As you become more familiar with WordPress, you may occasionally come across references to the term blogroll.
A blogroll is a list of links pointing to other websites or web pages that display on your sidebar.
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 feature lets you easily add a links section to your WordPress sidebar section (e.g. a “Recommended Resources” section) using a widget.
Prior to the release of version 3.5, Links were a visible feature of the WordPress CMS. After the release of WordPress version 3.5, the Links manager and blogroll sections were removed …
Before …
(Links was part of the menu until the release of WP v.3.5)
After …
(Post v.3.5 – no WordPress Links feature)
If you have had an earlier version than v 3.5 installed and updated your installation, then the Links Manager would be removed, unless you’ve previously used it. If you’ve never used the Links feature, however, or if your installation of WordPress is new, then this function will remain hidden – it will not appear on your dashboard 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 Link Manager is not visible when you log into your WP dashboard you will need to install a plugin. In this step-by-step tutorial, you will learn how to add and manage blogroll links on your site’s sidebar using WordPress plugins.
Link Manager
(Link Manager – WordPress Links Management Plugin)
Download URL
http://wordpress.org/plugins/link-manager
Plugin Description
This plugin displays the Link Manager, even if you upgrade to a later version of WordPress or remove all of your existing links.
Note: This plugin adds a single line of template code to WordPress to restore the hidden feature. When we last checked, the 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 template code.
Simple Links
(Simple Links Plugin)
Download URL
https://wordpress.org/plugins/simple-links/
Description
Simple Links recreates the same concept as the built-in Link Manager while addressing the shortcomings of the deprecated feature.
Plugin Installation
To install the Link Manager plugin, follow these step-by-step instructions:
In the WP admin menu, go to Plugins > Add New …
(Plugins – Add New)
Select the Install Plugins > Search tab, then type in “link manager” into the search field and hit Enter …
Locate the plugin in the search results area and click Install Now …
Activate the plugin after installing it …
After activation, a ‘Links’ item is added to your WP navigation menu area …
(Links management menu)
Plugin Configuration
We recommend setting up link categories first before you start adding links. This way, you can assign any new links to link categories you have already created.
Link Categories
To create a new link category, choose Links > Link Categories in the main navigation menu …
(Links – Link Categories)
The ‘Link Categories’ page will display in your web browser.
Enter information into the following sections:
- Name: Enter the category name.
- Slug: The slug is the SEO friendly URL bit of your link category name. It must be in lowercase letters and contain no spaces (use hyphens to separate words).
- Description: Some themes may display a link category description.
after entering your information, click Add New Link Category to save …
(Link Categories page)
The category details will now show in the table …
(Link Categories page)
Tip: Blogroll is the default link category name. Unless you specify the category when adding a new link, WordPress will automatically assign new links to the default category …
(Default link category)
You may want to change the default link category name to something that your visitors can relate to. This will not only make it easier for users of your site, 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 ‘Blogroll’ link name, hover your mouse over the list item and click on the Quick Edit link …
(Editing the default link category)
Change both the Name and the Slug with a new category name, then click on Update Link Category …
(Editing the default link category)
In our example, we’ve replaced the category ‘Blogroll’ with a more suitable category name (e.g. ‘Recommended’).
Let’s insert a description for this link category. To add a description to an existing link category, hover over the item name and click Edit …
(Link category description)
Add your link category description field and click Update …
(Edit Link Category screen)
Repeat this process and add as many new link categories as you need.
Once you have set up your link categories, you can being adding your links.
Adding Links
To create a new link, go to the admin menu and click on Links > Add New …
(Links Menu – Add New)
The ‘Add New Link’ page will display in your web browser …
(Add New Link screen)
You can also reach this screen by clicking on ’Add New’ in the main Links page …
(Links – Add New Link button)
The ‘Add New Links’ page has the following sections:
Name, Web Address & Description
Enter your link details in this section …
(Add New Link page – Name, Web Addressand Description fields)
Type in information into the following sections:
- Name: Whatever you enter here displays as the category your links will be assigned to.
- Slug: The slug is the web address part of your link category. Use lowercase letters only and do not include spaces (use hyphens to separate words).
- Description: Some themes may display a link category description.
Categories & Target
Select a Category and Target for your new link …
(Add New Link screen – Categories & Target fields)
In the Categories section, tick a link category you’ve already set up, or click on ’+ Add New Category’ to add a new category link.
Also, select a target frame radio button for your link in the Target section. This lets you specify where the link should open when clicked on by visitors:
- _blank means that when a visitor clicks on your link, a new, separate web browser window will open up to display the content associated with the link.
- _none means that when a visitor clicks on your link, they will leave your site and a new website or page will load in your browser window instead.
- _top opens the link at the top level of the frame system if you’re using frames. Don’t worry about this option if you don’t use frames, or if you don’t know what frames are.
Link Relationship XFN
This section provides some additional link functionality …
(Add New Link – Link Relationship (XFN) area)
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 Louis Smith and you link to his blog, you would probably tick co-worker or colleague.
XFN relationships are optional for WordPress links. You can ignore this section and 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 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 the site below:
Advanced
The last section lets you specify Advanced features for your links (You can ignore this section, unless there’s a good reason to use it) …
(Add New Link screen – Advanced link settings)
The Advanced section contain the following fields:
- Image Address: Specify an image to be displayed with the link. To use this feature, add the 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 will display next to your links.
- Notes: Add notes about the link in this section for your own internal reference.
- Rating: You can add a rating score to the link if you want 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 information about your link, click on the Add Link button to save your new link …
(Click on Add Link to update your link settings)
Note: If you select Keep this link private, your link will not be visible when links are displayed on your site …
(Private link checkbox)
Making a link private lets you 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 view a list of all the links you have added, choose Links > All Links in the WP dashboard navigation menu …
(WP Links Menu – All Links)
This brings up the ‘Links’ screen in your web browser. The Links page displays a list of all your links and link information (e.g. link URL, link categories, visibility, etc.) …
(Table of links)
Tip: To show or hide options in the Links page, click on the ‘Screen Options’ tab at the top of your screen …
(Screen Options – Links page)
Enable/disable information on your Links table by selecting/deselecting their check boxes …
(Show/hide – List of links)
How To Edit Links
To edit links, go to your admin menu and click on Links > All Links to bring up your list of links …
(Links – All Links)
Select the item you want to edit and click on Edit to bring up the link’s details …
(Editing link information)
Edit your link …
(Edit Link screen)
After you’re done 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 its URL correctly (your link will open up in a new window),
- Click Delete to delete the link from your table of links if you no longer require it …
(Edit Link: Update Link button)
How To Delete Your Links
To remove a link from the Link Manager, go to the WP navigation menu and select Links > All Links …
(Links Menu – All Links)
The ‘Links’ table will load in your browser.
You can delete links individually, delete multiple links, or perform a bulk delete.
To delete links individually, hover over the link that you want to remove and click on Delete …
(Delete links)
To delete links in bulk, either click on the check box next to every item that you would like removed, or select all links by clicking on the main checkbox next to the ‘Name’ column header at the top of the list …
(Deleting multiple links)
Choose Delete from the ‘Bulk Actions’ menu, and click Apply to remove your selected links …
(Links: bulk-delete function)
The links you have selected will be deleted …
(Deleted links notification)
Using The Link Manager Plugin
Now that you know how to set up link categories and how to add, edit and delete links, let’s show you how to make links display on your site.
Links Widget
The Links Manager plugin adds a ‘Links’ widget to your ‘Widgets’ page.
To access and configure your Link widgets, go to the WP admin menu and click on Appearance > Widgets …
(WP Appearance – Widgets)
This brings up the ‘Widgets’ screen in your browser.
You will see a ‘Links’ widget in the Available Widgets section …
(Links widget)
Drag the ‘Links’ widget to one of your widget areas in the Widgets screen and drop it wherever you would like the links to show up …
(Drag and drop your links widget to add it to a widgetized area)
The Links widget offers various configurable settings. You can specify what information you want displayed about your links and how many links you want displayed on your sidebar menu …
(Link widget - options)
You can also add as many link widgets to your sidebars and footers as you want. This allows you to create and feature link lists on your site …
(You can add a number of link widgets to your sidebar)
Select a link category to display links for a specific category …
(Link widget settings – Select Link Category)
You can sort links by Link ID, Link rating, Link title, or display links in Random order …
(Link widget settings – Sorting options)
When you have finished configuring the links widget, click the Save button to update your settings. A links will show up immediately on your 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 more help using widgets? We have written a comprehensive article about widgets. To learn more, go here:
Link Manager – Additional Information
If you have loads of links, the Links Manager plugin lets you easily administer these with filter, sort, and search features.
Sorting Your Links
To sort links, hover your mouse cursor over the title of the column you want to sort and click on the little triangle displayed next to the column title …
(Sort links)
Searching Your Links
Type a search term into the search field and click the Search Links button to search for links …
(Finding links function)
Filtering Links Function
You can filter links by categories …
(Filter links by category)
You can also search and filter links in the Link Categories page. Use the ‘Search Link Categories’ button to find link categories, or click on the category 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 blog, 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 consider using a plugin that can help you administer links.
Link Library
(Link Library)
Download Plugin URL
http://wordpress.org/plugins/link-library/
Plugin Description
The Link Library plugin allows you to display a list of all your link categories and a complete list of links with notes and descriptions …
(Link Library links. Image source: Link Library plugin website.)
This plugin can be used to create a page on your website that contains all the link categories in your Links area, 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 links that lets your site users be made aware of additions to your link library.
To learn more this WordPress plugin, go here:
Congratulations! Now you know how to add a blogroll to WordPress.
We have written a detailed article on how to easily add HTML hyperlinks in WordPress. Go here to learn more:
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"Wow! I never knew there's so much to learn about WordPress! I bought one of the WordPress for Dummies three years ago, such authors need to be on this course!" - Rich Law, Create A Blog Now