What's the role of outgoing links in SEO ?

Can outgoing links affect your search engine rankings? For example a page with 50 url's to other sites, but no links back from these sites...

 

It could. It deffinitely doesn't help with your page rank.Try not to have too many outgoing links per page. You could also use javascript links to avoid loosing page rank.

 

From what I've read, a good number of relevant outbound links to trusted sites can actually help your rankings. I've seen top ranked sites which are nothing but links to relevant articles, free software, etc. I've read some studies (can't remember where now) where top ranked pages in Google were anilyzed for similarities. Most common aspects were the use of short paragraphs, lists, and a good number of outbound links. I would keep it below 20 per page though.

Have any of the pros here tested this theory?

 

I don't think it will affect SERP but it is advisable to avoid link farms..

 

Yes, I believe this is true.
Google love to see your site in a good neighborhood

 

I kinda doubt this. Having outgoing links to good reputable sites will help, but I don't believe it is why it is given top rankings. It is more about content, especially fresh content and incoming links.

 

Not true at all unfortunately. Also back around 03/04 sometime there was a rumour going around that an outbound to Google helped rankings, myself and several other members of SeoChat tested it with negative results.

 

Wanna share the code?

 

Don't skimp on the content trying to count outbound links. If you need them, and they are to reputable and necessary sites, then use them.
PR means nothing if you don't offer service to your readers, that makes them come back.
I am sure we have all seen directories, and websites that are nothing but a reference point, with good PR.
For every "rule" this is an "expert" or exception that breaks it and throws educated logic out of the windows.

Good sites get visitors, links, and rank.
Plain and simple.

 

Here's a good example: http://www.firewallguide.com/spyware.htm #5 on Google and Yahoo for "antispyware" (no quotes). Most pages are full of links to other sites with little content.

 

The reason why it ranks where it does has nothing to do with Google giving a ranking boost because of outbounds, but rather the inbound links the site has got.

Also it's only a 10.9 Million result term.

 

So, your saying content doesn't matter as long as you have good links.

 

Depends on what your talking about, content doesn't matter for PR. You can get a blank page high PR, i've done it.

Content matters for SERP's as you need keywords and keyphrases in the document so it will be shown in the search results for a query on those particular phrases or words.

 

Well, I ran across the site I pointed to about a year ago. It seems like an easy way to create a site, especially if it's on a topic one doesn't know much about. Apparently, it can work as long as your linking strategy is very good.

 

Unfortunately on this level of development and SEO that is the way most people think,and what they strive for....SEO, and crappy content. Just enough to get pages indexed, but no real concern for actual people, just enough to get them to click the ads.
It's the same time invested, don't skimp on the content, you will be happy in the long run.
People don't return to a site just because it's number one, but they will book mark one that's number 30 if it offers what they are looking for.
Think about readers first. SEO is ongoing.
500 pages of fluff will be short lived and you will spend twice the time and money on SEO because of it.
JMO

 

Did you see their backlink count?

 

if you are not giving the gambling or drug sites, it will not effect anythink

 

Are Javascript links the best method of preventing outbound links being indexed by Google ? Or is the "nofollow" tag a better method ?

Just curious.

 

I think It does not affect the google PR

 

Perhaps it brings the traffic and your unique hits so it increase your popularity and for search engines it also crawl your site