Citations vs Promotional Links: 3 Tests to Spot the Difference

Hey Hackers!

When fleshing out an article, it’s often necessary to include citations and links to other sources. It’s important for SEO, but it’s also important to show the readers that your claims aren’t being pulled from thin air. However, it’s easy to fall into the trap of including promotional links that bring down the credibility of your article.

If you’re confused about how to differentiate between legitimate citations and promotional links, don’t worry; HackerNoon has you covered. Here are 3 tests to get to the bottom of the truth.

1. The Context Test: Is the link backing up a specific claim, or is it just attached to generic filler text?

Look at the link and where it’s at. If it’s attached to generic text that absolutely needs no backlink, it’s a promotional link. Generic text, in this context, means keyword phrases that are just stuffed into the article for SEO purposes.

Here’s an example:

When deciding which is the best cloud platform to choose, developers usually look for these features.

“Best cloud platform to choose” needs no backlink, and it’s clear that it’s just there to promote a specific cloud platform. Promotional link for sure.

However, if the link is backing up and is attached to a specific claim, then it’s a bona fide citation. Here’s an example:

According to RealNews.com, 96% of people like to make up statistics on the fly.

It makes sense for the link to be there because you want to cite the place where you got the info from, which, in this case, is RealNews.com.

2. The Swap Test: Could you have linked a neutral source instead?

Think about your source. Was it really necessary for you to pick that one? What happens if you swapped it with a different source? Do things remain the same, or does that drastically change things?

Here’s an example of a promotional link:

According to SEOLinkStuffing.com, water has a slight blue tint to it

Water is blue is such a generic piece of info that you could’ve used any neutral source. The only reason to use SEOLinkStuffing.com as the source would be to send traffic its way; therefore, it can be considered a promotional link.

Here’s an example of swapping it with a neutral source instead:

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, water has a slight blue tint to it.

Same exact claim, but having a neutral source adds more weight to the point you’re trying to make, and it makes your article appear more legitimate.

3. The Destination Test: What will they see when they click the link?

When people click on the link that you put in your article, what will they see? Will they see legitimate info? Or will they be bombarded in the face with promotional content trying to sell them something?

Here’s an example of a bad destination:

You click on the link and immediately get hit with “Book a Demo!”, and you have a ton of branding and marketing for a specific company or tool.

This is not a good look. If people feel as if you wanted them to click on the link just to sell them something, your credibility is instantly destroyed.

Here’s an example of a good destination:

You click on the link, and the only thing the destination website wishes to give you is information. No overly promotional stuff. No Pricing or Services tab in the header.

This is what you want out of a citation. Its only purpose is to back up one of your claims, not to sell you a product.

Use these three tests to figure out whether you’re adding real sources or promotional links to your article and watch your credibility fly through the roof.

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That’s all for this week.

Until next time, Hackers!