Other Terms
OBL
Table Of Contents
What is OBL?
OBL (Outgoing Backlinks) are the links on your website that direct users to other websites. Every time you link to something that’s outside of your own site, it’s an OBL.
OBL in Details
While most of SEO focuses on incoming backlinks (links from other sites to yours), OBLs are actually just as important. They can really change how search engines view your site in terms of authority, relevance, and the quality of your content.
Best OBL Practices
First of all, no: a ton of outgoing links to Wikipedia won’t boost your rankings in any way. It would be too easy. But, at the same time, linking to a Wiki article here and there (or, even better, directly to sources that Wikipedia itself relies on) will show your audience that you actually care about your content being truthful.
Here are some tips to follow if you decide to manage your OBLs yourself (and the ones we follow with our clients’ websites).
Here are some tips to follow if you decide to manage your OBLs yourself (and the ones we follow with our clients’ websites).
Quality Over Quantity
When you link to high-quality, authoritative sites, it can signal to search engines that your site is a valuable resource that references other credible sites. Linking to low-quality or spammy sites can harm your site’s reputation.
Relevance is Key
Refer to sites that have a direct connection to the content on your page. This improves user experience and can positively impact SEO as well.
Descriptive Anchor Text
Anchor text is the clickable word or phrase that contains the link. The text for OBL should be relevant and descriptive of the link’s destination.
NoFollow Attribute
Use the “nofollow” attribute for links that you don’t want to endorse (like sponsored links), signaling to search engines not to follow these links.
Regular Audits
Regular link audits will ensure your OBLs remain relevant and functional, and that the linked sites maintain the same level of quality and reputation.
Avoid Link Farms
Steer clear of linking to or participating in link farms or schemes, as these can lead to penalties from search engines.