When it comes to improving your online presence, SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is one of the most critical areas to focus on. Many small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) know they need to be more visible online but aren’t always sure how to make that happen. One often-overlooked SEO tactic is using outgoing links — linking to high-quality, authoritative external resources from your website.
Let me explain why this matters to you: when you link to trusted sources, it shows search engines that you’re providing valuable content that’s well-researched. That builds credibility and improves your chances of ranking higher in search results. At the same time, your customers will appreciate the added value you’re providing by pointing them to reliable information.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through some of the best resources you can link to, how they can improve your SEO, and what kind of results you might see from implementing them.
Why Are Outgoing Links Important for SEO?
Outgoing links help your SEO efforts in a few key ways:
They build credibility: Linking to trusted, authoritative sites shows search engines that your content is well-researched.
They improve the user experience: Providing additional resources keeps your visitors engaged and enhances the overall value of your content.
They encourage backlinks: When you link to others, there’s a higher chance they’ll link back to you, which can boost your domain authority.
Now, let’s look at some high-value resources you can link to and how they can help your business grow.
1. Authoritative SEO & Marketing Resources
These are some of the most trusted sites in the digital marketing and SEO world. Linking to these resources shows that your recommendations are backed by industry best practices.
What You Might See:
Picture this: your website is currently sitting on page 3 of Google for a key search term. By adding well-researched content that links to trusted sources like Google Search Central or Moz, you’re signaling to search engines that your content is valuable. Over time, you could move up to page 1 or 2.
Why It Matters to You:
Higher search rankings mean more visibility, which can lead to more traffic and potential customers. It also helps establish your brand as a credible source of information in your industry.
Here are a few great resources to link to:
Google Search Central (Visit)
This is Google’s official guide to how search works. Linking to it shows that you’re following the search giant’s own best practices.
Moz Beginner's Guide to SEO (Visit)
A clear, easy-to-understand guide that covers SEO basics — great for businesses new to digital marketing.
Ahrefs Blog (Visit)
One of the best sources for in-depth SEO content.
Neil Patel’s Blog (Visit)
Neil Patel offers actionable tips for growing your business through digital marketing and SEO.
2. Analytics & Performance Tools
Understanding how your website is performing is crucial. These tools help you measure things like speed, user behavior, and overall performance — all key factors in SEO.
What You Might See:
Imagine your website is loading slowly, and users are leaving before they even see your homepage. After linking to Google PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix and implementing their recommendations, your site speed improves dramatically. As a result, users stay longer, and your bounce rate drops.
Why It Matters to You:
A faster website means better user experience. Visitors are more likely to stick around, explore your content, and take action — whether that’s signing up for a newsletter or making a purchase. Plus, Google prioritizes faster sites in search rankings.
Here are some tools to link to:
3. Educational SEO Resources for Your Clients
Not all of your customers are SEO experts. Providing them with links to easy-to-understand resources can make a huge difference.
What You Might See:
Let’s say a client of yours is overwhelmed by SEO jargon. By pointing them to beginner-friendly guides like HubSpot’s SEO resources, they feel more confident and informed. This makes your conversations more productive and helps them see the value of your work.
Why It Matters to You:
An educated client is more likely to trust your recommendations and see the value in your services. Plus, providing helpful resources positions you as an expert.
Here are some great resources to link to:
4. Local SEO Resources
If your business serves a local audience, local SEO is critical. These resources can help you improve your visibility in local search results.
What You Might See:
A local café, for example, might be struggling to appear in Google’s local search results. By optimizing their Google My Business profile using the resources below, they increase their chances of showing up when people search for “coffee near me.”
Why It Matters to You:
Local SEO improvements can drive more foot traffic and increase brand awareness in your community. That can mean more customers walking through your door.
Here are some helpful resources:
5. Technical SEO & Web Development Resources
Technical SEO might sound intimidating, but it’s important. Linking to resources that explain things like schema markup or HTML validation can help you improve your site’s performance.
What You Might See:
A business with technical issues, like broken links or missing schema markup, might not realize these errors are hurting their search rankings. After addressing these issues using tools like Schema.org or W3C Validator, their site’s visibility improves.
Why It Matters to You:
Fixing technical SEO issues can help your website appear more prominently in search results and reduce errors that hurt your rankings.
Here are a few resources to link to:
Final Thoughts
Linking to authoritative and helpful resources not only improves your SEO but also adds real value for your website visitors. It shows that you’re well-informed and willing to share the best possible information with your audience.
If you’re ready to take your website’s SEO to the next level or need help with your digital marketing strategy, let’s talk. Together, we can make your business stand out online!
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