Linking serves a great role in your website, serving your ideal client and improving your SEO. But what kind of linking should you do? Internal and external links both serve a great role. Let’s talk about their role in making your website the bee’s knees.
Internal and External Links: What’s the difference?
Before talking a bit about the strategy for using internal and external links, let’s actually cover the basics about each.
Internal links are the ones that link to other pieces of content on your site. For example, we talked a bit about SEO in the first paragraph, so perhaps we should link to a post about that within The Busy Llama. Click this link to learn more! << that is an internal link. So if internal takes people to places within your site, that would mean an external link is taking them off your site.
Advantages of internal links
So, internal links are your friend, meaning you like to use them. However, do it in a way that serves your content and ideal client well. Ensure you link to like-type content or applicable resources on your site. This benefits both your client and improves your SEO. Internal linking keeps the viewer on your site for longer, making search engines think your content is relevant and meaningful to those looking for information on that topic.
Using external links wisely
As previously mentioned, external links are sending your website’s viewers off your site. Therefore, use them wisely. Don’t just send somebody off on a wild goose chase because your SEO plug-in suggests you use an external link. Be very thoughtful about it. Link to your other social media channels if you are in a pinch but pick a specific or relevant piece of content to send your user to or maybe something that shows a bit of personality.
External links should serve your ideal client’s needs and further the business’s goals. Search engines like the use of them; however, they do like the use of spammy links. Never get sucked into spammy links for links type of relationships. That doesn’t help your long-term SEO growth.
Follow vs. No-follow for internal and external links
Save yourself the trouble, do not do an internet search about which is better. You will cry, you will get angry, and you really won’t get a straight answer. At one point, follow was the way to go, then no-follow was the way to go. Unless you are doing paid ads through a company that sets their own rules for follow vs. no-follow, primarily stick with whatever the default option is for WordPress. If it is an internal link, you want it to open in the existing tab and be a follow. You want it to open in a new tab if it is external.
Link it all!
No, not really, but be sure to incorporate a solid mix of internal and external links into all the posts and content you create on your site. Now you have a better idea of which type to use when the question of whether those should be internal or external links pops up when creating content. So go out and create some content! Any other burning questions about links that you need answering? Comment below or drop us a line with them!
