As you discover more about WordPress, you may occasionally come across the term blogroll.
A blogroll is a list of links pointing to other sites or pages displayed on your sidebar section.
According to official WordPress documentation …
“The term ‘blogroll’ was originally used because it was a list of links to other blogs, but you can include links to any sites.”
The Links Manager lets you easily add a links section to your WordPress sidebar (e.g. a “Recommended Resources” section) using widgets.
Before WordPress v.3.5 was released, Links were a visible feature of the WordPress CMS. From v 3.5 onwards, the Links manager and blogroll sections were kept hidden by default in new WordPress installations …
Before …
(Links – included in the dashboard menu until the release of WP v3.5)
After …
(Post v 3.5 – no WP Links feature)
If you have used an earlier version than 3.5 and updated your installation, the Link Manager would be removed, unless you’ve previously used it. If you’ve never used the Links Manager feature, however, or if your site installation is new, then this function will remain hidden – it will not appear on the menu.
How To Add A Link Section To WordPress
You can add a link section to your sidebar menu by creating a custom menu, or use a plugin like the one shown in the tutorial below.
If the Links Manager is not visible when you log into your WordPress admin area you will need to install a plugin. This step-by-step tutorial shows you how to add and manage links on your sidebar using plugins.
Link Manager
(Link Manager)
Download URL
http://wordpress.org/plugins/link-manager
Description Of Plugin
You can use this plugin to restore the default Links Manager, even if you update WordPress to a later version or remove all of your current links.
Note: All this plugin does is add a single line of template code to restore the hidden feature. When we last checked, this plugin had not been updated for some time, but it should still work fine. If you don’t want to use the Link Manager plugin, then use the plugin below instead, or contact us for help editing your template code.
Simple Links
(Simple Links – Link Manager Plugin For WordPress)
Plugin URL
https://wordpress.org/plugins/simple-links/
Description
Simple Links attempts to recreate the same concept as the built-in WordPress Links Manager while removing the shortcomings of the deprecated functionality.
How To Install Link Manager
To install the Link Manager plugin, follow these instructions:
In your WordPress dashboard area, select Plugins > Add New …
(Plugins Menu – Add New)
Select the Install Plugins > Search tab, type ”link manager” into the search field and hit Enter …
Find the plugin in the results screen and click Install Now …
Activate the plugin after installing it …
After activation, a ‘Links’ section will get added to your WP sidebar menu area …
(Links menu section)
Configuring The Plugin
We recommend setting up your link categories first before adding new links. This way, you can assign new links to link categories you have already created.
Link Categories
To create a link category, go to your WP dashboard navigation menu and click on Links > Link Categories …
(WP Links – Link Categories)
This loads the ‘Link Categories’ screen in your web browser.
Type in the following information:
- Name: What you type in this field is the category name that will display on your site.
- Slug: The slug is the URL part of your link category. Use only lowercase letters and do not include spaces (use hyphens to separate words).
- Description: Some themes may display your link category description. (Optional)
When done, click Add New Link Category to save your new link category …
(Link Categories)
Your link category will display in the table …
(Link Categories)
Tip: The default WordPress link category is called Blogroll . Unless you specify the category when creating a new link, WordPress automatically assigns new links to the default category …
(Default link category name)
You may want to change this to something that will make sense to blog readers. This will not only make it easier for visitors, but any new links that you add to the Links section will automatically be assigned to the new category name …
(we recommend changing the default ’blogroll’ to something your visitors will relate to)
To change the default category name, hover your mouse over the category name and click on Quick Edit …
(Editing the default link category name)
Replace both the Name and the Slug with a new category name (remember to keep the slug in lowercase letters and replace all spaces with a hyphen), and click on the Update link Category button …
(Quick Edit)
In our example, we’ve replaced the category name ‘Blogroll’ with an appropriate links section category name (e.g. ‘Recommended’).
Let’s insert a link category description. To add a link category description, click on the Edit link under the category name …
(You can add/edit your category description)
Add your description in the ‘Edit Link Category’ page and click Update you’re done to save your settings …
(Edit Link Category page)
Repeat this process and add as many new link categories as you need.
Once you have configured your link categories, you can add your links.
Adding Links
To add a new link, go to the WP dashboard navigation menu and select Links > Add New …
(Links Menu – Add New)
This loads the Add New Link’ screen in your browser …
(Add New Link page)
You can also reach this screen by clicking on the ‘Add New’ button at the top of the main Links screen …
(Add New Link button)
The ‘Add New Links’ page has the following sections:
Name, Web Address & Description
Enter details about your link in this section …
(Add New Link screen – Name, Web Address, Description)
Type in the following information:
- Name: Whatever you type here displays as the category your links will be assigned to.
- Slug: The slug displays in the web address of the link category name. It must all be in lowercase letters and contain no spaces (use hyphens to separate words).
- Description: Some themes may display your link category description in the links section, or as a tool tip when visitors hover over the link name.
Categories & Target
Select a Category and Target for your new link …
(Categories & Target fields)
In the Categories section, tick one of the link categories you have already created, or click on the ‘+ Add New Category’ link to create a new category link.
Also, select a target frame radio button for your link in the Target section. This lets you specify how you want your link to open when clicked on:
- _blank means that a separate browser window will open up to display the content associated with the link. This lets your visitors access the information without leaving your page
- _none means that when a visitor clicks on your link, they will leave your site and a new site or page will load in your web browser window instead.
- _top opens links at the top level of the frame system if you’re using frames. If you don’t use frames, or if you don’t know what frames are, then just ignore this option.
Link Relationship XFN
This area provides some additional link functionality …
(Link Relationship (XFN))
Link Relationship (XFN) – XFN stands for XML Friends Network – lets you define your relationship with the linked person. For example, if you have a professional relationship with Gus Fields and you link to his blog, you would probably check co-worker or colleague.
XFN relationships are optional for WordPress links. You can ignore this section and your links will work just fine. XFN makes the links defined on your site more understandable to some websites and search engines that use this information.
rel – This field specifies the ‘rel’ attribute that will be assigned to your link. The rel attribute is used to define what relationship exists between the current document and the linked document. For example, if you don’t want search engines to follow your link, enter nofollow into this field.
To learn more about XFN, visit this site:
Advanced
The last section of the Add New Link’ screen allows you to enter Advanced features for your links (You can leave these fields empty unless you have a reason to use them) …
(Advanced link settings – Add New Link)
The Advanced section fields include the following:
- Image Address: Specify an image to be displayed with the link. To use this feature, add an image URL and make sure that your image is small (around 16×16 like a favicon).
- RSS Address: If your theme allows it, the link’s RSS feed can be displayed next to the link.
- Notes: This section lets you add notes for your own internal reference.
- Rating: Add a rating score to the link if you would like to sort links by rating (see the ‘Links’ widget section below).
Enter information into the above fields or just leave this section blank.
When you are done adding your new link information, click on Add Link to update your link settings …
(Click on Add Link to save your new link)
Note: If you tick the Keep this link private checkbox, the link will not be visible when links are displayed on your site …
(Private link checkbox)
Making a link private allows you to toggle link visibility on or off without deleting it (this is useful if you would like your link to display during certain periods and hide it after it’s no longer required) …
(Making links private toggles their visibility on and off)
To see a list of all the links you have created, go to the main dashboard navigation menu and choose Links > All Links …
(Links – All Links)
This loads the ‘Links’ table in your browser. The Links page displays all of your links and link information (e.g. link URL, categories, rating, etc.) …
(Table of links)
Tip: To show or hide options in the Links table, click on the ‘Screen Options’ tab near the top of your screen …
(Links table – Screen Options)
Show/hide information on your table of links by ticking/unticking their check boxes …
(List of links – Show/hide screen options)
Editing Your Links
To modify links, click on Links > All Links in the admin menu to bring up your table of links …
(Links – All Links)
Locate the item you want to edit and click on Edit to bring up the link’s information …
(Editing link information)
Make changes to the link fields …
(Edit Link screen)
After you’re done editing your link, you can:
- Click the Update Link button to save and update your link details,
- Click on Visit Link to make sure that you have set up the link’s URL correctly (the link will open in a new window),
- Click Delete to delete the link …
(Edit Link: Update Link button)
How To Remove Links
To delete links from the Link Manager, choose Links > All Links in the dashboard menu …
(WP Links Menu – All Links)
This brings up the ‘Links’ table.
You can delete links individually, delete multiple links, or remove all links at once.
To delete links individually, hover your cursor over the link title that you want to remove and click Delete …
(Deleting links)
To delete multiple links, either tick the checkbox next to each item that you want removed, or select all links by clicking on the main check box next to the ‘Name’ column header at the top of the list …
(Deleting multiple links)
Choose Delete from the ‘Bulk Actions’ pulldown menu, and click the Apply button to delete your selected links …
(Bulk-deletion of links)
All the links you have selected will be removed …
(Link deletion notification)
Using The Plugin
Now that you know how to configure link categories and how to add, edit and delete links, it’s time to make links display on your website.
Using The Links Widget
Installing the Link Manager plugin adds a ‘Links’ widget to your ‘Widgets’ section.
To access and configure your Link widgets, choose Appearance > Widgets in the main navigation menu …
(WordPress Appearance – Widgets)
This brings up the ‘Widgets’ screen in your browser.
You will notice a ‘Links’ widget in the Available Widgets section …
(Links widget)
To make the ‘Links’ widget active, drag the widget to one of the active widget areas in the Widgets page and drop it wherever you would like your links section to show up …
(Drag and drop your links widget to add it to your WordPress widget bar)
The Links widget provides a number of options. For example, you can specify what information you want to display about your links and how many links you would like displayed on your sidebar menu …
(Link widget settings)
You can also add multiple link widgets to your sidebar. This lets you add and display link categories throughout your site …
(Add a number of link widgets to your widget bars)
Select a link category from the ‘Select Link Category:’ dropdown menu …
(Link widget options – Select Link Category)
You can sort links by Link title, Link ID, Link rating, or display links in Random order …
(Link widget options – Sort by options)
Once you are done configuring the Links widget, click the Save button to update your settings. A links should become visible on your site’s sidebar menu …
(An example of how links can be displayed on a sidebar)
As the above example shows, you can display specific links to your site visitors (e.g. a list for a specific link category only), and add multiple lists of links to your sidebar menu.
Need help with widgets? We have written a comprehensive article about adding widgets. To learn more, go here:
Links Manager – Additional Information
If you have many links, the Link Manager plugin allows you to easily administer these with sorting, searching, and filtering features.
Sort Your Links
You can sort links by hovering your mouse over the title of the column you want to sort and clicking on the black triangle displayed next to the column title …
(Sort links)
Searching Links
Type a search term into the search field and click the Search Links button …
(Searching links)
Filter Your Links
You can filter links by link categories …
(Filter links by categories)
You can also search and filter links in the Link Categories screen. Use the ‘Search Link Categories’ button to find link categories, or click on the links in the ‘Links’ column …
(searching and filtering links in the Link Categories screen)
This displays a list of all links grouped under a specific link category …
(Links filtered by category)
Links – Additional Options
If you plan to use links extensively on your website, or if you would like to add a ‘Links’ page to your site (i.e. not just add links on your sidebar), then you may want to look at using a plugin that can help you administer links, like Link Library.
Link Library
(Link Library Plugin)
Plugin Download URL
http://wordpress.org/plugins/link-library/
Plugin Description
Link Library lets you display a list of all your link categories and a complete list of links together with descriptions and notes …
(Link Library links. Image source: Link Library plugin documentation.)
Link Library can be used to create a page on your web site that contains a list of all of the link categories in your Links area, plus all links listed in these categories. You can select a sub-set of categories to display or not display, show only one category at a time, display a search box and find results based on visitor queries, display a form to accept user submissions that can be moderated by a site administrator, and even generate an RSS feed for your links that lets your site users be made aware of any additions made to to your link library.
To learn more about the benefits of using this great plugin, visit this site:
Congratulations! Now you know how to add external links to WordPress.
To learn more about inserting HTML hyperlinks into WordPress, refer to this article:
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