Many websites I come across don't have a single link to another website. Ask the webmaster why not, and the answer you get is simple enough: "If I link to other websites people might leave my site." At this point I break the news that site visitors will leave your site. And there's nothing you can do about this.
Site visitors won't leave your site because you provide links to external sites. They'll leave for one of two reasons:
- They've found what they were looking for and no longer have a reason to stay on your website
- They can't find the information they're looking for and leave to seek it elsewhere
"OK, so site visitors are going to leave my site. But why should I hunt around for websites to link to?" I can think of four reasons why linking out is good for you and will ultimately increase traffic to your website:
Proof there's a real organisation behind the website
One of the best ways to prove your organisation really exists is to link to other websites that reference you. Any website willing to mention your organisation is in effect providing a reference for you. Just 52.8% of web users believe online information to have credibility (source: http://ccp.ucla.edu/pdf/UCLA-Internet-Report-Year-Three.pdf) and four in five users say that being able to trust the information on a site is very important to them in deciding to visit a website (source: http://www.consumerwebwatch.org/news/1_TOC.htm).
Links about your organisation can include:
- Press articles
- Affiliation listings
- Professional association membership details
- Awards your organisation has won
- Articles published by a member of your organisation
- Directory listings (such as Yahoo! or the Open directory)
Anyone can put up a website making whatever kind of claims they want to. Have a look at the fantastic Christian women's wrestling website at http://www.jesus21.com/poppydixon/sports/cww.html. It's got quite a lot of information about them and lots of photos. And it's 100% fake.
Backs up your arguments
Ensure that all statements about your organisation are backed up by third party websites. For example, if you sell toys it's very easy to make a statement such as, "We're the number one online toy seller in the country!" Anyone can make this statement, so prove that it is true by linking to an external website showing a list of the top online toy sellers last year.
Most of the time your site visitors probably won't follow these links, but that doesn't matter - the important thing is that you've shown evidence to back up the claims you're making.
Benefit to your site visitors
The Internet is designed for users to flow through it from one website to the next - don't make your website the last one in the flow. If you know of websites that you find really useful, and you think your site visitors might too, be sure to link to them. By offering a range of useful links you may even come across as an industry expert and someone who really knows their stuff.
When providing links make sure you do so at appropriate times. Don't relegate external links to a links page - site visitors aren't so likely to visit this page as a links page doesn't immediately address their needs. Instead, provide links as and when they're appropriate to the content of each page.
For example, if you run an accountancy firm you may wish to link to a website that has an up-to-date reference guide about new tax laws in the field of accounting. You don't have the time to provide that kind of regularly updated information on your website but your site visitors would find it really useful. Help out your site visitors and they'll hold your organisation in a positive light.
Search engine benefits
One of the ways search engines try to work out what your website is about is by analysing its inbound and outbound links. The more confidence a search engine has of what your website's about, all other things being equal, the higher search engine ranking you'll achieve. By providing outbound links to related sites you actually help the search engines analyse your site and therefore help your search ranking.
Jon Ricerca did a mini-analysis to see if outbound links affect search engine rankings and his results were pretty conclusive: web pages with more outbound links generally achieved higher search rankings ( see http://www.webcredible.co.uk/user-friendly-resources/search-engine-optimisation/number-links.shtml ). Be warned though, an inbound link is worth far more than an outbound link so do not link to your competitor's websites!
Conclusion
Don't be afraid to link out. Your site visitors will appreciate you introducing them to useful websites, you can increase your credibility and you can achieve a higher search engine ranking. So check your favourites folder and if you think your site visitors would benefit from any of the websites there be sure to include them in an appropriate place on your site.
This article was written by Trenton Moss. He's crazy about web usability and accessibility - so crazy that he went and started his own web usability and accessibility consultancy ( Webcredible - http://www.webcredible.co.uk ) to help make the Internet a better place for everyone.
Northbrook Cadillac Deville rentals .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareI am just a learner who likes to delve in... Read More
If you ever want to create a state directory, article... Read More
It's now easier than ever to take payments on the... Read More
If one more business owner tells me their website sucks... Read More
Most people know they need a website in order to... Read More
This article was prompted by some customer support work I... Read More
One of my most salient memories from when I sold... Read More
People often come to me in a state of crisis... Read More
I've heard several prominent web marketers mention in their classes... Read More
When web content gets discussed on webmaster bulletin boards, the... Read More
"Don't Sell the Steak, Sell the Sizzle."Have you heard of... Read More
"What's in it for me?" you ask. "Why should I... Read More
If you like the Internet and surfing through the billions... Read More
If you've been developing websites on Mars for the past... Read More
1. Splash pagesMost of the time splash pages are uncalled... Read More
Appealing to others is really important when you have a... Read More
A website is lifeline of internet home business. In order... Read More
Customer service questionnaires can help your clients better understand their... Read More
There are millions and millions of websites on the Internet.... Read More
Even with the steady growth of the World Wide Web,... Read More
Web sites are an Ongoing Part of Business.All too many... Read More
How many Web Sites did you stumble over telling you... Read More
One of the things that many people overlook when building... Read More
Is Your Web Site an Expense or an Investment?Why don't... Read More
Whether you have your own business already, or are looking... Read More
Beason Mercedes Benz s500 rentals ..More and more non-profit organizations are developing websites to help... Read More
The first thing you will have to deal building your... Read More
Often time I've browsed sites and seen the same thing... Read More
The Internet car buyer is an elusive animal. Trying to... Read More
You have permission to publish this article electronically, in print,... Read More
First, an eye opener. Making your fortune through affiliate programs... Read More
80% of your Web site is Maintenance!Once your Web site... Read More
Revenues are often lost because many business owners don't see... Read More
Go to any internet marketing forum you want these days... Read More
Visitors to your site come looking for information or solutions... Read More
Optimal website design is the art of logical navigation.It will... Read More
The big thing these days is your ability to capture... Read More
D.zigns dzignerwebs The Basics Before starting on... Read More
In my previous life.....Actually, my previous JOB life, I was... Read More
Do you make your website just to entertain yourself or... Read More
Dance is how you pamper your soul and satiate your... Read More
If you have your own business website and you are... Read More
Build it and they will come is not always true;... Read More
There are many elements that are key to successful web... Read More
Setting up a website is the very first step of... Read More
What is the point of having a website, you may... Read More
When you consider the billions of individuals and companies on... Read More
The growth in Internet usage around the world is astounding... Read More
Before you jump into spending coutnless hours on designing and... Read More
A professional online reputation is essential to the flourishing of... Read More
Web Development |