3.5. An OUTgoing Link Program? Carefully... AND Selectively

Throughout Make Your Links WORK!, I sprinkled advice about outgoing or outbound links. This sub-chapter summarizes all the reasons why you would want to link out of your site.

Let’s take it from the top...

Reason #1) High-value OUTbound links provide value to your visitors. Visitors appreciate being presented with quality, credible links to related material that further enhances their surfing experience. Be highly selective.

Reason #2) Linkage counts both ways with the engines, INcoming and OUTgoing.

Reason #3) Links OUT count with the human editors of directories, too.

Bottom line? If they (visitors, editors, SE spiders) see you provide bona fide links to other quality sites, your site is more credible. It’s a more valuable resource. So don’t make all OUTgoing links purely monetary affiliate links.

Please don’t ignore this. You only need a couple of high-value OUTbound links to establish that extra bit of credibility. Include your keywords in the link text, too (just like in-pointing links).

Key Reminder

Nothing is more damaging than linking to a bad Web site.

Always keep in mind that a link out puts your seal of approval on the receiving Web site. Should that site be of low quality, visitors will question your judgment. Should it be a link farm or otherwise involved with some “strategy” that is rightfully in the engines’ bad books, you suffer.

The finish line is just ahead. It’s time for the wrap-up...

MYLW:  <<3.4.6. Linking Software  3.5. Outgoing Link Program  4. Single Best Course Of Action>>