4.5 Off-site authority (rented/optional data)MediumVerified
Outbound links to spam
Linking out to spammy or low-quality sites associates your site with them and can hurt trust. I keep outbound links to relevant, reputable destinations.
What it is
Links to low-quality/spam sites.
Why it matters
Can associate your site with bad neighbourhoods.
How to fix it
Remove/qualify such links (rel as needed).
How to find it on your site
- Audit outbound links for spammy or irrelevant destinations.
- Remove or nofollow links to untrustworthy sites.
- Keep editorial links to reputable sources only.
- Re-check after changes.
Cross-reference to ranking and citation factors
Outbound links to spam can damage your trust by association. Linking only to reputable sites protects it.
Impact
Low-medium. Direct.
Evidence
Avoid participating in link schemes/bad links. Google Search Central, Spam policies for Google web search