The use of links is often viewed as an essential part of your SEO strategy, and rightly so. There are other important aspects to adding links to your blog though, that often seem to take a back seat to the push for the highest rankings. If you think back to why you started your blog in the first place, it was most likely because you wanted to share your thoughts, experience, knowledge, expertise and the resources you found with other people who were interested in the same things. If you feel like you've lost sight of the purity of your original vision for your blog, it could be a good time to revisit some of the principles that define a great blog.
Information
You want to share your own knowledge and expertise with others, and you write posts that reflect your related experiences. To make what you write carry more weight, rather than just being a statement of your opinions, links to websites that are recognised as authorities in their field are essential. You need to back up what you have said with some supporting evidence by adding a link that takes your reader to the source of the evidence on which you base your statements. For example, if you write a health blog and say you swear by St John's Wort for depression, why should anyone take your word for it? Add a link that takes the reader to a site which gives an in-depth analysis of the herb and its uses, based on the best available research, from a source that can be trusted.
Resources
To add to the value of your post, insert links to other sites containing useful resources that would be of interest to your readers. For example, if you write a tech blog and do a post about drones, add a link to a specialist drone site such as fpvdronereviews.com, which will enhance your post and make it more interesting. If you are talking about a person who is considered an expert in the field, link to their or their company's website. If you quote something another person has said, you need to link to the source of the quote. This is not only useful for your audience, but is essential if you wish to comply with copyright law and maintain your profile as a serious and respected voice.
Connections
Building up connections with fellow enthusiasts, other bloggers, and website owners, and authority figures in your field are worthwhile not only for your blog, but for your personal and professional development. You only have to look at the success of a service like LinkedIn to see how valuable connections are these days. By adding links to good quality sites and resources, your blog will become known as one to be trusted, and you will find you are getting more backlinks to your pages. You will also form the foundations for future relationships, where you can exchange guest posts and resources with other reputable sites.
The quality and reputation of your site can be greatly enhanced by the considered addition of appropriate links that guide readers to resources they find interesting and informative, so review your pages and see where you could be making better use of links.