Is Having Broken Outbound Links on old blogs posts an issue?

[Sundance_Kidd]

Please note that these old posts hardly get any traffic.  Ive heard both sides on this.

thanks,

Chris

[PatrickDelehanty]

Hi there

I would fix them. Otherwise, if the articles aren't getting any traffic, rankings, or are out of date, I would see what I can do to improve those old posts or remove them. There may be opportunities to update, you never know.

It may be a good time to perform a content audit.

Broken outbound links are frustrating for users, especially if it's a link to an article backing up your points or data. Always make sure they work. Remember - at the end of the day you want to have a great user experience - outbound links are a part of them.

Plus, a lot of broken outbound links may show crawlers that you're not paying attention to your site, or the site isn't being kept up to date.

Hope this helps! Good luck!

[ClaytonJ]

My view is you should fix all broken links. Also investigate why broken.

The primary reason is the "google bot".  In short Mr Google Bot hates broken links and it means he cannot crawl your site properly this could lead to a decrease in rankings, a Mr Bot stumbles into a dead end (broken link) and thinks the rest of your site has closed as well.  Hasta la vista...

It is simply not worth the risk.

[Sundance_Kidd]

Thanks for the info, appreciate it and totally get it. Just seems like very low priority if you will when these links are on old posts (2014/13) that very few at most visit. Additionally, i read that the Google bot simply moves on. I just view this as a minor issue, where as broken links on main pages where there is a lot of traffic is much more alarming or pressing. Thx

[EGOL]

This is on a small business website in one city.

Please note that these old posts hardly get any traffic.

I assume that the real issue with broken links is when they occur on one of your main navigational links that drives most of your traffic?

I just view this as a minor issue, where as broken links on main pages where there is a lot of traffic is much more alarming or pressing.

First, it sounds like you are making excuses for not fixing them.

If these posts get hardly any traffic then maybe they are not very good posts.  If they are worthless then dump them.  If they have potential then improve them.

No matter where these broken links are it is a sign of low form, of a website that is not tended, of a website that Google might view as low quality.

Today, more than ever, the game on the web is about quality.  The most important thing that you can do is buy into that.

[Sundance_Kidd]

Great advice, love it. Thx!