External Links SEO
An external link is a hyperlink on your page that points to a page on a different domain, also called an outbound link when it leaves your site.
Key takeaways
- External links point to a different domain; they are not a direct ranking factor but support user experience and credibility.
- Use descriptive anchor text and link to relevant, trustworthy sources.
- Apply
rel="nofollow",rel="sponsored", orrel="ugc"when appropriate. - Focus on usefulness, not quantity.
External links are a simple but often misunderstood part of SEO. Here’s what they are and how to use them well.
Example
If you write a blog post about SEO tools and link to Ahrefs or Google Search Console, those are external links. They take your reader to a different domain for more information.
When Should I Use This?
- To cite a source or support a claim (e.g., linking to a study).
- To guide readers to helpful related resources (e.g., a tool or guide).
- To reinforce topical credibility by linking to authoritative, relevant pages.
What It Is Not
- Not a direct ranking factor – Google does not count external links as a ranking signal.
- Not the same as a backlink – A backlink is a link to your site from another domain.
- Not a quantity game – Adding many external links without relevance or value can harm user experience.
Quick Start
- Identify a claim or point in your content that needs support.
- Find a relevant, trustworthy source on a different domain.
- Write descriptive anchor text (e.g., "Google’s quality guidelines" instead of "click here").
- Add the link with the appropriate attribute (dofollow, nofollow, sponsored, or UGC).
- Test the link to ensure it works and opens in a new tab if helpful.
Common Mistakes
- Adding external links only for quantity instead of because they help the reader.
- Linking to low-trust, irrelevant, or spammy pages that do not match the topic.
- Using vague anchor text such as 'click here' instead of descriptive wording.
- Forgetting to apply the right link attribute for sponsored or user-generated links.
Next step
FAQ
Do external links help SEO?
External links can improve SEO indirectly by enhancing user experience and topical credibility, but they are not a direct ranking factor.
What is the difference between an external link and a backlink?
An external link goes from your site to another site. A backlink is a link from another site to yours.
Should I use nofollow on all external links?
No, only use nofollow when linking to untrusted or paid content. For relevant, high-quality sources, dofollow is fine.
Related topics
Sources
- Google Search Central — Primary source for Google’s link and quality guidance, including link attributes and best practices.
- Moz Learn SEO — Clear definition of external links and practical SEO explanation.
- Search Engine Land — Widely cited SEO reference covering external-link basics and usage.
- Ahrefs SEO Glossary — Concise industry definition contrasting external and internal links.
Reviewed by Lucía Marín, Founding editor.