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[[Blog_Writing_for_College_Students|Home]] | |||
No page on the internet stands alone. The connection of sites on the internet is what makes the web interactive. Links play a vital role in maintaining this interactivity. By connecting to other areas of the internet, readers are given access to an unlimited pool of information. An article by Lee Munroe of [http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/02/13/the-definitive-guide-to-styling-web-links/ Smashing Magazine] quoted [http://webstandardistas.com/ Web Standardistas] saying "“without hypertext links the Web wouldn’t be the Web, it would simply be a collection of separate, unconnected pages.”<ref>Lee Munroe</ref> | No page on the internet stands alone. The connection of sites on the internet is what makes the web interactive. Links play a vital role in maintaining this interactivity. By connecting to other areas of the internet, readers are given access to an unlimited pool of information. An article by Lee Munroe of [http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/02/13/the-definitive-guide-to-styling-web-links/ Smashing Magazine] quoted [http://webstandardistas.com/ Web Standardistas] saying "“without hypertext links the Web wouldn’t be the Web, it would simply be a collection of separate, unconnected pages.”<ref>Lee Munroe</ref> | ||
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===Sources=== | ===Sources=== | ||
Sources can include supporting documents, empirical | Sources can include supporting documents, empirical data, corroborating accounts, definitions of words, explanations, maps, etc. When referencing a person, link to that person's page. When talking about a movie, link to the trailer. Keep in mind that common knowledge to the author may be foreign to the reader. | ||
=== Embedded links=== | === Embedded links=== | ||
Embedded links are the most common type of link. | Embedded links are the most common type of link. These link to other web pages outside of your blog. Using external links is useful in giving access to evidence that verifies the information presented in your blog, or provided related reading material. The link is designated by a "hot area" identified by a word or object. According to [http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/H/hot_spot.html Webopedia], a hot area is "an area of a graphics object, or a section of text, that activates a function when selected. Hot spots are particularly common in multimedia applications, where selecting a hot spot can make the application display a picture, run a video, or open a new window of information." | ||
===Inline links=== | ===Inline links=== | ||
Inline links do not take the reader off the page. | Inline links do not take the reader off the page. These links display content that is located somewhere else on the web, but they do not require the user to navigate away from the blog. The most common types of inline links are pictures and videos. The author displays these graphics on his or her page, but acknowledges that they originated elsewhere on the internet. | ||
===Anchors=== | ===Anchors=== | ||
Like inline links, anchors do not send readers elsewhere. Instead, these links connect the reader to other sections of the page. | Like inline links, anchors do not send readers elsewhere. Instead, these links connect the reader to other sections of the page. [http://kb.weebly.com/anchor-links.html Weebly support center] says, "Anchor links enable you to link directly from one part of a page to another" One of the most anchor links is a link to the home page. As bloggers, we should keep in mind that not all users access each page through the home page. Providing a link to the homepage gives access to the rest of your content. | ||
==How to Link== | ==How to Link== | ||
=== HTML === | === HTML === | ||
Creating hypertext with HTML can be done with a simple code. The HTML link syntax looks like this: <a href="url">Link text</a> | Creating hypertext with HTML can be done with a simple code. The HTML link syntax looks like this: '''<a href="url">Link text</a>''' | ||
Example: To link to a page about linking, I would use this code '''<nowiki><a href="http://www.w3schools.com/html/html_links.asp#gsc.tab=0">Links</a></nowiki>'''. It would then appear as: [http://www.w3schools.com/html/html_links.asp#gsc.tab=0 Links]. This HTML code will work on websites that support HTML coding. | |||
====New tab==== | |||
Sometimes it's beneficial to have hyperlinks open a new tab or window. The HTML code for opening the link in another tab looks like this: '''<nowiki><a href="URL of target site" target="_blank">Anchor text</a></nowiki>''' and displays as this: [http://www.w3schools.com/html/html_links.asp Anchor text]. | |||
====New window==== | |||
The HTML code for opening the link in another window looks like this: '''<nowiki><a href="URL of target site" target="_blank">Anchor Text</a> or <a href="URL of target site" target="new">Anchor Text</a></nowiki>''' and displays as this: [http://dummies.bloggertipsandtricks.com/2006/03/how-to-make-clickable-link.html Anchor Text] | |||
====Alternative codes==== | |||
It's important to remember that various websites will have their own method of adding a hyperlink to a post. For example, this wiki does not use the HTML code shown above. Instead, hyperlinks are shown by placing a url in standard brackets and then simply typing the word you wish to display. It looks like this: '''<nowiki>[http://www.wikipedia.org Wikipedia]</nowiki>''' and displays as this: [http://www.wikipedia.org Wikipedia]. When working with various websites, take the time to figure out how each site supports hyperlinks. | |||
=== The Link button === | === The Link button === | ||
[[File:Links.jpg|thumb|Link button]] | [[File:Links.jpg|thumb|Link button]] | ||
The graphical user interface is a wonderful thing. Because of this,many blog sites don't require users to write HTML code. These sites offer a method of linking with the click of a button. This button is most often a graphic | The graphical user interface is a wonderful thing. Because of this, many blog sites don't require users to write HTML code. These sites offer a method of linking with the click of a button. This button is most often a graphic representation of a chain linked together. | ||
To use this button, simply highlight the text you wish to link, click the link graphic and insert a url. If you want to remove a link from a word or set of words, highlight the text and click the broken chain graphic. This will remove the link. | To use this button, simply highlight the text you wish to link, click the link graphic and insert a url. If you want to remove a link from a word or set of words, highlight the text and click the broken chain graphic. This will remove the link. | ||
=== Unambiguous linking === | === Unambiguous linking === | ||
When incorporating | When incorporating hyperlinks into a blog post, make sure that any linked text leads to an obvious destination. Readers should always have a clear idea of where each link will take them. Ben Hunt from [http://www.webdesignfromscratch.com/usability/clear-hyperlinks/ Web Design from Scratch] said, "To help users browse with confidence, web links should be absolutely clear and explicit." Ambiguous links may lead to a loss of credibility. | ||
=== Contrast === | === Contrast === | ||
Many blog sites or themes have a default color for | Many blog sites or themes have a default color for hyperlinks. Blue is no longer the only option, but sometimes customization is impossible within a theme. If customization is possible, be sure to choose a color for hypertext that will stand out. Contrast is important so that users can tell which words are or are not links. According to Gary Swift of [http://www.designmatrix.com/index.html DesignMatriX.com], "Choose hyperlink (anchor) colors that contrast against the normal text color, with unvisited links brighter (hotter) than visited links. Within a set of related hypertext documents, use these link colors consistently. For Web sites this generally means the entire site." <ref>Gary Swift</ref> | ||
=== Menus === | === Menus === | ||
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===Headlines=== | ===Headlines=== | ||
Ideally, <i>[[Headers and Sub-headers| headlines and sub-headers]]</i> should stand on their own. It is both distracting and unnecessary to link the title to another page. | Ideally, <i>[[Headers and Sub-headers| headlines and sub-headers]]</i> should stand on their own. It is both distracting and unnecessary to link the title to another page. | ||
=== Long phrases === | === Long phrases === | ||
To put it simply, long, hyperlinked phrases do not get read. Whether the phrase is underlined or displayed in a darker color, it is difficult to read a full sentence that contains a hyperlink. Remember that users don't read, they scan. Stick with 1-2 words or the title of whatever you're referencing. [http://www.asdfsdfreresdferer.com/ If you're link looks anything like this, there's good change that you're doing it wrong. This link is much too long and leads to nothing.] | To put it simply, long, hyperlinked phrases do not get read. Whether the phrase is underlined or displayed in a darker color, it is difficult to read a full sentence that contains a hyperlink. Remember that users don't read, [http://litmuse.maconstate.edu/litwiki/index.php/Scan-ability they scan]. Stick with 1-2 words or the title of whatever you're referencing. [http://www.asdfsdfreresdferer.com/ If you're link looks anything like this, there's good change that you're doing it wrong. This link is much too long and leads to nothing.] | ||
===Labels=== | ===Labels=== | ||
Hyperlinks should not show up as labels that simply point to content. "Click here" or "Additional information" is ambiguous and does not provide any useful information for the reader.[http://jimthatcher.com/news-061607.htm Click here!] | Hyperlinks should not show up as labels that simply point to content. "Click here" or "Additional information" is ambiguous and does not provide any useful information for the reader.[http://jimthatcher.com/news-061607.htm Click here for more information about this common error!] | ||
===Broken links=== | ===Broken links=== | ||
This concept is relatively self-explanatory, but it is nevertheless a common | This concept is relatively self-explanatory, but it is nevertheless a common mistake. Be careful to check the destination of each link before publishing a post. Broken links frustrate the readers and can damage the credibility of the writer. | ||
==Notes== | ==Notes== | ||
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==References== | ==References== | ||
# | #[http://kb.weebly.com/anchor-links.html Anchor Links]. ''Weebly'' Web. 10 April 2013 | ||
# Carroll, Brian. (2010). ''[http://www.scribd.com/doc/64429015/Writing-for-Digital-Media Writing for Digital Media]''. New York: Routledge. Retrieved 3 April 2013. | # Carroll, Brian. (2010). ''[http://www.scribd.com/doc/64429015/Writing-for-Digital-Media Writing for Digital Media]''. New York: Routledge. Retrieved 3 April 2013. | ||
# [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Cheatsheet | # [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Cheatsheet Help: Cheatsheet.] ''Wikipedia.'' 30 March 2013. Web. 3 April 2013 | ||
# Thomas J. | # [http://www.w3schools.com/html/html_links.asp HTML Links.] ''w3Schools'' Web. 2 April 2013 | ||
# Thatcher, James. [http://jimthatcher.com/news-061607.htm | # Hunt, Ben. [http://www.webdesignfromscratch.com/usability/clear-hyperlinks/ Clear Web Hyperlinks] ''Web Design from Scratch''. Web. 10 April 2013 | ||
# Johnson, Thomas J. and Kaye, Barbara K. "Cruising is Believing?" Comparing Internet and Traditional Sources on Media Credibility Measures," ''Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly'', 75,(1998): 325-40 | |||
# Kyrnin, Jennifer. [http://webdesign.about.com/od/beginningtutorials/qt/external-links.htm Why and How to Use External Links.] ''About.com'' Web. 1 April 2013 | |||
# Munroe, Lee. [http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/02/13/the-definitive-guide-to-styling-web-links/ The Definitive Guide To Styling Web Links.] ''Smashing Magazine'' 13 February, 2013. Web. 1 April 2013 | |||
# [http://en.support.wordpress.com/menus/ Support: Custom Menus.] ''Wordpress'' Web. 2 April 2013 | |||
# Swift, Gary. [http://www.designmatrix.com/pl/cyberpl/www/clc.html Consistent Link Colors.] ''DesignMatriX'' 22 September, 2012. Web. 2 April 2013 | |||
# Thatcher, James. [http://jimthatcher.com/news-061607.htm Click Here and Other Link Text.] ''Jim Thatcher.'' 2 May 2011. Web. 3 April 2013. | |||
==See Also== | |||
*[[Themes|Themes]] | |||
*[[Categorizing Posts|Categorizing Posts]] | |||
*[[Headers and Sub-headers|Headers and Sub-headers]] | |||
*[[Lists|Lists]] | |||
[[Category:New Media]] | |||