| The importance of links in a web page should | | | | page that has slightly more specific |
| be obvious to any designer, whether | | | | information than the previous one, and so on, |
| experienced or not. Your clients will | | | | allowing viewers to slowly refine their |
| undoubtedly request that links be placed in | | | | search. |
| the sites you create for them and your web | | | | |
| design company will ensure that you do so. | | | | Web design Tip #3: How to Write Links and |
| Designers must not forget that the overall | | | | Setting Them |
| content of a site is not limited to the text, | | | | |
| but includes images, links and all the other | | | | Some good guidelines to follow when creating |
| relevant components of a properly designed | | | | links are shown below. |
| web page. | | | | |
| | | | • The log files of your website will |
| In Web Design Links Reinforce Scannability | | | | contain information regarding the most common |
| | | | search terms used by visitors to your site. |
| Online visitors to a site are almost always | | | | Try to identify these terms and include them |
| drawn first to images. Links are the next | | | | in your web pages as links to the other parts |
| thing that they notice, because they are | | | | of your site. |
| always underlined and coloured differently | | | | |
| from the rest of the text. Your web design | | | | • You should ensure that links lead to |
| company is likely to instruct you to make | | | | the pages that they are supposed, and not |
| sure that links included in each web page | | | | elsewhere. Links that do not lead readers to |
| catch the attention of viewers. Links, in | | | | the pages that they expect to visit do not |
| addition to good textual content, will allow | | | | form a very good impression of your client or |
| readers to scan through your web page | | | | your web design company and this will not be |
| quickly. Links will only do this effectively | | | | good for your reputation as a designer. |
| if they are well-worded and have some | | | | Readers who feel that they have been tricked |
| relevance to the content of the rest of the | | | | will likely leave the site and not come back |
| web site. Your web design company will | | | | again. |
| probably make an effort to emphasize the need | | | | |
| for this. | | | | • Make the text of your links clear and |
| | | | concise. And if they state that they link to |
| Web design Tip #1: Links on Your Home Page | | | | something such as an e-book, phrase them such |
| | | | that there is no mistaking where the link |
| A good web site should always contain links | | | | should lead. "This e-book..." is a good |
| to all the other parts of the site on its | | | | example of a link that should lead to an |
| home page, unless the entire site consists of | | | | e-book, and not some other web page. |
| only a single page. Most visitors to the site | | | | |
| are likely to simply scan through the content | | | | • Links should always serve a clear |
| of the home page, so it is important to | | | | purpose. If you have included a link in a web |
| ensure that the text of each link clearly | | | | page and are unable to clearly define the |
| describes the part of the site that it links | | | | purpose of the link, then it should be |
| to. Your links must also stand out, so avoid | | | | removed. Always keep in mind that the purpose |
| having a home page comprised solely of links | | | | of your web design company is to provide |
| and no other text. Link titles should also be | | | | services to both your clients and readers so |
| plain and straightforward, giving readers a | | | | make sure you only include links that are |
| very clear description of where the link will | | | | important. |
| lead. Your web design company will | | | | |
| undoubtedly be happy if you also include | | | | Both your Web Design company and your clients |
| links to other general pages found on your | | | | will definitely appreciate it if you take the |
| website. | | | | effort to make sure that links are as |
| | | | effective and well-integrated into the |
| Web design Tip #2: General to Specific is the | | | | website content as possible. The text that |
| Way to Go | | | | surrounds a link should contain relevant and |
| | | | useful information, and the link itself |
| Online users who are trying to find specific | | | | should be related to the surrounding text, |
| information will generally follow the same | | | | and be very clear in its purpose. If a link |
| sort of search pattern - they will start | | | | is going to direct readers to another page |
| their search with general terms that will get | | | | composed entirely of other links, then the |
| more and more specific as they discover new | | | | first link should clearly state that it leads |
| information. Links should operate on the same | | | | to a another page full of links. |
| logic, leading the viewer from each page to a | | | | |