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Implementing Website Links
Website links need to be more than just a list of hyperlinks.
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Reference LinksWe webmasters often know of websites, other than our own, that we think would be of interest to our visitors. It is a common practice for a webmaster to provide links to these sources of information. By so doing they expand the range of knowledge for anyone visiting their site and increase the value of their own website as a source of informational authority.Internal LinksAlso, an integral part of any website's content is providing links to other web pages within the site. These links can take the form of a sitemap, navigation aid or internal reference links. (i.e. internal linking) Linking relevant content from page to page in your website is favorably viewed by the search engines and can improve your rankings.
Information is KeyThese references or links need to be more than just a list of hyperlinks. Always provide a short description of the link and tell visitors what they can expect to find there. Then organize the links so that people can quickly find what they are looking for. Remember, the name of the game is information. Provide clearly linked paths to ever deeping knowledge on any specific subject and your visitors and the search engines will love you.Linking ExampleTo give you an example, which list would you rather find on a web site?List A:
- Danni's Designs
- Sloan's Tips & Tricks
- Javascripts for You
- Melon Patch
- Coding for the Masses
- Sally's Garden
- Angela's Archives
- Land of Oz
- Harry's Hot Spots
- Wonderful Web World
- The General Store
- Creative Ideas
List B:HTML Tutorials
- Sloan's Tips & Tricks - Great ideas for creating HTML code that loads pages fast.
- Coding for the Masses - a step-by-step approach to HTML coding for beginners.
JavaScripts
- Javascripts for You - over 200 great javascripts provided here but no index or search engine.
- Wonderful Web World - the largest selection of javascripts on the Internet- categorized by type for easy searching. Great resource!
- Land of Oz - a smaller selection but some very original javascripts here ... worth a visit.
Graphics
- Danni's Designs - specializes in angel-themed graphics; free web page sets.
- Melon Patch - free country style graphics; hundreds of individual graphics, web page sets and tutorials.
- Sally's Garden - graphics in a floral theme; some beautiful backgrounds here.
- Angela's Archives - a comprehensive list of some of the best graphic web sites on the Internet; indexed according to theme.
Miscellaneous
- Harry's Hot Spots - a list of literally hundreds of unusual and interesting web sites for when you want some light entertainment.
Provide an Informed ChoiceThe first list is practically useless unless you have a lot of time to check out each link. Just adding a couple of lines of text and a different arrangement provides visitors with enough information to make an informed choice. Remember, your website visitors have come to your site seeking information. Any help you can give them to find what they are looking for will go a long way to giving your site relevance and authority. |
Provide links that compliment your site.The links that you provide for your visitors should reflect the theme or subject of your website's content. Search engines look for this type of structure when they index web pages. The relevance of your links is one of the keys to proper website optimization and as a result helps in search engine rankings.If your website is promoting the adoption of animal shelter pets, the reference lists should provide links to sites about animals, shelters, care of pets, etc. Visitors won't expect to find information about HTML coding or gourmet recipes.
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