional resources and context, improving their overall experience on your site. |
| Increases Referral Traffic | Quality external links can lead to referral traffic, which is visitors coming to your website from another website, helping to grow your audience. |
| Supports Long-Term SEO Growth | A steady flow of quality external links can contribute to sustainable SEO success, helping your website maintain high rankings over time. |
| Encourages Social Sharing | External links to valuable and engaging content are more likely to be shared on social media, which can lead to increased exposure and engagement. |
| Diversifies Link Profile | By obtaining external links, you diversify your link profile, which can make your website look more natural and well-rounded to search engines. |
| Enhances Domain Authority | Having high-quality external links from authoritative sources can significantly improve your domain authority, leading to better rankings and visibility. |
| Improves Brand Visibility | By linking to high-profile websites, you align your brand with well-known names in your industry, increasing brand recognition and visibility. |
By linking to high-traffic websites, your website is exposed to a broader audience, which can lead to increased recognition and more opportunities for growth.
Understanding External Linking Better
Let’s say you’re running a website offering SEO services in Nigeria. If you mention a case study or reference a credible source in one of your blog posts, you can link to that source as an external link.
For instance, imagine you have a blog post on your website about the “Top SEO Strategies for Nigerian Businesses.” To add value to your post, you might link to a well-established SEO blog, like Moz or Neil Patel’s website, which is known for its authoritative SEO advice.
How It Works:
- By linking to Moz’s detailed guide on SEO best practices, you are showing that your content is informed by and connected to high-quality resources. This builds trust with both your readers and search engines.
- Additionally, Moz might notice your link, and if they find your content valuable, they may reciprocate by linking back to your site, driving traffic to your blog.
Best External Linking Strategies for Nigerian Websites
To get the most out of external linking, follow these strategies:
| Strategy | Description |
|---|---|
| Link to Reputable and Relevant Sources | Always choose high-quality, authoritative websites that are relevant to your content. This boosts the credibility of your content and provides your users with valuable information. |
| Vary Your Anchor Text | Use varied and descriptive anchor text for your external links. Avoid over-optimization by using the same keywords repeatedly. Your anchor text should naturally describe the content of the page you’re linking to. |
| Link to a Diverse Range of Sources | Link to various reputable external websites, such as industry blogs, news articles, or government websites. Diversifying your external links helps build trust and authority across different domains. |
| Use Follow Links When Possible | Use “do-follow” external links when possible. These links pass link equity, improving the SEO of the linked website and increasing the likelihood of reciprocal links to your content. |
| Integrate Links Within Natural Content | Ensure your external links fit naturally within your content. They should add value, provide useful context, and help users learn more about the topic. |
| Monitor Your External Links | Regularly check your external links to ensure they are still active and relevant. Broken links can harm your SEO and user experience, so update or remove outdated links. |
What You Lose When You Don’t Do External Linking Well or at All
If you neglect external linking or fail to implement it effectively, you might miss out on several opportunities to improve your SEO and online visibility. Here’s what you risk losing:
| Disadvantages of Not Using External Linking | Description |
|---|---|
| Lower SEO Rankings | Without high-quality external links, search engines may view your content as less credible, which can lead to lower rankings. |
| Missed Traffic Opportunities | Without external links, you may miss out on referral traffic from other websites and influencers, reducing your exposure. |
| Weaker Website Credibility | Without linking to reputable sources, your website might not appear as credible or authoritative, which can affect user trust. |
| Limited Networking Opportunities | Without external linking, you miss opportunities to build relationships with other websites and influencers in your industry. |
| Lower Engagement | External links add value to your content, and without them, you may see lower engagement and interaction from visitors. |
External Linking for SEO: The Impact on Your Rankings
External linking plays a critical role in SEO. It helps search engines understand the credibility and relevance of your content. When you link to reputable, authoritative sources, search engines are more likely to recognize your content as valuable.
For a deeper dive into how external linking impacts SEO, be sure to check out our article on the impacts of do-follow and no-follow linking.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the benefits of external linking for my website?
External linking boosts SEO, improves website authority, increases traffic, and helps build valuable relationships with other websites.
How do I choose which websites to link to?
Link to reputable, authoritative websites that are relevant to your content. This boosts your credibility and provides value to your visitors.
Can external linking hurt my SEO?
If you link to irrelevant or low-quality websites, it can negatively affect your SEO. Always ensure your external links add value.
How do I create an effective external linking strategy?
Focus on linking to reputable sources, use descriptive anchor text, and integrate links naturally within your content.
Does external linking matter in Nigeria?
Yes! External linking is just as important for Nigerian websites as it is for any other website around the world. It helps improve SEO and attract more traffic.
For more insights into external linking and SEO, you can watch the video below on the topic:
Contact telaHosting for SEO Audit
Conclusion
External linking is an essential strategy for boosting SEO and building your website’s credibility. By following the strategies outlined in this guide, Nigerian websites can improve their online presence, drive more traffic, and enhance their authority. Start implementing these strategies today and watch your website rise in the rankings!
For more insights into external linking and SEO, be sure to check out our detailed posts on website link building in Nigeria and how to do a perfect website SEO in Nigeria.
