How to use external links in your content?

@clarabelle 

Using external links in your content can be a powerful way to enhance your content's credibility, provide additional resources, and improve user experience. Here are some steps to effectively incorporate external links into your content:

1. Identify reliable and relevant sources: Search for high-quality websites, articles, research papers, or trusted publications that support the information in your content. Ensure they are reliable, trustworthy, and authoritative sources.
2. Choose appropriate anchor text: Select a specific word or phrase within your content where the external link will be placed. This anchor text should be concise, relevant, and provide a clear indication of what the linked content is about.
3. Open the link in a new tab/window: Whenever possible, set your external links to open in a new tab or window. This allows users to easily return to your content after exploring the linked source without disrupting their reading flow.
4. Use proper formatting and styling: Format your external links to stand out from the surrounding text. Typically, this is done by underlining the anchor text or styling it in a different color. This visually indicates to your readers that the text is clickable and leads to external content.
5. Attribute the source: When linking to external content that you've referenced or quoted, make sure to properly attribute the source. This can be done either within the content or in a separate footnotes section to give credit where it's due.
6. Test and check the link: Ensure that your external links are functional and lead to the intended page or resource. Broken or incorrect links can frustrate users and negatively impact your content's credibility.
7. Avoid excessive linking: While external links provide valuable supplementary information, avoid including too many links as it can distract readers or make your content appear spammy. Stick to relevant and essential sources to maintain a well-balanced approach.
8. Regularly review and update: Periodically review your content to ensure that external links are still valid and working as intended. Over time, sources may change content, move pages, or become outdated, so it's important to keep your links up to date.

By incorporating external links strategically and thoughtfully, you can enrich your content, support your claims, and provide your audience with valuable resources and references.