Better Techniques for Cross-Linking on Your Blog

Photo by Ilya Pavlov on Unsplash

There are a few essential aspects to a blog: content, keywords/tags, a call to action, and links to relevant websites, articles, or pages. Often times, when you have written a blog, someone has posted a blog with additional information or your company has a relevant article or website page that you want to reference. Linking not only allows your blog readers to follow your links to the respective pages, but it improves your SEO. When cross-linking, you need to keep your readers in mind. Is the link you are supplying relevant to the article or to your readers? Will they be asking “So what?” or “Why is this here?” after you have published your blog? So, what are some better techniques for cross-linking your blog?

1) How do you create a hyperlink:

It is actually very simple! On your blogging website, such as WordPress or Blogger, there should be a button that looks like a link. First, highlight the text that you want your users to click in order to visit a new website or page. Then, click the link button. You will be asked to enter the URL you want to link to from an outside source OR you will be given the ability to link to existing content that is published through your blogging website. Click “Done,” “OK,” or “Update” and your hyperlink is created.

2) Choose the highlighted words wisely:

As mentioned in the previous technique, you MUST choose words to highlight in order to create a hyperlink. Choosing these words is a vital step to SEO success. The words you choose must be relevant to the website you are linking to and your article. For example, we are offering you some techniques on cross-linking your blog. If, I chose to hyperlink on this topic, I would not highlight “As mentioned in the previous technique” to link to a blogging website. Instead, I would hyperlink “Wordpress” or “Blogger” mentioned in the above technique. (Even better… try and use one of your keywords or tags to improve your SEO!)

Better Techniques for Cross-Linking on Your Blog
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3) Use a variety of cross-links:

It is a common misconception that when posting a blog, you must always link back to the same page (often your companies website). We recommend refraining from this! Try and add original crosslinks to your blog posts. People value new content they may have never seen before.

4) Make it flow:

We have all seen blogs where are the links to mentioned websites appear at the bottom of the post. Instead of this technique, try to add the hyperlinks throughout your post as to make it flow. When you create a hyperlink, you are no longer seeing the URL (http://….), but you do see the highlighted words you selected now appearing blue and underlined (this is the link!). If you can incorporate the hyperlinks into your post without disrupting the flow of the article, great! You’re on the right track.

Better Techniques for Cross-Linking on Your Blog
Photo by Fikret tozak on Unsplash

Although hyperlinks shared in your blog posts must be relevant, it does not mean they can’t be fun. There are comical or lighthearted videos across the internet that touch on nearly ever topic. You can hyperlink to those if the humor is not crude, vulgar, or damaging to your brand. Consider your audience, but consider your brand image first!

So, now that you know a little more about the importance of cross-linking and hyperlinking in your blog posts… revisit some of your past blog articles and try to incorporate some hyperlinks if you haven’t already. Keep in mind the above techniques when doing so!

-Jamie

About Jamie Teasdale

Jamie Teasdale founded Propel Businessworks, a small business development company, in 2009. Since then, she has been lending insight and creativity to businesses all over the U.S., giving them the tools they need to plan, promote, and prosper.