Download Student Web Presence Guidelines

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Student Web Presence Guidelines
Summary
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The Purpose of Links
Worst Links
Best Links
Writing Meaningful Links
Using internal links
Using External links
Link Rot and dead links
Preventing link rot
1. The Purpose of Links
"Life is too short to click on an unknown.“ (Neilsen)
• Connect pages
• Helps user predict what will happen
• Is a step in helping the user achieve their task
2. Worst Links
“The only text more useless than “learn more” is “click
here” (Spool)
• Use non-descriptive link text such as click here, more,
learn more, etc.
• Use clever, made up words
• Use University jargon unfamiliar to students
• Look like other links on the page
• Are lost in paragraphs full of other links
• Distracts the user from the task they are trying to
complete
• Wastes users time
• Are broken
3. Best Links
"Life is too short to click on an unknown.“ (Neilsen)
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Are descriptive
Are scannable
Place important words at the front of link text
Used plain language
Specific and clear
Use common words
Limit link text to a maximum of four words
Start with the essence of the message
Are action oriented
Obvious to the reader
Are unique, independent, distinct, separate
Examples of Links
Weak links
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To request a transcript click here
You can book at place on this page
… is the general rule. More
in the UK on this link
advice centre as a useful web page
Stronger links
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Request a transcript
Book a place
Check visa rules
apply to the Embassy
staying safe in Sheffield
4. Writing Meaningful links
“If I click on a link or button that says “Hot mashed potatoes,” the
site will take me to a page named Hot mashed potatoes.”” (Krug)
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Start with the link not the sentence
Use keywords in links
Start with a verb
Don’t use URls e.g. www.sheffield.ac.uk/history
Avoid links with similar names
Launch and land on same name (see quote above)
5. Using Internal Links
“Fewer objects on a page the more likely people will notice them”
Neilsen and Loranger
• Use keywords in links
• Avoid over-linking
• Avoid putting links in sentences because this makes it
harder to read
• Use link text consistently
• Links at end of paragraph / section / page
• Put links in separate lines after the content
• Bullet listed links make them stand out
• Have unique beginnings for all your links
6. Using External links
“Fewer objects on a page the more likely people will notice them”
Neilsen and Loranger
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Can for an added value part of your content
Name the site the link will lead to
List the best quality external sites
remember your referral reflects on your site
Add details about what can be found on external site
Too many external sites draws attention away from the
important ones
• Include warnings about possible problems on the
destination site
7. Link Rot
“The natural decay of web links as the sites they're connected to
change or die.”
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Studies show 20% to 30% pages have broken links
Will happen over time
You may be the cause as well as the victim
Broken links cause frustration and irritation
Broken links make your site look untended
Broken links will damage your reputation
Google demotes sites with link rot
Customer bookmark your pages
8. Preventing Link Rot
“The natural decay of web links as the sites they're connected to
change or die.”
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Check your Links Regularly
Do not link to sub-pages ("deep linking")
Don’t have too many external links
Don’t delete pages - reuse them
Don’t link to sites that are always changing
Avoid using URLs that point to resources on a obscure
sites
• Check Your Site Stats
• Don’t date pages or downloads
8. Preventing Link Rot
“The natural decay of web links as the sites they're connected to
change or die.”
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Check your Links Regularly
Do not link to sub-pages ("deep linking")
Don’t have too many external links
Don’t delete pages - reuse them
Don’t link to sites that are always changing
Avoid using URLs that point to resources on a obscure
sites
• Check Your Site Stats
• Don’t date pages or downloads
References
• Reddish J (2012) “Letting Go of the Words”, second
edition, Morgan Kaufman
• Neilsen J (2000) “Designing Web Usability”, New
Riders
• Neilsen J and Loranger H (2006) “Prioritising web
Usability”, New Riders
• McGovern G (2012) “Tips for Writing Great Links”
http://www.gerrymcgovern.com/new-thinking/tipswriting-great-links
• McCloskey M (2014)“Writing Hyperlinks: Salient,
Descriptive, Start with Keyword”
http://www.nngroup.com/articles/writing-links/