plainlanguage.gov | Write effective links (2024)

FAQs

How do you write an effective link? ›

An effective link is self-explanatory, telling the user where they will go if they click on the link. Links are also easy to distinguish from other content. Put key words at the beginning of the link phrase. Links that begin with key words are easier to scan, because the important words appear early in the link phrase.

Eyetracking studies show that links written in plain language are the most effective. Write plain language links so that the user understands exactly where the link will take them. Link names should be the same as the page name linked to. Don't use the full name of a document or program as a link name.

You can also insert a URL link by using the shortcut keys "Ctrl+K". The window below asks you to enter the hyperlink URL. If you selected something before using Ctrl+K, the URL itself will not appear on the page but what you selected will serve as a link to http://www.microsoft.com.

Links should be descriptive enough to work in isolation from the rest of the content. Link text should make the destination of the link clear. If you are linking to information then you could consider using the page title of the destination page if it is suitably descriptive.

A link is a chain that connects pages both within a website and to other websites. Without links, we wouldn't have any websites. For example, let's have a look at this URL, https://www.freecodecamp.org/ . When you type it in the address bar it will take you to the official freeCodeCamp site.

For example, instead of saying: “Click here to sign up,” you might try: “Sign up for our newsletter now.” Direct language encourages users to take a desired action, and in marketing, a solid call to action is critical.

Keeping URLs as simple, relevant, compelling, and accurate as possible is key to getting both your users and search engines to understand them (a prerequisite to ranking well). Although URLs can include ID numbers and codes, the best practice is to use words that people can comprehend.

Find Broken Backlinks and Suggest Replacements

Broken link building is the process of finding broken links on reputable websites and convincing the creators to replace them with working links to your website. It's an effective link building method because no one wants broken links on their website.

Try looking at the hyperlinked words without looking at the surrounding text - does it make sense? Avoid hyperlinking entire sentences. Instead, pick up to five consecutive words that convey best where the link leads to.

How do I copy a link and make it clickable? ›

Find the link that you want to copy and highlight it with the cursor. You can do this by clicking twice (or, sometimes, three times). Then, right click and click the option for "Copy Link." Or, you can press Control (or Command on a Mac) + C. Then, go to where you want to paste the link and right click again.

A typical URL could have the form http://www.example.com/index.html , which indicates a protocol ( http ), a hostname ( www.example.com ), and a file name ( index. html ).

A URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the specific web address that identifies the location of a web page or resource on the internet. In simpler terms, a hyperlink is a clickable element, a link is the connection between pages, and a URL is the web address.

Link text should make sense

Links should stand out visibly from the surrounding page content. This makes it easy to scan a page looking for the link that will take you to the information you're looking for. This strategy works best when the link text makes sense on its own.

Select the text or picture that you want to display as a hyperlink. Link. You can also right-click the text or picture and click Link on the shortcut menu. In the Insert Hyperlink box, type or paste your link in the Address box.

There's a direct link between diet and heart disease. Their links with Mexico are still strong. a connection between documents on the internet: Click on this link to visit our online bookstore.