Internal vs. External Links: What’s Actually Better for Your Blog’s SEO?

francescaqvisionfa
2 days ago
3 min read

Author: Lorena Sabljak

Let’s make it more real, today blogging is not just all writing anymore. It is about being seen. And once you start learning SEO, you’ll hear people throw around terms like internal links, external links, and "authority" like they’re ingredients in a secret recipe.

The thing is, none of these terms mean much if you don’t understand what they’re actually doing for your content. Or why they matter.

So, let’s strip it down and figure out: what’s the difference between internal and external links — and which one gives your blog the better SEO boost?

Internal Links: The Ones That Stay Close to Home

An internal link is when you link from one page on your website to another. It’s basically how your site talks to itself.

Say you write a post on how to start a blog, and earlier you wrote something about choosing the right niche. Linking those two? That’s internal linking.

But here’s where it gets interesting: internal links do a lot behind the scenes. They help:

· Keep readers around longer, bouncing from one post to the next

· Guide Google’s bots, helping them figure out which pages matter most

· Organize your site’s content in a way that makes sense

And if there’s one thing Google loves, it’s a website that’s easy to navigate.

External Links: Letting the Reader Explore Outside Your Walls

External links, on the other hand, take readers somewhere else. Another website. Another source. Another domain entirely.

At first, it might feel like sending traffic away is a bad move. But actually, linking to good, credible sources helps your blog look more trustworthy.

Let’s say you’re writing about SEO tools and you link to a recent Moz report or Google’s own blog. You’re not just adding value — you’re backing up your claims.

Search engines notice this. Linking out to respected sources gives your post more weight. It’s like saying, “I did my homework, and here’s where I found the facts.”

Plus, every now and then, linking to someone else can open a door. People notice traffic. A link to another blog might lead to them linking back someday.

A Quick Comparison (Because It's Easier This Way)

| Feature Internal Links External Links |

SEO Value - Helps with structure and navigation - Boosts credibility and trustworthiness
Reader Flow - Keeps visitors on your site longer - Adds extra context and outside insight
Control - You have full control - At the mercy of someone else’s site
Downside - Very little risk - Visitors might not come back

When to Use Which (Hint: You’ll Probably Want Both)

Use internal links when you’ve got posts that relate to each other. Got a guide on keyword research and another on writing blog titles? Link them. It helps readers find more value — and it helps search engines follow your content’s thread.

Use external links when you mention a stat, a quote, a study — anything that needs backing up. Just make sure it’s a reliable source, not some sketchy clickbait site. Quality matters more than quantity here.

Pro tip: try to keep a healthy balance. Overlinking can feel spammy, while underlinking makes your blog feel disconnected. Natural is always best.

A Few Best Practices That Actually Matter

Forget the “hacks.” Here’s what works:

· Use helpful anchor text. Say what the link is, like read our guide to blog headlines, instead of vague stuff like click here.

· Fix broken links. Dead links = bad user experience. Check your posts regularly and update or remove busted ones.

· Don’t overdo it. If every sentence has a link, you’ll overwhelm the reader. Space them out.

· Link with intention. Only add a link if it helps the person reading. That should always be your filter.

Final Thoughts

If you’re still wondering which type of link is “better,” here’s the honest answer: neither. And both.

Internal links keep your content connected. External links build your credibility. They each do a different job — and your blog needs both.

Think of it like building a neighborhood. Internal links are the roads connecting your own houses. External links are the bridges to other towns. You wouldn’t build a neighborhood with only one or the other.

So, instead of choosing, just use both wisely. Not because some SEO guru said so — but because it actually helps your readers and your content get where it needs to go.

That’s what SEO should be about anyway.