This is not a new topic, in 2015 we covered that Google implied external links are not a ranking factor and in 2016 we covered that Google said external links are NOT a ranking factor and then a third-party study said external links ARE a ranking factor. Got to love it, right?

In any event, in the Friday Google hangout at the 27:34 minute mark on Google+, John Mueller addressed it again, but didn’t say out right that it was not a ranking factor. Although he implied it again.

Question:

Answer:

Watch it yourself:

Forum discussion at Google+.