How to Find and Replace Broken Outbound Links for Better SEO
Broken outbound links hurt SEO and user experience. To fix them, use a link checker to identify issues, then replace or remove the broken URLs and update your content accordingly.

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Key Takaways






Frequently Asked Questions
Why are broken outbound links bad for SEO?
Ideally once a month, especially after major content updates or site changes.
How often should I check for broken links?
Ideally once a month, especially after major content updates or site changes.
What’s the best tool to find broken outbound links?
Screaming Frog, Ahrefs, and Google Search Console are great options, depending on your budget and site size.
Should I remove or replace broken outbound links?
Whenever possible, replace them with a relevant, live link. If none exists, remove the link or the sentence containing it.
Can broken links cause a Google penalty?
Not directly, but they contribute to a poor-quality site experience, which can lower your rankings over time.
Step by Step Plan
Run a Site-Wide Link Audit
Use tools like Screaming Frog or Ahrefs to crawl your site and detect all broken outbound links.
Sort and Prioritize Broken Links
Focus first on high-traffic pages and blog posts where broken links impact user experience the most.
Verify the Broken URLs
Sometimes servers are temporarily down. Confirm the link is truly broken by checking it manually.
Verify the Broken URLs
Search for a credible replacement from a reliable source to maintain the value of the original reference.
Update Anchor Text and Publish
Ensure the anchor text aligns with the new link destination before updating and republishing the content.
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