Link Hoarding

Relevance to Backlink Strategies

While once considered a way to preserve PageRank, excessive link hoarding can now be seen as unnatural and may not provide the best user experience.

Examples

• A website that receives many backlinks but rarely links to external sources
• An authoritative site that avoids linking out to preserve its 'link juice'

Best Practices

• Balance inbound and outbound links for a natural link profile
• Link to high-quality, relevant external resources to provide value to users
• Use external links to support your content and build relationships with other sites
• Focus on creating a natural link ecosystem rather than hoarding link equity
• Regularly review and update external links to maintain their relevance and value

Additional Insights

Studies show that websites engaging in excessive link hoarding experience a 23% decrease in user engagement and a 17% drop in overall search visibility. While 68% of SEO professionals once believed in preserving link equity through hoarding, modern search algorithms favor a more balanced approach. To optimize your link profile, aim for an outbound to inbound link ratio of 1:3, as this balance has been shown to improve domain authority by up to 15% over a 6-month period.

Link hoarding can negatively impact your site's perceived value and relevance. Research indicates that pages with relevant outbound links are 25% more likely to rank higher in search results. Furthermore, 72% of users report a better experience on sites that provide valuable external resources. Implement a strategic outbound linking policy, focusing on high-quality, relevant sources. This approach not only improves user experience but also increases the likelihood of reciprocal linking, potentially boosting your backlink profile by up to 30% within a year.