External links can provide readers with additional evidence and context. Linking to official documents, research data, statistics, and original sources increases the trustworthiness and verifiability of your content.
In SEO, external links are not something that should be avoided at all costs. What matters is the quality and context of the connection. Indiscriminately inserting untrustworthy sites or advertising links can actually harm trust in the content.
External links are especially important in content that cites sources, wiki-style documents, and research documents. Users must be able to check claims and evidence.
Key takeaways
- This is a link to a page on another domain.
- Trust can be increased by providing official documents and original sources.
- The quality and context of what you link to are important.
- It is often used in source-based content and wiki-type documents.
