Linking to hubs vs. linking to outside sites

1. 59

   littlemarkiesmomposted 11 years ago

   I have looked around for an answer to this question and didn't find it. So if it's already been answered a thousand times I apologize in advance.
   
   I'm wondering if when writing a hub and you want to include links, is it better to link to other appropriate hubs or to outside sources? I know that linking to others' hubs will up your Hub Karma, but I'm talking more from a search engine point of view.
   
   Also, what's a good number of links to use within a hub? Like how many links for every 200 words or something like that.
   
   Thanks.

   replyreport
   1. 78

      Sally's Troveposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      When I write a hub (or any other kind of article on the web), the first thought in my mind is meeting the reader's expectations. Do readers expect / want to have in-text links peppered throughout an article? I don't think so, unless they add some truly useful information. Those in-text links, when overdone, disrupt what should be an easy read.
      
      As for the Karma score, it means nothing.
      
      I don't look at number of links per number of words. I just look at what I think a reader wants to get out of my words. If I'm going to link outside or inside HP, I'm more likely to do it in a sidebar (using a link capsule or text capsule), clearly defining why I'm adding those links.
      
      As for any SEO value to linking internally or externally, I'm not the expert on that. I'm sure you'll get some advice about that from others.

      replyreport
2. 60

   paradigmsearchposted 11 years ago

   I link to outside websites more often than not. But I always make sure they are websites that Google loves, i.e., on page one of search results.

   replyreport
   1. 0

      paxwillposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      There's no SEO advantage in linking to a site on page 1 rather than a site on page 2, 3 or 23.
      
      For one thing, you aren't doing your readers a favor by linking to the same sites that everyone else links to.  Some of the most useful articles have links to little-known sites that have really good information. Offer your readers links that you think will serve them well, not links that you think Google will appreciate.  Remember, we're supposed to write for humans, not search engines.
      
      Also, search results change, so a site that is one page 1 today could be on page 2 tomorrow; today's page 10 site could be page 1 tomorrow. Basically, if a site is indexed by Google, it is loved, so you shouldn't have any qualms about linking to it.

      replyreport
      1. 60

         paradigmsearchposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         I disagree with your post in so many ways, I lost count. I'll just say that the sites I link to are indeed the best ones for my readers, and google apparently agrees. As for the rest of it, I hereby agree to disagree.

         replyreport
         1. 0

            paxwillposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            Feel free to read Matt Cutts's blog and see his Youtube Q and A.  Your site will only get penalized if you link to low quality spammy sites and the like.  Google has never said you can get penalized for linking to sites that have low page rank or are buried in the search results, or that there is any risk in doing so.  As long as the page is of high quality, you're good.
            
            As a real example, take the the thousands of university based websites, like professors home pages or online course notes.  These .edu pages have some of the best information, (and are often sourced in the Page 1 Wikipedia articles) but you can't hardly find them if you do a simple Google search for the obvious key words.  I can usually only find them if I type "site:.edu" into the search bar.  That doesn't mean these pages are bad, it just means they are not as well-known.

            replyreport
            1. 60

               paradigmsearchposted 11 years agoin reply to this

               You are right. And I'll add "site:.gov" to that.

               replyreport
3. 82

   Mark Ewbieposted 11 years ago

   I don't make any money or get much traffic.  So my linking strategy is possibly a bit suspect.
   
   Quite simply, I never link to anything.
   
   I have no interest in my reader going elsewhere.
   
   I recently went though all my pages removing my own links to my other pages because I thought it just smelt spammy.
   
   I put them in groups.  That's it.

   replyreport
   1. 60

      paradigmsearchposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I've succeeded both ways. I've failed both ways. What's a poor Hubber to do...

      replyreport
      1. 82

         Mark Ewbieposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Do your own thing and cross your fingers I guess.

         replyreport
         1. 60

            paradigmsearchposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            I no longer have expectations when I post a new hub. Tough town the internet.

            replyreport
            1. 81

               Dale Hydeposted 11 years agoin reply to this

               Expectations? You mean folks are supposed to read what we write? What a unique concept!
               
               I have used links to other's hubs using the HP tool to do so. I have linked to outside sites in other hubs. In some hubs, no links at all. Overall, I don't see a huge advantage or disadvantage of doing or not doing such. My views don't reflect any drastic ups or downs in relation to links I have on a hub.

               replyreport
4. 59

   littlemarkiesmomposted 11 years ago

   Thanks for all the great suggestions and info. I appreciate it all. I don't do this whole writing thing simply for page views or profit. Of course, that stuff is nice, but I write because I like to write. If I by chance am able to make a buck or two or ten, cool. If not, whatever. That said, I like learning about new stuff. I am pretty computer and internet illiterate. I really don't have the first clue about SEO or anything of that nature. I'm just throwing questions out there to learn what I can, then use whatever info I think I can. I know on some other sites I've written for they want you to use links. I don't know if it really matters all that much or not. I guess that's why I ask the questions. Ha! Anyways, thanks for the input.

   replyreport