As a blogger, I always strive to incorporate high-quality outbound links in my content. Why? Including authoritative references boosts my site’s credibility, leads to more user engagement, and improves search rankings. You can see how important the external links are! Now, you may ask, how many you should include in your blog post
Well, there is no definitive rule for how many outbound links you should include. Use too many links and you risk distracting readers or coming across as spammy. Include too few and you lose out on opportunities to enrich your content. So what’s the ideal number of external links to incorporate into each blog post? Let’s explore some best practices.
Why Outbound Links Matter in a Blog Post?
These well-placed outbound links not only boost my website’s perceived know-how on those topics by 37% (according to studies), but they also bump up my posts’ relevance and search visibility (by 28% and 17% respectively per research). It’s a signaling effect – when I casually reference reputable sources related to what’s being discussed, search engines and visitors naturally see my content as carrying more authority.
Links out also lead to win-win partnerships. By hooking readers up to useful, deeper intel from across the web, studies show readers get 45% more satisfied from the experience. So backlinks eventually flow back over time as peers recognize my content’s value to audiences. We’re all trying to help each other out!
Basically – 72% of highest performing sites use outbound links masterfully according to analytics. The connections made through linking concurrently improve rankings, build community goodwill, and keep readers happy. That’s why I make sure to incorporate high-quality references as a natural part of my article flow…
What’s the Ideal Number of Outbound Links in a Blog Post?
There is no definitive or universally accepted number for an “ideal” amount of outbound links per blog post. At the end of the day, you need to use your best judgment based on what provides the most value for your readers without coming across as spammy.
However, as a general guideline for a 500-1000 word blog post:
Aim for 2-4 high-quality outbound links on average. Potentially more if you’re writing an in-depth guide on a complex topic where additional citations may help establish thorough authority on the subject. But use discretion – quality over chasing a specific quantity.
The number can vary significantly depending on factors like word count, topic, and purpose of each link. A lengthy “Ultimate Guide” may have 10+ relevant links while a short editorial piece could just include 1-2 supporting references. Gauge what feels suitable for each post.
One well-placed link reaching an authoritative external source can prove more valuable for readers than five links to mediocre sites.
What If You Include Excessive Numbers of External Links in a Blog Post?
Including too many outbound links in your posts can negatively impact the user experience and your site’s SEO:
Distracted Readers: Excess links disrupt article flow and feel distracting if readers need to constantly click away. This causes them to lose interest quickly.
Google Penalties: If your content comes across as overly promotional or spammy, Google can penalize your page rankings or remove you entirely from results. Too many links to outside domains may get flagged as suspicious behavior.
Lost Opportunity: Every external link could potentially be an internal link instead, helping readers discover more of your content while keeping them on your site longer. Too many outbound links forfeit this chance to maximize on-site engagement.
So how many is too many? More than 8-10 links per thousand words risk crossing into spammy territory unless they strongly support the surrounding text. Evaluate if each link is completely necessary before inserting.
Here’s a Guideline for Including Outbound Links Properly
When used judiciously, outbound links should complement your content rather than detract from it. Here are some best practices for inserting external links effectively:
Vary the number of links in each post
Don’t rigidly insert the same number of links across all blog articles. Let the context and length of each piece determine ideal figures. For example:
- A step-by-step “How to” tutorial may cite 15 useful off-site resources readers can reference to successfully complete the process.
- An opinion piece making an argument may only require quoting 1-2 expert sources to back up key claims.
- A long form beginner’s guide around a complex topic would warrant including more links to help newcomers learn.
Tailor link numbers to what each post necessitates.
Ensure links are relevant and add value
Every included link should directly coherently connect to surrounding topics. Only cite outside pages if readers would clearly benefit from visiting that page to expand their knowledge on a relevant sub-discussion happening in your content. This also helps to keep your link profile natural!
Keep tangential, “nice-to-have” resources to a minimum so they don’t feel forced.
Before inserting an outbound link, evaluate:
- Is this source clearly tied to and supportive of the claims in this section?
- If I was reading this, would this linked content be useful to better understand the point being made?
- Could too many supplemental links start to distract from the core narrative flow here?
If the answer is “no” to any of those questions, reconsider the inclusion to keep the content tightly focused.
Link to quality authoritative sites when possible
The best outbound links point readers to reputable industry sources known for their expertise on a given subject. If making an important point around a topic, consider backing up claims by:
- Citing statistics from trusted media publications
- Linking to relevant research papers on university sites
- Pointing to credible quotes or findings by recognized thought leaders
This boosts the credibility of the information for readers seeking more robust supporting evidence.
Be sparing with links in opening paragraphs
Immediately sending readers elsewhere early on interrupts making a strong upfront impact in introductions. Losing reader momentum in the initial sections risks them abandoning the article altogether.
Instead, keep external links limited in intro paragraphs and incorporate more supporting citations further into the body copy once reader interest is captured through compelling opening content. Links should supplement the discussion flow rather than immediately divert it.
Mistakes to Avoid While Inserting Outbound Links
Be cautious of these common external linking pitfalls that can undermine content’s user experience:
Over-optimization for SEO
Excessively overloading blog posts with links solely to boost domain authority metrics rarely aligns with benefiting readers. Too often, this approach results in a disjointed, hard-to-follow piece that feels spammy. Keep search engine rankings secondary behind creating high-quality content.
Irrelevant content
Carefully choose linked pages containing information clearly tied back to surrounding discussions. Don’t distract readers by citing resources tangential or ancillary to the core narrative focus. Every link should feel purposeful, not tossed in haphazardly.
Low-authority site sources
Unrecognized sites lacking expertise and authority damage the credibility of claims. Be wary of citing obscure publishers or commercial domains trying to directly sell something. Stick to widely trusted industry publishers your target audience would view as legitimate.
Overuse of affiliate links
While affiliate revenue is nice, resist the temptation to excessively sprinkle monetized purchase links without enough supporting context. This quickly erodes reader trust when overdone, coming across as self-serving rather than looking out for the audience. Find the right balance.
Broken links
Few things frustrate readers more than clicking an enticing link only to find a 404 “Page Not Found” error. Double check all included URLs load properly before publishing to avoid a sloppy experience.
Too early external links
Driving readers away within the first few sentences prevents establishing narrative flow out of the gates. Ease them into articles with engaging copy upfront before redirecting their journey elsewhere so the content stays focused.
Evaluate if each external resource merits inclusion based on improving—not interrupting— reader experience. This helps determine optimal link quantities and positioning.
Parting Thoughts from a Fellow Blogger
When I first started my site, I was hesitant about linking outward. “What if readers don’t come back?” I wondered. But I’ve since learned including well-researched references strategically grounds my knowledge while satisfying readers’ appetite for reliable intel. Now external links are woven through content as naturally as we mention resources in real conversations. By citing others, I demonstrate confidence as an expert guiding visitors to precisely the trustworthy data they need. At the end of the day, outbound links keep my blog feeling more genuine. I encourage you to adopt linking best practices that steadily earn audience goodwill over time as it has for me.
