Linking is one of the most important aspects to any SEO campaign. It will give your website presence in all the right places. However, many people are unaware of how to properly link to their own pages and to other pages on the web. There are a few linking faux pas that all web designers should avoid. Read on to make sure you are not guilty….
Cloaking Links – your site will lose credibility if you cloak your links. Make sure the user is able to see where the link is pointing on the status bar of the browser
Unclear Links – viewers need to know what it a link and what is not (what is clickable and what is not). Underline or give your links a contrasting color to the text.
Underlined Text or Colored Text – links are supposed to be underlined or colored in a different color than your normal font. If the normal text is blue rather than black, then where in the heck are the links?
Colorless Links – when you click on a link, it should change color so the reader knows he has been there. If your links remain the same color, your viewer can end up getting confused and returning to the same links over and over again. Talk about annoying.
Forgetting Anchor Text on Links – this is a common mistake but needs to be avoided. Although it might be easier to use the phrase “click here”, it is not as efficient.
Don’t link to new browser windows – it might make sense to have any site links open in another window – that way the viewer doesn’t ever lose your page. However, this is actually a lot more annoying and frustrating for the viewer. With a number of windows open, he is less likely to even go back looking for yours. In addition to this point, it is also a good idea to avoid resizing the user’s browser window. Let the user be in control of his browser.
Make sure you link to credible sources - Although it’s always a good idea to link to other pages on the site, if you are going to link away from your site, make sure you are linking to a credible resource on the subject.
Don’t forget the footer links – when a viewer cannot find what he is looking for, where is the first place he will go – to the bottom of the page. Make sure you include a link to the Homepages, Contact Details and more in your footer.
Want to know more about the importance of proper linking? Contact us today for more information on how we can improve your business or create your company a web presence that will dominate the search engines and deliver results. Call today at (612) 558-1020 for a free phone consultation.
