Tuesday, April 3, 2012

C: Click Here

C:  I visit lots of blogs, not only during the A to Z Challenge, but nearly every day of the year.  I even visited some on Christmas Day last year.  And by visiting my friends, I often am led off on a tangent by some link they've included in their blog topic for the day.  Some of those links are explained and the link in made by clicking at the word, here.  As in, click here.  Go here. 

I'm not an expert on how search engines work but one thing I've learned from somewhere or from someone, is that you should name your links and not write, click here. 

For instance, my romance publisher, New Concepts Publishing, has my most recent fantasy romance on special.  A Tiger's Courage is now available in print as well as ebook.  You can find it at any ebook retailer like Amazon and Fictionwise.

Notice how the links to my book and my publisher are the links.  I don't say 'click here' to buy the book.  If I get the idea of it, it helps my numbers and rankings with search engines.  I don't have to understand it to do it the best way. 

So no more 'click here' or 'go here.'   Are you thoughtful of what words you use in your links? Do you google yourself to see if you have all the top spots in a search of your name or your book?

29 comments:

RHYTHM AND RHYME said...

Not being techincally minded where pcs are concerned I have only just learned how to do a link.....then it takes a time to do it. So have forsaken them during the challenge.
Enjoyed your post and found it absorbing to read.

Yvonne.

Anne Gallagher said...

This makes total sense. Thanks for advice.

Unknown said...

Great tip... I think I name ly links.. but I will be sure to remember it next time. Good luck with the challenge!

Lena said...

That's a wonderful advice. I should put it to use right away. I am often use 'clickhere/there' for my links, but I believe it will look better if I choose words carefully.

Lena

a.eye said...

Great idea! I try to name the links, but I think on my last post I said something like to find more about A to Z Challenge click here - a combination of the good and the bad, I guess.

shelly said...

I have to say you're write b/c I never do a CLICK HERE w/o any details.

Anonymous said...

It took me a while to get used to it - I still have to go back to a previous post where I used a link and copy and paste, deleting the previous link and putting in the current one. :P But it works!

I agree. It's cleaner and simply helps the reader to find what she needs more easily and quickly.

Your blog rocks! Nice to meet you on the A-Z challenge and I'll be checking back in!

-Chris

Mary@GigglesandGuns said...

Yippee! I did something right -- even if by accident.

M.J. Fifield said...

Excuse me, I have to go edit my blog now...

I don't always do that but I know I'm guilty of it once and a while.

DonnaGalanti said...

Thanks for the CLick Here reminder...I often dont do it but noticed I did in a post this week. It is very outdated indeed. Funny! Glad to be in the challenge with you.

Anonymous said...

I used to use "click here" before but suddenly refused to continue that habbit. I now copy and paste the whole link, and sometimes use the title of the post before hyperlinking it to it's website link/url. :)

Interesting post, by the way!
Jokel here, just another participant on the A to Z challenge :)

Here's the link to my blog: joknut.wordpress.com

Lynn Proctor said...

thanks for the good advice!

Tracy said...

ummm, actually I don't use those words. I just make a link on the words associated with it and assume people will go to it if they want to. I will say click to enlarge photo though! Great C connection!

Wendy Tyler Ryan said...

You make a valid point, I know I'm guilty, but it is more like "lazy".

Golden Eagle said...

I used to say things like "click here" for links, but after reading The Yahoo! Style Guide which warned against it, I've begun adding words to links. Still don't do it consistently, however.

I doubt I'll ever have the top spot when it comes to my blogging pseudonym--there are a ton of golden eagle-related things on the web. :P

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Once in a while I'll use HERE, but usually it's because I've already linked the blogger's name.
Someone told me today that a search for Laura Bambrey listed my post second. Guess linking does matter!

Mary Aalgaard said...

I learned that from a techie guy who builds websites and understands how all that works. Great advice!

Play off the Page

Rebecca said...

Very interesting post on click here. congratulations on your latest book, A Tiger's Courage. If you're ever interested in a virtual book tour you can check out my sites. Notice I didn't say click here.

The Happy Whisk said...

I agree with you. Good post.

Michelle Wallace said...

Thanks for the advice - it makes sense!

Tonja said...

Good advice.

Unknown said...

Thanks so much for this tip. I use my blog to link back to my freelance articles and often times I get lazy and use the old "click here." I'll stop doing it! Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge!

Jemi Fraser said...

I didn't know that!! I always do it the way you've shown in this post - glad I have been. Thanks for the tip! :)

Patty said...

What a great tip. And it's easier to read that way. I always get nervous with a "click here." I want to know WHERE I am going to end up.

Sharon said...

My daughter-in-law just showed me how to do this; haven't tried it yet but it definitely looks more professional.

Rebecca said...

Thanks for following my blog.

Unknown said...

I used to always use the word [link], which is a big no no. I've become a lot more mindful recently (mainly because I started a job in online marketing, hehe) about putting certain words in bold, having a link that's a phrase etc.

It runs the risk of being overdone, but it's useful for people to find you a little easier.


Jamie Gibbs
Fellow A-Z Buddy
Mithril Wisdom

Isabella Amaris said...

Hmmm, now you've got me thinking... Makes sense. Off I go to revisit my links. Thanks for the tip!:)

Isabella
C for Cinderella

Unknown said...

Visiting from the challenge and I had no idea about this! I have used 'click here' many times! Thank you for the wonderful C post today...it is true; you learn something new EVERY day! :)