P2Issue #17
Links - Pages with high external outlinks
❓ What does it mean?
What does it mean?
This issue occurs when a webpage contains too many external outbound links (links pointing to other domains).
Example:
<a href="https://example1.com">Example 1</a>
<a href="https://example2.com">Example 2</a>
<a href="https://example3.com">Example 3</a>
...
If a page excessively links out to other websites instead of strengthening internal links, it can negatively impact SEO and user experience.
🚨 Why is it important for SEO?
Why is it bad for SEO?
Loss of Link Equity → Excessive external links leak ranking power (PageRank) to other sites instead of boosting your own.
Lower Content Value → Pages that act like “link farms” may be seen as low quality or even spammy.
Poor User Experience → Too many outbound links distract users and may drive them away before engaging with your content.
Potential Trust Issues → Linking to irrelevant, low-quality, or spammy external sites can hurt your credibility.
✅ How to Fix It
How to Fix It
Limit the number of external outlinks per page (only link when it adds real value).
Prioritize internal links → Ensure your important pages are well interlinked first.
Use rel="nofollow" or rel="sponsored" for:
Paid links
Affiliate links
Untrusted sources
Example:
<a href="https://othersite.com" rel="nofollow">Affiliate Offer</a>
Audit your external links:
Remove broken or outdated links
Keep only authoritative and relevant sources
Balance internal vs. external linking → A healthy page usually has more internal links than external ones.
❌ Bad Example
📌 Example
❌ Bad (Too many external outlinks):
<p>Check these sites for more info:</p>
<a href="https://site1.com">Site 1</a>
<a href="https://site2.com">Site 2</a>
<a href="https://site3.com">Site 3</a>
<a href="https://site4.com">Site 4</a>
<a href="https://site5.com">Site 5</a>
Looks spammy
Passes link equity away
Distracts users from staying on your site
✅ Good Example
✅ Good (Balanced external linking):
<p>Learn more in this <a href="/detailed-guide">detailed guide</a> or from trusted sources like
<a href="https://developers.google.com/search/docs">Google Search Docs</a>.
</p>
Keeps user on-site with internal link
Provides 1 authoritative external link for trust
⚡ Result
⚡ Result
Preserved link equity → More SEO power stays within your site.
Improved trust & authority → Only linking to high-quality, relevant sources.
Better user engagement → Users explore your content before leaving to external sites.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What are pages with high external outlinks?
These are webpages that contain an excessive number of outbound links pointing to other domains, which can negatively impact SEO and user experience.
How do high external outlinks affect SEO?
They can lead to loss of link equity, lower content value, poor user experience, and potential trust issues if linking to low-quality sites.
How can I fix issues caused by high external outlinks?
You can fix them by limiting the number of external outlinks, prioritizing internal links, using rel="nofollow" for certain links, auditing your external links, and balancing internal vs. external linking.
When should I use rel="nofollow" on external links?
You should use rel="nofollow" on paid links, affiliate links, or links to untrusted sources.