Does linking out to other sites bring you any benefit, or is it a waste of time, even possibly detrimental to your own site?The short answer is that it all depends. One of the main factors is the type of site you are linking out to. One that is spammy and of low quality is already in Google’s bad books, so you linking to it via SEO and giving it your ‘approval’ will not do you any favors. It isn’t necessarily because that other site probably won’t have any – or only a low – Page Rank, merely that it has little real value to the end user.Google themselves tell webmasters to create their content based on visitors’ wants and needs, not on what will impress the search engines. So, if you link out to a site which your readers will benefit from looking at, then you have enhanced that user’s experience.This doesn’t mean adding links for the sake of it, of course. The key is to use relevant outbound links in order to help your visitors. The reasons are twofold, to:-* Provide your readers in-depth information about similar topics* Offer readers your unique commentary on existing resourcesIt should go without saying that making such links <rel=”nofollow”> is pointless, since you are then telling Google that you don’t trust that site, nor do you give it your approval. If that’s the case then why are you linking to it? “Nofollows” are more appropriately used on blogs or forums where links are user-generated which so often lend themselves to spam comments, which is bad for any Webmaster.The use of outbound links, particularly authority sites, say much about you. You’ve researched your subject, a big positive. Visitors will want to return for more information on any future topics. It can also help you get seen by other websites within the same ‘field’ so there can be a viral effect over time.And, don’t worry too much over the Page Rank of a site you are linking to. The key issue is whether visitors will benefit by following that link. Also, don’t concern yourself with losing your visitors. After they go to the other site many users will return to yours if it has good enough content to keep their interest.
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