Yes.
The End.
Just kidding; let’s get into the details you came for.
Yes, your blog posts should absolutely link to other sources. Making your blog link out to other credible sources is generally a good crucial practice. It adds credibility and depth to your content.
“Internal links” are hyperlinks that lead to somewhere else on your website. Hyperlinks in your content that lead to a separate site are called “external links”.
Here’s why they’re essential for SEO.
Why Blog Posts Should Link to Credible Outside Sources
- Improve ranking
- Provide value to readers
- Encourage reciprocal linking (other sites may return the favor)
- Build relationships within your industry or niche. Linking out shows you know and care what others in your industry are up to.
Why You Should Interlink to Your Other Blog Posts
Interlinking, or the practice of linking to your own blog posts within a new post, is an often overlooked but highly beneficial strategy. It’s like weaving a web of knowledge for your readers and Google.
- It keeps visitors on your site longer: When you link to another relevant article on your website, it encourages readers to stay and explore more content.
- Improves SEO ranking: Search engines reward sites that have good internal linking structures because it helps them understand the context and relationship between different pages.
For example, if you’re writing about book coaching strategies, consider linking back to previous articles where you’ve discussed related topics such as writing tips for business books or benefits of hiring a ghostwriter.
Remember though – only link when it adds value. Overdoing it can make reading difficult and may even harm SEO efforts.
Tips for Finding Quality Sources
- Start with reputable websites. These include educational institutions, government agencies, and well-known news outlets.
- Use search engines wisely. Tools like Google Scholar can help you find academic articles related to your topic.
- Check out industry-specific databases or online journals for more specialized information.
Be aware that not all data found on the web is trustworthy. Always cross-check facts from multiple sources before linking them in your post. Ensure that readers are receiving precise and worthwhile material when they click on an outside connection in your blog entry.
Keep Your Blog Posts Readable
Don’t add too many links
Adding too many links can make your posts difficult to read.
When your post is difficult to read, your audience leaves, and Google could penalize you for high bounce rates (indicating that visitors are quickly leaving your website without engaging).
If your blog post is readable, then it is also searchable. That’s always a good thing.
To help keep your posts readable, use contextual links. That means adding a hyperlink as part of the sentence. This is called anchor text.
Note: Content at Scale automatically makes contextual links to keep your blog posts readable.
With contextual links, the messy URL does not appear; only the “anchor text” appears.
Balance is key. Content at Scale will not overload your posts with links.
Don’t use MLA, APA, or Harvard style citations, etc.
In marketing, it is improper to use academic citation styles.
Instead, when referencing a study or article, simply include the source title and hyperlink it directly in your text like this: According to “The Impact of External Links on SEO“, linking out can boost your site’s credibility.
Proper citation respects intellectual property rights and builds reader trust by showing transparency and reliability in your work.
Learn More and Become a Content Hacker
Links are just a small part of the world of SEO and content creation.
There’s a lot to learn. And the best place to do it is the Content Hacker Community—a vibrant setting with live monthly mastermind calls, free courses, and AI news and resources, among other things. Can’t wait to have you on board!
