February 5, 2025

How To Measure the Success of a Link Building Campaign?

Posted on February 5, 2025 (April 4, 2025) by Ekta Chauhan

Are you building backlinks but don’t know if they’re actually doing anything? Are you spending money and time with nothing to show for it?

A link building campaign should increase your site’s authority, rankings, and traffic. But unless you track your progress, you won’t know if your efforts are paying off. Worse, low-quality links can hurt your site more than they can help it.

This guide will demonstrate how to measure success. You’ll discover how to test if your backlinks are effective, how to monitor the right metrics, and how to adjust your strategy for better results.

What is a Link Building Campaign?

A link building campaign is a simple plan to get other websites to link to yours. These links tell Google and other search engines that your site is trustworthy, which helps your site rank higher in search results.

But it is not about getting any links. You need quality links from sites within your niche and with a good reputation. A good backlink campaign boosts your site’s authority and brings more traffic.

The main goal? To get better search rankings, more people visiting your site, and to grow your online presence using smart link building strategies.

Why Should You Track the Success of Your Link Building Campaign?

In this section, we’ll show why it’s important to track your link-building results. It helps you see what’s working, improve your strategies, and save time and money.

1) To Know What Works

Tracking your link-building campaigns helps you see which strategies actually work. Some backlinks improve your rankings and traffic, while others don’t.

For example, you might notice that guest posts on trusted websites drive more traffic than random blog comments. Or niche edit links from industry sites give better results than unrelated backlinks.

Once you understand what is effective, you can concentrate on those methods and not waste time. Ahrefs and Moz are tools that enable you to see what links are driving your site and which ones are not.

2) To Enhance Your SEO Campaign

By monitoring your link-building campaign, you are able to easily view what is effective for your SEO and what is not. If your rankings or traffic is not increasing, it is a sign that you need to shift your approach.

For instance, if certain links don’t boost your site, try focusing on better sources or different strategies. Small changes, based on real data, can lead to stronger SEO results over time.

3) To Justify Your Investment

Link building costs time and money. To know if it’s worth it, you need to track what you’re getting in return. Are your rankings improving? Is traffic increasing? If yes, your investment is paying off. If not, it’s a sign to adjust your strategy.

Tracking results helps you spend wisely and focus on what brings real value to your business.

4) To Avoid Google Penalties

Bad backlinks can harm your website. If you get links from spammy or irrelevant sites, Google might penalize you, and your rankings can drop. Regularly checking your backlinks helps you find and fix these issues before they cause damage.

By spotting low-quality links early, you can remove or disavow them. This keeps your site safe and ensures your link-building efforts actually help your SEO.

How to Plan & Measure Your Link Building Efforts?

This section will guide you in setting goals and tracking your progress effectively.

1️⃣Define Clear Goals Before You Start

Know what you want before starting your link-building campaign. Without clear goals, it’s hard to tell if your efforts are working.

Ask yourself simple questions:

Do you want more visitors to your website?
Are you trying to rank higher on Google?
Is your focus on getting your brand noticed more?

Your goals might include:

Earning backlinks from respected websites.
Boosting your domain authority (DA) or domain rating (DR).
Getting more traffic from other websites linking to yours.
Building local or national brand recognition.

For example, if you own a local café, you might aim for links from local food blogs. But if you have an online store, you’ll want links from popular websites in your niche.

Setting clear goals helps you choose the right strategies and lets you track if your link-building campaign is working.

2️⃣Benchmark Your Current Performance

Before you start building links, check how your website is doing right now. This helps you track if your link-building efforts are working later on.

Here’s what to check:

Domain Authority (DA) or Domain Rating (DR): Check using Moz or Ahrefs how powerful your site is.
Backlinks You Already Have: Check how many links you have and whether they’re from quality sites or spam sites.
Keyword Rankings: Check where your keywords rank on Google.
Website Traffic: Check using Google Analytics how many visitors you get and what pages they view.

Having these metrics in mind before you begin makes you appreciate the improvements once your link-building campaign takes effect.

Knowing these numbers before you start helps you see the improvements clearly once your link-building campaign kicks in.

3️⃣Use the Right Tools to Track Progress

To know if your link-building is working, you need the right tools. These tools show if you’re getting new links, more traffic, or better rankings.

Google Analytics: Tracks how many people visit your site and where they came from. It helps you see if backlinks are bringing in traffic.
Ahrefs & Moz: These tools check your backlinks, domain authority, and keyword rankings. They also show if your links are from good websites.
SEMrush: This tool tracks backlinks and rankings but also helps with link audits. It finds bad or spammy links that can hurt your SEO and helps you remove them.
Google Search Console: Shows how your site performs in Google search. It tracks keywords that bring traffic and if your visibility is improving.

📌 Bonus Tip

Semrush also includes a Backlink Audit Tool that checks the health of your backlink profile. It checks links on over 50 parameters and assists you in finding and dealing with potentially toxic links that would damage your site performance.

4️⃣Evaluate Brand Awareness & Mentions

Link building isn’t just for SEO; it helps people recognize your brand. When trusted websites link to yours, it boosts your visibility.

Here’s how to track if your brand is getting noticed:

Mentions in Blogs and Articles: Are other websites talking about your brand, even without links? Use tools like Google Alerts or Mention to find out.
Social Media Mentions: Verify if there are individuals posting about your content or talking about your brand on Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter.
Media Mentions: If you’re guest blogging or doing PR, verify if your brand is mentioned in industry news or in authoritative websites.

By tracking these mentions, you’ll see if your link-building efforts are also boosting your brand’s reputation.

5️⃣Compare Pre- and Post-Campaign Results

After you have completed your link-building campaign, you can now assess if it was successful. The best method to do this is by comparing your site’s performance prior to and after the campaign.

Backlink Growth: Check if you’ve gained more quality backlinks. Focus on their relevance and authority, not just the numbers.
Traffic Increase: Look at how much traffic your site is getting from those links. More visits from relevant sites mean your strategy is working.
Keyword Ranking Shifts: Are your important keywords ranking higher in search results? This shows if your backlinks are boosting SEO.
Conversions from Links: See if visitors from these links are taking actions like signing up or making purchases. This proves if your links are bringing real value.

By looking at these changes, you’ll know if your campaign is delivering results or if adjustments are needed.

5 Key Metrics for Measuring Link Building Success

In this section, we’ll cover the key numbers that show real progress.

1) Number of Backlinks Earned

A quick method of verifying whether your link building is successful is to look at the total of backlinks that you have. But it is not how many that counts—it is the quality of the links. Links from trusted, relevant websites help your site rank higher on Google. But links from spammy or unrelated sites can hurt your rankings.

Why This Matters?

If you are getting new, quality backlinks, then your strategy is on the right path. They tell Google that your website is trustworthy and can boost your ranks and drive more traffic.

How to Check Your Backlinks?

You can use tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Moz to track your backlinks. These tools show where your links are coming from and whether they’re from good, trusted websites. Keep an eye on them to spot both good and bad links.

Don’t just count backlinks—check referring domains too. It is better to obtain links from different websites compared to obtaining multiple links from one website. Obtaining multiple referring sites tells Google that your website is highly recommended by several sources, and this will once again boost your rankings.

2) Domain Authority (DA/DR) Growth

Another simple way to see if your link-building is working is by checking your Domain Authority (DA) or Domain Rating (DR). These are scores that tell you how strong your website is based on the quality of the links pointing to it. The scores range from 0 to 100, and the higher your score, the more trustworthy your site looks.

Why It’s Important?

If your DA or DR goes up, it means you’re getting good links from trusted sites. This helps your site rank better on Google and brings in more visitors.

How to Check Your DA/DR?

Use tools like Moz to check DA and Ahrefs to check DR. Just type in your website’s URL, and you’ll see your score. Track how it changes over time to see if your link-building is helping.

DA and DR are third-party tools made by Moz and Ahrefs. Google doesn’t use them, but they are helpful in the link-building world. These scores give you a good idea of how strong your website is and help you track your progress. Even though they don’t directly affect your Google ranking, they are useful to measure the quality of your backlinks.

3) Organic Traffic Increase

When your link-building works, you’ll notice more people visiting your site from search engines like Google. This is called organic traffic—it’s the traffic that comes naturally, without paid ads.

Why It Matters?

Good backlinks help your site rank higher in search results. The higher you rank, the easier it is for people to find your site, which means more visitors.

How to Track It?

Open Google Analytics. Go to “Acquisition” and then “Organic Search“ to see how many people are finding your site through search engines. If these numbers are going up after your link-building efforts, you’re on the right track.

See which pages are getting the most visits. This shows you what type of content attracts people, helping you plan better for future link-building.

4) Keyword Ranking Improvement

If your keywords are rising in Google search rankings, your link building is effective. Keywords are what or phrase people search for. If your website ranks higher for these, more people will view and visit your website.

Why This Matters?

Higher rankings mean more people can find your site. Being on the first page of Google helps you get more visitors, which can lead to more customers.

How to Check Keyword Rankings?

Use tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Google Search Console to see how your keywords are ranking. These tools show where your site appears in search results and how your rankings change over time.

Focus on long-tail keywords—these are longer, more specific phrases. They’re easier to rank for and bring in people looking for exactly what you offer.

How Outreach Monks Builds Links That Actually Work?

At Outreach Monks, we help businesses grow online by building high-quality backlinks. Here’s how we helped two brands achieve real success:

Case Study #1: REPRESENT CLO’s 400% Growth

REPRESENT CLO, a streetwear brand, struggled to stand out in a crowded market. Big competitors dominated search rankings, and spending on ads was getting too expensive. We built strong backlinks from trusted websites with a domain rating (DR) between 20 and 70. They started small with 5 guest posts and quickly expanded after seeing positive results.

Results

1) Traffic: From 70k to 355k visitors in under 20 months (407% growth).

2) Domain Rating: Increased from 50 to 57.

3) Keywords: Jumped from 3.5k to 24.1k, with over 1,300 keywords ranking in the top 3 pages.

Case Study #2: 420DC’s 10x Growth in the Cannabis Industry

420DC, a cannabis marketplace, struggled with tough competition, low search visibility, and strict advertising rules. We focused on cannabis-specific SEO. This meant securing backlinks from trusted industry sites and optimizing content for relevant keywords.

Results

1) Traffic: Jumped from 4,792 to 55,723 visitors (1,035% increase).

2) Domain Rating: Went from 21 to 51.

3) Keywords: Grew from 1,937 to 35,047, boosting their visibility in search results.

Whether you’re in fashion, cannabis, SaaS, or eCommerce, Outreach Monks can help you grow. We offer services like guest posting, blogger outreach, white-label link building, niche edits, and SaaS link-building to boost your rankings.

Want to see results like these? Let’s build links that work for you! 🚀

Conclusion

Tracking your link-building success helps you stay on the right path. It shows where your efforts are paying off and highlights areas that need improvement. By regularly checking your progress, you can build stronger links, improve your search rankings, and grow your online presence over time. Stay consistent, and the results will follow!

FAQs on Measuring Link Building Success

How Long Should I Wait To See Results From Link Building?

Link building isn't instant. It can take anywhere from 3 to 6 months to start seeing noticeable changes in rankings and traffic. Search engines need time to discover new links and adjust your site's position.

How Many Backlinks Do I Need For My Website?

There’s no magic number. It depends on your industry, competition, and goals. Focus on getting high-quality backlinks from trusted sites instead of chasing big numbers.

Can Bad Backlinks Hurt My Website?

Yes. Low-quality or spammy backlinks can harm your rankings. It’s important to monitor your backlinks regularly and disavow harmful links using tools like Google’s Disavow Tool.

Do All Backlinks Help Improve Rankings?

No. Backlinks from relevant, high-authority sites help more. Links from unrelated or low-quality sites may have little to no positive effect—and could even hurt.

Is Link Building A One-Time Task?

No, it’s an ongoing process. Search engines love fresh, updated links. Regular link-building efforts keep your site competitive and improve your SEO over time.

Do Internal Links Count In Link Building Success?

While internal links don’t directly count as backlinks, they help improve user experience and SEO. They guide visitors to important pages and help search engines understand your site structure.

Can I Measure Link-Building Success Without Paid Tools?

Yes, to some extent. Google Search Console shows some data on backlinks and keyword rankings. However, paid tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush offer deeper insights for better tracking.

What Should I Do If I Don’t See Results From Link Building?

If you’re not seeing results, review your strategy. Check the quality of your links, analyze your competitors, and adjust your approach. Sometimes, small tweaks can make a big difference.

How Often Should I Check My Link-Building Performance?

Check your progress at least once a month. This helps you spot new opportunities and fix issues before they impact your rankings.

Can Link Building Improve Brand Awareness?

Yes! Quality backlinks not only boost SEO but also put your brand in front of new audiences, helping build trust and recognition.

Link Building With Charities: How Businesses and Non-Profits Win Together?

Posted on February 5, 2025 (March 24, 2025) by Ekta Chauhan

Search engines value backlinks from trustworthy websites. Partnering with charities is a great way to get them. These collaborations boost your website’s ranking and credibility. At the same time, you make a real difference in your community.

Businesses can work for link building with charities to create a win-win situation. Your business gains exposure and trust, and the charity gets the support it needs to continue its mission.

This article will show you how link building with charities benefits both sides. You’ll learn how to build meaningful partnerships. Together, businesses and charities can achieve their goals while making a lasting impact.

Let’s continue reading!

Section 1: Strategies for Charities to Build Backlinks

Creating a good web presence using high-quality backlinks is important in an effort to give a charity greater visibility and reach. Let us consider several tactics charities can utilize in an effort to obtain good backlinks and improve their reach.

1) Guest Posts

Securing guest post opportunities on high-quality, niche websites is an excellent way for charities to create backlinks and get more visibility.

Key Steps

This is how charities can get the best out of this technique:

Finding Target Sites: Charities can start by looking for blogs, online magazines, or websites of related businesses within their niche where they could offer useful guest posts.
Writing Good Content: Guest blog entries should provide new information, professional opinion, or fascinating facts related to the interests of the target site visitor. Ensure that you have a clear ‘about the author’ section with a brief bio summary and the charity website link.
Emphasizing Value: When approaching potential websites for guest post opportunities, stress the value your content offers to their readership.

Industry-Specific Examples

Healthcare Charity: A charity focused on cancer research could target healthcare-related blogs, medical equipment companies, or health-focused online publications.
Environmental Charity: Sustainable lifestyle blogs, eco-friendly businesses, or renewable energy companies would be valuable target websites for an environmental charity.
Animal Welfare Charity: Collaborate with pet-related blogs, veterinarian websites, or pet-focused content creators to offer informative and relevant guest articles.

Key Point: Guest posting for charities involves researching the right opportunities, creating high-quality content, and offering value to the websites where they seek placement.

2) Broken Link Building

Charities can uncover valuable backlink opportunities by helping other websites identify and fix broken links (links that lead to 404 error pages). It’s a win-win scenario where the charity helps improve the user experience of another site while potentially suggesting its own content as a replacement for the broken link.

Key Steps

Find Relevant Sites: Charities should focus on websites within their niche or related fields where broken links are likely to exist.
Use Tools: Tools like Ahrefs’ Broken Link Checker or Check My Links (Chrome extension) can help identify broken links efficiently.
Contact Website Owners: Craft a polite and informative email notifying the website owner of the broken link and tactfully suggest your relevant content as a potential replacement.

Industry Examples

Education Charity: A charity providing educational resources could actively scan the websites of schools, libraries, or educational blogs for broken links. Their own resources could then be offered as replacements.
Animal Welfare Charity: Look for broken links on pet care blogs, vet websites, or animal shelter pages. Suggest replacement links to relevant content on the charity’s own website.

3) Community Partner Outreach

Charities often have strong existing relationships with businesses and organizations in their local communities. These partnerships present valuable opportunities for reciprocal link-building.

Strategies to Outreach

Explore Existing Network: Charities should start by identifying partners within their network (past sponsors, volunteers, associated businesses) who have websites.
Offer Link Exchange: Reach out to partners proposing a link exchange: the charity links to the partner on their website, and vice versa.
Collaborative Content: Discuss opportunities for creating joint content (blog posts, infographics, etc.) that could be shared on both websites, naturally leading to mutual backlinks.

Example Scenarios

Local Business Partnership: A food bank charity works with a local grocery store chain – the store offers a donation drive, and the charity features the store’s logo with a link on their ‘Sponsors’ page.
Cross-Promotion with Non-Profits: A wildlife conservation charity partners with a nature center hosting educational programs. They co-create an article about local ecosystems and link to each other’s websites.

4) “.Gov” And “.Edu” Outreach

Websites operated by government agencies (.gov) and educational institutions (.edu) often carry significant authority in search engine rankings. Securing backlinks from these reputable sources can significantly boost a charity’s website visibility.

Finding Opportunities

Relevant Agencies: Seek out local, state, or national government agencies whose work aligns with the charity’s mission.
Educational Institutions: Explore the websites of schools, universities, and research centers in relevant fields for potential link placement.
Resource Pages: Look for resources or informational pages on these websites where the charity’s content could be a valuable addition.

Outreach Approach

Highlight Value: Explain how the charity’s resources or expertise can benefit the audience of the.gov or.edu website.
Professional and Respectful: Be professional and respectful in email communication.
Be Patient: Government agencies and schools respond more slowly than the private sector.

Example: A children’s health charity could contact the website of a local health department to offer relevant infographics and resources for their informational pages.

Section 2: Strategies for Businesses to Leverage Charities for Link Building

Engaging in strategic partnerships with charities is not only for the welfare of the community but can also assist in building the web presence of a company significantly. We will outline how companies can collaborate with charities for win-win link-building results.

1) Sponsorship

Sponsorship of good causes or programs is an activity that allows firms to support worthy causes in return for good publicity. As everything is digitizing, sponsorships now have the additional potential of providing quality backlinks opportunities.

Finding the Right Fit

Alignment: Choose charities whose mission resonates with your company’s values and audience. This makes the partnership more authentic and impactful.
Sponsorship Tiers: Explore different sponsorship levels offered by the charity. These often correlate with the type of link placement (website logo, dedicated webpage, etc.).
Evaluate ROI: Consider the potential exposure, brand reach, and link value when deciding on a sponsorship level.

Beyond the Link

Storytelling Opportunities: Publish your company’s cause commitment narrative on your website and social media.
Relationship Building: Utilize sponsorship as an opener to building a genuine relationship with the charity, setting up the possibility for future partnership.

2) Resource Creation

Creating valuable resources specifically designed to support a charity’s mission is an excellent way for businesses to provide value while potentially gaining backlinks.

Types of Resources

Infographics: Shareable visual representations of data or statistics related to the charitable cause.
Guides & E-books: Offer in-depth information on topics relevant to the charity’s audience.
Tools & Templates: Provide practical resources the charity can share with its beneficiaries.

Approaching Charities

Value-First Mindset: Emphasize how your resources can directly benefit the charity and its audience.
Offer for Website Placement: Propose that the charity includes the resource on its website, potentially with a link back to your company website as the creator of the content.
Tailored Content: Create resources aligning with the charity’s needs and goals.

Example: A marketing agency specializing in social media could create a comprehensive social media strategy guide for a youth empowerment charity. This guide could be shared on the charity’s website, benefiting its audience and providing a potential link-building opportunity for the agency.

Key Point: The focus should be on creating genuinely useful content that supports the charity’s mission. The link-building aspect should be a natural outcome of providing value.

3) Local Collaboration

Partnering with local charities can be a powerful way for businesses to strengthen their community ties, boost their local SEO, and potentially secure backlinks from websites with local relevance.

Types of Collaboration

Joint Events: Co-host workshops, fundraisers, or community outreach events that benefit the charity and raise awareness for the business.
Skill-Based Volunteering: Offer professional expertise (web design, marketing, etc.) to help the charity with specific needs.
Cross-Promotion: Feature the charity on your website and social media. In turn, they can promote your business to their local network.

Finding Local Partners

Community Websites: Browse online directories or local news websites for lists of charities operating in your area.
Networking Events: Attend Chamber of Commerce online meetings or community events to connect with representatives from local charities.
Social Media: Search for charities in your area using relevant hashtags and engage with their content to initiate conversations.

Example: A local pet supplies shop could partner with an animal shelter for an adoption event called “Paws for Supplies.” Customers who adopt a pet from the shelter receive a discount on pet supplies from the shop or a welcome kit of essential items. The event is promoted both in-store and online by both the shop and the shelter. This collaboration directly benefits shelter animals, drives business to the shop, and could result in mutual promotion through links on websites and social media.

4) Social Media Amplification

Businesses have a powerful tool at their disposal when it comes to boosting a charity’s visibility: their social media channels. By actively promoting the charity and its initiatives, businesses can help expand reach, attract potential donors, and increase engagement.

Key Actions

Share Content: Regularly share blog posts, updates, and announcements from the charity across your social platforms.
Highlight Events: Create dedicated social media campaigns to promote upcoming charity events and encourage participation.
Use Visuals: Incorporate eye-catching images and videos related to the charity’s work to drive engagement.
Tag and Collaborate: Tag the charity’s social profiles in posts and explore collaborating on joint social campaigns for maximum impact.

Considerations

Authenticity: Share content from the charity that aligns with your brand’s values and audience interests.
Consistency: Regularly featuring the charity shows commitment, making the support feel more meaningful.
Track Results: Use social media analytics to see how posts about the charity are performing, helping refine your amplification strategy.

Section 3: Best Practices for Successful Partnerships

Building strong and lasting partnerships between businesses and charities goes beyond the tactics outlined above. For the most effective and rewarding collaborations, it’s essential to keep the following principles in mind:

1. Authenticity

Genuine support for the charity’s mission is crucial. Audiences can spot inauthentic partnerships. Focus on collaborations that align with your company’s values and the interests of your customers or clients.

2. Focus on Relevance

Choose charities whose work resonates with your business’s industry or target audience. This ensures the partnership makes sense and provides value to everyone involved.

3. Transparency

Be open and upfront about the link-building aspect of the partnership. This builds trust and establishes a foundation for long-term collaboration.

4. Highlighting Reciprocity

Actively seek ways to support the charity’s goals. Explore opportunities to promote their initiatives and amplify their reach, fostering a win-win mindset throughout the partnership.

5. Tracking Results

Utilize tools to track link profiles, website traffic, and social media engagement. Analyzing metrics will help you gauge the success of the partnership for both your business and the charity.

Case Study: Kellogg’s and the STV Children’s Appeal

The Partnership: Breakfast cereal giant Kellogg’s teamed up with the STV Children’s Appeal, a Scottish charity that helps children in need. Kellogg’s sponsored their “Big Scottish Breakfast” campaign, encouraging people across Scotland to host breakfast events and raise money for the cause.

Why It Worked

Win-Win: Kellogg’s showed their support for a worthwhile cause, boosting their positive image in Scotland. The charity received a lot of support, increasing awareness of their work and raising much-needed funds.
Smart Marketing: This partnership likely gave Kellogg’s a link to the charity’s website, driving traffic and improving their search rankings.

Smart partnerships with popular charities can make your business look good, help others, and improve your website’s visibility. It’s a win for everyone!

Conclusion

Building backlinks through charitable partnerships offers a unique opportunity for businesses to gain valuable SEO benefits while making a real impact in their communities. Businesses and non-profits can build a stronger online presence and create positive change by strategically aligning with charities, focusing on authenticity, and seeking win-win outcomes.

It’s important to remember that these collaborations are not just about links. They help businesses demonstrate their values, engage with their target audience in meaningful ways, and foster a sense of goodwill.

Frequently Asked Questions

My Business Is Small. Can I Still Partner With A Charity?

Definitely! Even small businesses can offer valuable skills, donations, or volunteer time that charities need.

I'm Worried About Coming Across As Fake. How Do I Show Genuine Support?

Choose a cause you truly believe in and focus on providing real value to the charity, not just chasing a link.

Can I Get Backlinks By Donating Money?

While donations are amazing, simply giving money doesn't guarantee a backlink – focus on building a relationship.

Are There Specific Types Of Charities That Are Better For Link-Building?

Charities with established websites, a strong online presence, and relevance to your industry offer the best opportunities.

Charity Work Sounds Time-Consuming. Is It Worth It?

Building strong partnerships takes effort, but the benefits for your brand and the social impact make it worthwhile.

Internal vs. External Links: How to Use Them Right?

Posted on February 5, 2025 (March 19, 2025) by Sahil Ahuja

You’ve carefully optimized your content chosen the right keywords, and still aren’t seeing the rankings you expected.

What’s missing? Your linking structure could be the problem. Internal and external links play a crucial role in SEO—helping search engines understand your site while improving user navigation. But when used incorrectly, they can hold your rankings back.

Let’s break down internal vs. external links, their importance, and how to use them effectively to boost your website’s performance.

What Are Internal Links?

Internal links are links that connect one page to another within the same website. They help users navigate easily and allow search engines to understand your site structure.

Now that you know what internal links are, let’s explore why they are essential for both users and search engines.

Advantages of Internal Links:

1. Improves website navigation by guiding users to relevant pages.
2. Boosts SEO by helping search engines crawl and index content.
3. Distributes link authority across different pages, improving rankings.
4. Increases user engagement by keeping visitors on the site longer.

What Are External Links?

External links are hyperlinks that point from one website to another. When you are linking to a different domain or when someone else’s site is linking to yours, that is an external link. External links enable users to link to more information and notify search engines that a site is well-linked and reputable.

Similar to internal links, external links also have their contribution in terms of SEO. While internal links unite pages on a site, external links unite your content to the external web.

Advantages of External Links:

1. Improves SEO by helping search engines understand content relevance.
2. Builds authority by linking to high-quality, credible sources.
3. Enhances user experience by providing additional useful information.
4. Encourages backlinks by fostering reciprocal link opportunities.
5. Boosts trust by citing reputable and well-known websites.

Types of External Links: Follow vs. NoFollow

External links are categorized into Follow (DoFollow) links and NoFollow links, each serving a different purpose in SEO and website credibility.

Follow Links (DoFollow Links)

Follow links pass SEO value (also called link juice) from one website to another. Search engines recognize these links as endorsements, which can help the linked site improve its rankings.

These links are commonly used when referencing trusted and relevant sources to boost credibility and provide additional value to users.

NoFollow Links

NoFollow links do not pass SEO value to the linked site. They tell search engines not to count the link as an endorsement, preventing it from influencing rankings.

These links are typically used for sponsored content, paid links, or user-generated content like blog comments and forum posts to prevent spam and maintain a balanced link profile.

Both types of external links are beneficial for SEO and website credibility, and their proper use ensures a natural and ethical link-building strategy.

Having known the types of external links, you might wonder how to blend internal and external links in your content.

How Many Internal vs. External Links Should You Use?

There’s no strict rule, but balance is key:

🔗 Internal Links: Unlike external links, there’s no hard limit. Use as many as needed, but only where they add value and are relevant to the content. Avoid excessive linking that disrupts the user experience—keep it natural and helpful.
🌍 External Links: Add them thoughtfully to support your claims and boost credibility. Aim for 3-5 high-quality external links per post. Adding too many can dilute the link value (link juice) shared between your site and the linked websites.

Always prioritize quality over quantity—links should guide users, not overwhelm them!

Difference Between Internal and External Links

Internal and external links serve different purposes in SEO and website navigation. Here’s a comparison of how they work:

Basis	Internal Links	External Links
Definition	Internal links are hyperlinks that lead to another page on the same site. They’re like park paths, from one place to another.	External links are hyperlinks that take you to a different website. They’re like park exit points, taking you somewhere else.
Purpose	They improve site navigation, helping users and search engines discover more pages on the same website.	They provide additional information or evidence, guiding users to another trusted source.
SEO Impact	Internal linking helps spread ‘link juice’ across your site, raising the ranking possibility of other website pages.	External links, especially from authoritative sources, increase your website’s authority and SEO ranking.
User Engagement	By strategically placing internal links, you can guide users through a journey on your site, potentially increasing time spent and conversions.	External links, when relevant, can enhance user trust and provide additional value, which indirectly benefits your site’s reputation.
Control	You have complete control over internal links – where they lead, how they are used, and their anchor text.	With external links, you have less control. You can decide where to link, but can’t control the other site’s content or if the link remains active.
Dependency	These links depend on your website’s structure and content.	These links depend on other websites and their relevance to your content.
Maintenance	You need to regularly check internal links to ensure they aren’t leading to 404 errors due to updates or changes on your site.	You need to monitor external links for “link rot” when the linked page is removed, moved or becomes irrelevant over time.
Risk Factors	Incorrect internal linking can lead to confusing navigation or orphan pages (pages that aren’t linked to/from any other page).	Linking to spammy or low-quality sites can negatively affect your site’s SEO & reputation.
Strategy	Internal linking should be planned considering site architecture & user experience.	External linking should be strategic, aiming to provide additional value to users and enhance content relevance.
Monitoring Tools	Tools like Google Search Console & Screaming Frog SEO Spider can help monitor and optimize internal links.	Tools like SEMrush and Ahrefs can help analyze the value and impact of external links.

Both internal and external links are essential for a strong SEO strategy. Proper internal linking and external linking help improve search rankings, user experience, and website credibility.

Best Practices for Using Internal Links

Here are the best practices to help you structure internal links effectively for better navigation and SEO.

1. Link Naturally

Internal links should fit seamlessly within your content. Avoid forcing links where they don’t add value. Instead, place them where they naturally help users explore more relevant information.

2. Use Descriptive Anchor Text

Anchor text should actually describe what the page that is being linked to is actually about. Avoid using generic keywords like “click here,” but use descriptive keywords like “best SEO methods to improve rankings.” This helps users and search engines understand the purpose of the link.

3. Keep a Logical Structure

Your internal linking strategy should follow a logical structure. Link to related pages that provide additional value to the reader. A well-structured internal link network improves both user experience and search engine indexing.

4. Don’t Overdo It

Too many internal links in a single article can clutter the content and confuse readers. Instead of stuffing links everywhere, focus on 2-5 relevant internal links per post based on content length and context.

5. Update Old Content

Regularly revisiting old blog posts allows you to add links to newer content, keeping your website interconnected. This not only helps with navigation but also passes SEO value to newer pages, improving rankings.

6. Fix Broken Links

Broken internal links may cause frustration and damage your SEO. Utilize tools such as Google Search Console or Screaming Frog to detect and repair broken links to give a seamless user experience.

🚀 How to Add Internal Links

Follow these steps to create effective internal links:

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Highlight the Anchor Text – Select relevant words or phrases in your content.

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Click the Link Icon – Use the hyperlink option in your CMS (WordPress, Google Docs, etc.).

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Insert the URL – Add a link to a related page on your website.

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Apply and Save – Confirm the link to make it active.

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Update Old Content – Revisit older posts and add internal links where relevant.

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Use Plugins (Optional) – Tools like Link Whisper can automate internal linking for better structure.

Best Practices for Using External Links

Here are the best practices to ensure external links add value and credibility to your content.

1. Link to High-Quality Sources

External links must be used only to refer to good, authoritative sources. Referring to good sites enhances your credibility and can enhance your SEO through association with good information.

2. Use ‘nofollow’ When Necessary

If you’re linking to sponsored, paid, or untrusted sources, use the rel=”nofollow” tag. This prevents passing SEO value to external sites that you don’t want to endorse while still allowing users to access the information.

3. Open in a New Tab

To prevent users from leaving your site completely, set external links to open in a new tab (target=”_blank”). This ensures that even if they visit another site, your page remains open for them to return.

4. Don’t Link to Competitors

Avoid linking to direct competitors, as this may drive traffic away from your site. Instead, focus on linking to complementary resources, government sites, research articles, or trusted industry blogs.

5. Limit External Links

Adding too many external links can make your content look spammy and reduce its authority. Keep 1-3 external links per post, ensuring they genuinely add value and improve user experience.

6. Check for Broken Links

External links can become outdated over time if the linked page gets removed or changed. Use tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Broken Link Checker to monitor and update external links regularly.

By following these best practices, you can maximize the benefits of internal and external links, improving SEO, user experience, and website credibility.

🌍 How to Add External Links

Follow these steps to ensure effective and SEO-friendly external linking:

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Find a Credible Source – Choose a reliable, high-authority website relevant to your content. If citing statistics or research, always link to the original source instead of secondary references.

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Highlight and Link – Select the anchor text and insert the external URL using the link tool in your CMS.

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Open in a New Tab – Enable “Open link in a new tab” to keep visitors on your site while allowing them to explore the external resource.

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Use ‘nofollow’ When Needed – Add rel="nofollow" for sponsored, paid, or untrusted links to avoid passing SEO value.

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Check for Updates – Regularly audit external links to ensure they remain valid, up-to-date, and continue linking to reputable sources.

Using links effectively isn’t just about where you place them—it’s also about how you present them. That’s where good anchor text comes in.

🔗 What is Link Text?

Link text is the visible text inside a link. This text tells users and Google something about the page you’re linking to.

Internal links on your page are links to another page on your site, while external links are links to content on another individual’s site.

Whether linking internally or externally, the more descriptive the anchor text is, the easier it is for users to navigate and for Google to understand which page you’re linking to.

📖 For more details, refer to Google’s official SEO Starter Guide.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even with a good linking strategy, mistakes can hurt SEO and user experience. Here are the most common internal and external linking mistakes to avoid.

1. Too Many Internal Links – Overloading pages can confuse users and reduce SEO impact. Keep it balanced.
2. Weak Anchor Text – Avoid generic text like “click here.” Use descriptive, keyword-rich anchors instead.
3. Broken Links – Dead links hurt SEO and user experience. Check and fix them regularly.
4. Low-Quality External Links – Linking to spammy sites can harm credibility. Stick to trusted sources.
5. Not Using NoFollow for Paid Links – Sponsored links should have NoFollow to comply with Google’s rules.
6. Forgetting Internal Links – Every page should connect to others. Don’t leave content isolated!

A strong linking strategy means avoiding these mistakes and keeping links updated, relevant, and valuable.

Conclusion

Internal and external links are key to a well-structured website. Internal links guide users and help with SEO, while external links add credibility. The key is to use them wisely—only where they add value.

A good linking strategy improves rankings and user experience. Keep links relevant, update them regularly, and avoid overloading pages.

Besides using good linking strategies, building backlinks is key to improving your website’s SEO. Outreach Monks specializes in creating high-quality backlinks. Contact us to learn how we can help!

FAQs on Internal vs. External Links

Do Internal And External Links Affect Page Load Speed?

Links themselves don’t slow down a page. However, external links may affect speed if they load third-party scripts, while internal links only impact speed if they lead to heavy or unoptimized pages.

Can I Have Too Many External Links On A Page?

Excessive external links can dilute page authority and distract users from your content. It’s best to only link when necessary to relevant, high-quality sources.

Do Broken Internal Or External Links Affect Seo?

Yes, broken links negatively impact SEO and user experience. Search engines see them as poor site maintenance, which can affect rankings. Regularly auditing and fixing broken links is essential.

Can I Use An Excessive Number Of Internal Links On A Single Page?

Stuffing a page with too many internal links can make it hard for search engines to determine which pages are most important. Keep linking natural and user-friendly.

Is It Better To Place External Links At The Beginning Or End Of A Post?

It depends on the context. Placing external links early can provide immediate value to readers, but if used excessively, it can send users away too soon. A balanced approach works best.

Should I Link To My Competitors In External Links?

Generally, no. Linking to competitors can send traffic away from your site. Instead, link to neutral authority sources like industry reports, research studies, or trusted organizations.

Can I Use The Same Anchor Text For Multiple Internal Links?

It’s best to vary your anchor text when linking to different pages. Using the same anchor text for multiple links can confuse search engines and dilute SEO value.

How Often Should I Audit My Internal And External Links?

You should audit links regularly, at least once every few months, using tools like Google Search Console, Ahrefs, or Semrush to find broken or outdated links.