A site’s external LinkSignal is a score out of 100 for its outbound (external) links, and for the link-related health of the site itself, right now. This page covers links that are visible but do not belong where they are. The whole metric is described on the LinkSignal overview, and the full rules are on the methodology page.
This row is worked out from this tool’s own findings and nothing else. It is not connected to any search engine or third-party score, and it does not claim to measure PageRank.
What this part of your LinkSignal measures
It counts risky links that sit on a page about something unrelated. A link to an online casino on a page about gardening is a typical case. The link may be perfectly visible. What makes it a concern is the pairing: a destination flagged as risky or unsafe, on a page that has no reason to point there.
Both halves matter. A link is counted here when its destination is flagged as unsafe or needing review, and the page it sits on is not about that topic. A risky link on a page that is about the topic is counted in links needing review instead. Hidden links are a separate case, covered in hidden and cloaked links.
How it is counted
| Row | Points for each | Limit | Reached at |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out of context links | 2 | 12 | 6 links |
The rule for this row is2 points each, up to 12: each out of context link takes off 2 points, and the row stops at 12, which is reached at 6 links.
Each link is counted once. Out of context links and concealed links share one priority in the report, so this row holds those that are not concealed. A link to a parked page or an unregistered domain is charged in the row for those instead, because they come earlier in the default order. Changing your own priority order changes what you see first, never the score.
A worked example
A site has three unrelated risky links and one hidden link. The hidden link goes to the concealed row. The three others are 3 × 2 = 6 points, so the site scores 88, which already includes 6 points lost for the hidden one.
With 9 unrelated risky links the row would reach 18 on paper, but it stops at 12. The site scores 88.
How it appears in your report
On the LinkSignal card, open How this is worked out and select Out of context links. The findings open on the matching links. In What to fix, in order, the step Out of context links lists the number Off-topic for the page next to the hidden ones, and its Review these links button opens the same list.
If any of these links still pass your ranking credit, the step also shows Passing ranking credit, and suggests adding rel="nofollow" to the ones you keep. That is a separate matter from the points here, and is covered in ranking credit.
How to get the points back
- Open the destinationLook at where the link goes and decide whether you meant it to be there.
- Remove what you did not addIf you did not put the link there, remove it and find out how it arrived, especially if several appeared together.
- Keep what you chose, and say soA genuine link, such as a client logo or a source you cite, can be trusted on a paid plan, so later scans count it as safe and it stops costing points. It can also be marked reviewed, or given
rel="nofollow",sponsoredorugcwhere that applies. - Check itUse a re-check of the fixed links, then a rescan to see the new score.
- Stay informedMonitoring reports links that appear later.
What it does not mean
- It does not mean the page was hacked. Out of place is a judgement about fit, and some links are fine for reasons that only you know.
- It does not judge the quality of your writing or your topic.
- It does not measure how a search engine sees the link.
Questions
How does Link Signals decide a page is unrelated?
It compares the topic of the destination with the page the link was found on. The reasoning behind a verdict is shown on the finding. See out of context links.
My link is deliberate. Can I keep it?
Yes. On a paid plan, trust the link: later scans still read it, but count it as safe while it stays no more serious, so it no longer costs points. Consider a rel attribute if it is paid or user-written.
Why is a pharmacy link on a health page not counted here?
A risky link on a related page is counted as needing review instead, where the charge is smaller.
Will fixing one link change the score by exactly the figure above?
Yes, until the row is below its limit. While it is at the limit, one fix may change nothing.
Run a scan and see which links do not belong on their pages.
