As you become more familiar with WordPress, you may occasionally come across the term blogroll.
WordPress refers to a list of hyperlinks pointing to other sites or web pages that display on your sidebar section as a blogroll.
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.”
You can display a featured links section on your sidebar or footer using the WordPress Link Manager plugin.
Before the release of WP v3.5, Links were a built-in feature of the WordPress CMS. From version 3.5 onwards, the Links manager and blogroll sections were hidden by default in new WordPress installations …
Before …
(WordPress Links Manager – pre v3.5)
After …
(Post v3.5 – no WP Links feature)
If you’ve had an earlier version of WordPress than v.3.5 installed and upgraded your installation, the Link Manager would be removed, unless you have previously used it. If you’ve never used Link Manager, however, or if your site is new, then this function will become invisible – it will not appear on your 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 menu section is not visible when you log into your WordPress backend, you can add it via a plugin. This tutorial explains how to add, edit, delete and manage blogroll links on your site’s sidebar using plugins.
Link Manager
(Link Manager – WordPress Links Management Plugin)
Plugin Download URL
http://wordpress.org/plugins/link-manager
Plugin Description
This plugin restores the Links Manager, even if you upgrade to a later version of WordPress or remove all of your current links.
Note: All this plugin does is add a single line of template code to your installation in order 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 one below instead, or contact us for help editing your site’s template code.
Simple Links
(Simple Links)
Download URL
https://wordpress.org/plugins/simple-links/
Description
This plugin attempts to recreate the concept of the built-in WordPress Links Manager while removing the shortcomings of the deprecated feature.
Installing The Plugin
Let’s install the Link Manager plugin.
From the WP admin area, go to Plugins > Add New …
(Plugins Menu – Add New)
Click on the Install Plugins > Search tab, type in “link manager” into the search field and hit Enter …
Find the plugin in the results area and click Install Now …
Activate the plugin …
After activation, WordPress displays a ‘Links’ item in the WP dashboard menu area …
(WordPress links menu)
Setting Up The Plugin
We recommend setting up link categories first before you start 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 the WP admin menu and click on Links > Link Categories …
(Links Menu – Link Categories)
This takes you to the ‘Link Categories’ screen.
Type in the following information:
- Name: Whatever you enter here will display as the category your links will be assigned to.
- Slug: The slug shows up in the web address of the link category name. Use lowercase letters only without spaces (use hyphens to separate words).
- Description: Some themes may display your link category description.
after entering your information, click the Add New Link Category button to save your new link category name …
(Link Categories)
Your new category will be added to the table …
(Link Categories page)
Tip: Blogroll is the default link category name. Unless you specify a category when creating a link, WordPress automatically assigns new links to the default category …
(Default link category name is ‘blogroll’)
You may want to change this to something better suited to your business. This will not only make it easier for visitors, but any new links that you add to your site will automatically display under the new category name …
(we recommend changing the default ’blogroll’ to something better suited to your business)
To change the default category name, hover your mouse over the category name and click on Quick Edit …
(Quick Edit)
Change both the Name and the Slug with a new category name, and click on Update Link Category …
(Editing the default link category name)
Replace the category ‘Blogroll’ with a more suitable name (e.g. ‘Recommended’, ‘Special Deals’ etc).
Let’s insert a link category description. To add a link category description, hover over the item name and click Edit …
(Link category description)
Add your link category description field and click Update …
(Edit Link Category page)
Repeat the above process and add as many new link categories as you need.
After setting up your link categories, you can start adding new links.
Adding New Links
To create a new link, choose Links > Add New in the main admin menu …
(Links – Add New)
You will be taken to the ‘Add New Link’ page …
(Add New Link screen)
You can also reach this screen by clicking on the ‘Add New’ button at the top of the main Links page …
(Links – Add New Link button)
The ‘Add New Links’ page is divided into various sections:
Name, Web Address & Description
The first section is where you enter your link details …
(Name, Web Address& Description fields – Add New Link)
Type in the following information:
- Name: Whatever you enter in this field displays as the category your links will be assigned to.
- Slug: The slug displays in the search-engine friendly URL of the link category. Only use lower case letters without 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 with their mouse.
Categories & Target
Select a Category and Target for your new link …
(Categories & Target)
In the Categories section, tick a link category you’ve already created, or click on ’+ Add New Category’ to create a new category link.
Also, select a target frame for your link in the Target section by choosing one of the radio buttons. This lets you specify how the link should open when clicked on by visitors:
- _blank means that a separate web browser window will open up to display the information associated with the link.
- _none means that when visitors click on your link, they will exit your site and a new website 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. Ignore this option if you don’t use frames, or if you don’t know what frames are.
Link Relationship XFN
This area provides some additional link functionality …
(Link Relationship (XFN))
Link Relationship (XFN) – XFN stands for XML Friends Network – allows you to define your relationship to the linked person. For example, if you work with Rufus Schwartz 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 all of your links will work just fine. Defining relationships with XFN makes your links more understandable to some websites and search engines that use this information.
rel – This field lets you specify the ‘rel’ attribute that will be assigned to your link. The rel attribute defines what relationship exists between the current document and the linked document. For example, if you don’t want search engines to follow your link, type nofollow into this field. Separate multiple ‘rel’ attributes using spaces.
You can learn more about XFN by visiting this site:
Advanced
The last section allows you to specify Advanced features for your links (You can leave these fields empty unless you have a reason to use them) …
(Advanced fields – 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 the image is small (around 16×16 like a favicon).
- RSS Address: If your theme allows it, the RSS feed associated with the link can display next to your link.
- Notes: This section lets you add notes for your own internal reference.
- Rating: You can add a rating score to the link if you would like to sort links by rating (see the ‘Links’ widget section below).
Type in your information into the above fields or just leave this section ignore this section.
When you are done adding information about your link, click on Add Link to save your new link …
(Click on Add Link to save your new link)
Note: If you tick the checkbox next to Keep this link private, the link will not be visible when links are displayed on your site …
(Make your links private)
Making a link private lets you add a link and then toggle its visibility on or off without deleting it (this is useful if you want to use seasonal links) …
(Making links private toggles their visibility on and off)
To see all your links, go to the main dashboard menu and select Links > All Links …
(WordPress Links – All Links)
The ‘Links’ screen will load in your browser. The Links table displays your links and link information (e.g. URL, link categories, relationship, etc.) …
(Links screen)
Tip: To display additional columns in the list of links, click on the ‘Screen Options’ tab at the top of your screen …
(Table of links – Screen Options)
Display/hide fields on your Links table by selecting/deselecting their checkboxes …
(Show/hide links)
How To Edit Link Information
To modify links in the Link Manager, go to the main dashboard navigation menu and select Links > All Links to bring up your links page …
(Links – All Links)
Locate the link you want to edit and click on Edit to bring up the link’s details …
(Editing links)
Change your link …
(Edit Link screen)
After editing the 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 your link’s URL correctly (the link will open in a new window),
- Click Delete to remove the link …
(Edit Link: Update Link button)
Deleting Your Links
To delete links from the Link Manager, go to the dashboard navigation menu and select Links > All Links …
(Links – All Links)
You will be taken to the ‘Links’ screen.
You can delete links individually, delete multiple links by selecting their check boxes, or delete all links.
To delete individual links, hover your mouse cursor over the link you want removed and click Delete …
(Deleting links)
To delete links in bulk, either tick the checkboxes next to individual links that you want to remove, 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)
Select Delete from the ‘Bulk Actions’ menu, and click the Apply button to remove all selected links …
(Bulk-delete links)
The links you have selected will be removed …
(Deleted links message)
Plugin Usage
Now that you know how to configure link categories and how to add, edit and delete links, let’s show you how to make links display on your website.
Links Widget
Installing the Links Manager plugin adds a ‘Links’ widget to your ‘Widgets’ section.
To access and configure your Link widgets, choose Appearance > Widgets in your navigation menu …
(Appearance – Widgets)
The ‘Widgets’ page will load in your browser.
You will notice that a ‘Links’ widget has been added to the Available Widgets section …
(Links widget)
Drag the ‘Links’ widget to one of your widget areas in the Widgets page and drop it wherever you want your links to show up …
(Add a links widget to a widgetized menu using drag & drop)
The Links widget offers various configurable settings. For example, you can specify what information you want displayed about your links and how many links you would like to display on your sidebar …
(Link widget settings)
You can also add multiple link widgets to your sidebars and footers. This allows you to create and feature link lists throughout your site …
(Add a number of link widgets to your widget bars)
Display a list of links for a specific category …
(Link widget settings – Select Link Category)
You can sort links by Link rating, Link title, Link ID, or display links in Random order …
(Link widget settings – Sorting options)
When you have finished setting up the links widget, click Save to update your settings. Your link section should show on your sidebar …
(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 more help with widgets? Go here if you want to learn more adding widgets:
Link Manager – Additional Information
If you have many links, the Links Manager plugin allows you to easily administer these using filtering, searching, and sorting functions.
Sort Links
To sort links, hover your mouse over the title of the column you want to sort and click on the little black triangle displayed next to the column title …
(You can sort your links)
Find Your Links
Type a search term into the search field and click the Search Links button to search for links …
(You can easily search your links with the search function)
Filter Links Function
You can filter links by category …
(Filter your links by link category)
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 …
(Search and filter links in the Link Categories screen)
This displays a list of all links listed for a specific link category …
(Links filtered by category)
Links – Additional Options
If you plan to use links extensively on your website or blog, or if you want to add a page containing a list of links to your site (i.e. not just add a links section to your sidebar), then you may want to consider using a plugin that can help you administer your links.
Link Library
(Link Library)
Plugin Download URL
http://wordpress.org/plugins/link-library/
Plugin Description
The Link Library plugin gives you the ability to output a list of your link categories with a complete list of all your links with descriptions and notes …
(List of links created with Link library. Image: Link Library plugin website.)
Link Library creates a page on your website containing all the link categories in your Links section, plus all links defined for these categories. Additionally, 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 link collection so that your site users can be made aware of any additions made to to your link library.
Go here to learn more about the benefits of using this useful plugin:
Congratulations! Now you know how to how to add and manage links to external websites in your WordPress sidebar menu.
If you want to learn more about inserting hyperlinks into WordPress posts & pages, see this article:
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"I have used the tutorials to teach all of my clients and it has probably never been so easy for everyone to learn WordPress ... Now I don't need to buy all these very expensive video courses that often don't deliver what they promise." - Stefan Wendt, Internet Marketing Success Group