How many links should you include in a blog post? (Internal Vs. External)

Heyyy Love bug!

Alright, so really quickly — one of the questions I know many bloggers and business owners with content-driven websites have is this:

How many links should you actually include in a blog post — and why this matters big time (especially with Google’s new E-E-A-T update)?

By the way, if you haven’t heard about Google’s new E-E-A-T update, friend, it’s super important to know about — and I’ve also got a priceless blog post that you can check out.

I also recently shared another post about internal linking mistakes that could be stopping Google from respecting your brand — and, friend, we definitely don’t need that to happen.

You can find both of those posts here:

• E-E-A-T Update July 2025: Google’s New Content Standard Explained

• Could Internal Linking Mistakes Be Stopping Google From Respecting Your Brand?

Alright, Lovebug — here’s the big question: how many links should you actually include? Let’s talk about it.

Internal Linking

Internal linking is when you link from one page or blog post on your website to another page or blog post on the same site.

Why it matters:

• It helps Google crawl your site more effectively.

• It builds your site authority (Google loves a strong internal structure).

• It guides readers to the next logical step on your site — keeping them engaged longer.

Example: If you mention a statistic about blogging traffic, ideally you’ll want to link to the original source. Obviously, that can vary depending on the context, but that’s generally the best practice.

External Linking

External linking is when you link out to other websites or blogs.

Why it matters:

• It backs up your information with credible sources (great for Google AND your readers).

• It’s especially important when sharing statistics, referencing studies, or quoting other creators.

• It shows Google you’re part of a trustworthy web of information.

Example: If you mention a statistic about blog traffic, ideally you’ll want to link to the original source.

So… How Many Links Should You Include?

While it depends on the length of your post, here’s a general rule of thumb:

• Internal Links: 1–2 internal links for every 500 words.

• External Links: 1–2 high-quality external links per 1,000 words.

Of course, you can go one or two under (or slightly over) this guideline — just keep your readers in mind.

The goal isn’t to stuff your post with links; it’s to make your content more valuable and easy to navigate.

Here’s a Few Stats to Consider

• Pages with strong internal linking see 40% more organic traffic on average (source).

• Google’s John Mueller has stated multiple times that internal linking is one of the “biggest things” site owners can do for better SEO (source)

Hopefully, this quick breakdown helps you out!

📌 Save this post: “How Many Links Should You Include in a Blog Post?” Pin to keep these quick linking tips handy for better SEO and EEAT!

Alright, Lovebug — until next time!

Enjoyed this and want to keep learning? Here are a few other posts to check out:

• SEO for New Bloggers: 6 Powerful Ways to Glow Up Your Blog.

• Google Search Console: The Secret to Growing Your Blog Fast!

• Google Analytics for Bloggers: 5 Power Moves for Massive Growth

Your favorite foodie and blogger, Keesh.

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