As you continue to discover more about the benefits of using WordPress, you may occasionally come across references to the term blogroll.
In WordPress terminology, a list of links displayed on your sidebar area is often referred to 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 links section on your site using the Link Manager plugin for WordPress.
Before WordPress v 3.5 was released, 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 …
(The Link Manager was part of the dashboard menu until the release of WP version 3.5)
After …
(The Link Manager feature – excluded from the WordPress menu after WP v 3.5)
If your website had the Link Manager installed, then it will still be available when your installation updates to a newer version. If you’ve never used the Link Manager feature, however, or if your WordPress site installation is new, then this function will remain hidden – you won’t see it displayed 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 Links menu section is not displayed when you log into your WordPress admin area, you can add it by installing a plugin. This step-by-step tutorial explains how to add and manage links on your site’s sidebar using WordPress plugins.
Link Manager
(Link Manager Plugin)
Plugin Download URL
http://wordpress.org/plugins/link-manager
Description Of Plugin
Use this plugin to display the default Links Manager, even if you update WordPress to a later version or remove all of your current links.
Note: This plugin adds a single line of template code to WordPress to restore the hidden feature. The last time we checked, this plugin had not been updated for a while, but it should still work fine. If you don’t want to use this plugin, then use the one below instead, or contact us for help editing your site’s template code.
Simple Links
(Simple Links – Links Manager Plugin For WordPress)
Plugin URL
https://wordpress.org/plugins/simple-links/
Description
Simple Links recreates the same concept as the built-in WP Links Manager while removing the shortcomings of the deprecated feature.
Installing The Plugin
Let’s install the Link Manager plugin.
In the WP dashboard area, go to Plugins > Add New …
(Plugins Menu – Add New)
Select the Install Plugins > Search tab, type in “link manager” into the search field and hit Enter …
Find the plugin in the search results screen and click Install Now …
Activate the plugin …
After activating the plugin, WordPress will display a ‘Links’ item on your WP dashboard menu screen …
(Links menu)
Plugin Configuration
Before you start adding new links, it’s a good idea to first set up your link categories. This way, you can assign any new links to link categories you have already created.
Link Categories
To create a link category, go to the admin menu and click on Links > Link Categories …
(Links Menu – Link Categories)
This takes you to the ‘Link Categories’ page.
Type in information into the following fields:
- Name: Whatever 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 without spaces (use hyphens to separate words).
- Description: Some themes may display a link category description.
Click Add New Link Category to save your new link category …
(Link Categories)
Your link category will now show in the table …
(Link Categories area)
Tip: Blogroll is the default link category name. Unless you specify a category when adding a new link, WordPress automatically assigns new links to the default category …
(Default link category)
You may want to change the default link category name to something better suited to your business. This not only makes it easier for users of your site, but any new links that you add to the Links section will automatically appear under the new category name …
(Consider changing the default ’blogroll’ to something better suited to your business)
To edit the ‘Blogroll’ link title, hover your mouse over the category name and click on the Quick Edit link …
(Quick Edit)
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 …
(Update Link Category)
Replace the link category ‘Blogroll’ with an appropriate links section category name (e.g. ‘Recommended’, ‘Related Items’ etc).
Let’s insert a link category description. To add a link category description, hover over the link category name and click Edit …
(Link category description)
Enter your link category description field and click Update when finished …
(Edit Link Category screen)
Repeat this process and add as many link categories as your site requires.
Once you have set up your link categories, you can add new links.
How To Add Links
To add a new link, click on Links > Add New in the admin menu …
(WordPress Links – Add New)
The ‘Add New Link’ page will display in your web browser …
(Add New Link page)
You can also reach this screen by clicking on ’Add New’ in the main Links screen …
(Add New Link button)
The ‘Add New Links’ page has several sections:
Name, Web Address & Description
Enter your link details in this section …
(Name, Web Address& Description – Add New Link)
Enter the following information:
- Name: What you enter in this field will display as the category your links will be assigned to.
- Slug: The slug displays in the URL of the link category name. Use lowercase letters only and do not include 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
After typing in your link details, select a Category and Target for the new link …
(Categories & Target)
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.
Next, 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 new, separate window will open up in their browser to display the content associated with the link.
- _none means that when visitors click on the link, they will exit your site and a new site or page will load in your web browser window instead.
- _top opens the link 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 section provides some additional link functionality …
(Add New Link screen – Link Relationship (XFN) fields)
Link Relationship (XFN) – XFN (XML Friends Network) lets you define your relationship with the linked person. For example, if you work with Neva Jones and you link to her blog, you would probably tick co-worker or colleague.
XFN relationships are optional. You can ignore this section and all your links will still work. XFN makes your links more understandable to some sites 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 specifies the relationship 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. Other ‘rel’ attributes include author, start, index, help, etc. Separate multiple ‘rel’ keywords with spaces.
You can learn more about XFN by visiting the site below:
Advanced
The last section of the Add New Link’ page lets you enter Advanced features for your links (some themes will ignore this. You can ignore this section, unless there’s a good reason to use it) …
(Advanced section – Add New Link screen)
The Advanced section fields include the following:
- Image Address: Lets you specify an image to be displayed with the link. To use this feature, add the URL of your image and make sure that the 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: Add notes about the link in this section for your own internal reference.
- Rating: Add a rating score to the link if you want to sort links by rating (see the ‘Links’ widget section below).
Enter information in the above fields or just leave this section blank, as these are not required.
When you have finished adding your new link information, click on the Add Link button to save your new link …
(Click on Add Link to update your link settings)
Note: If you tick the Keep this link private checkbox, the link will not be visible when links are displayed on your site …
(Make links private by checking the box)
Making a link private lets you toggle link visibility on and off without deleting it (this is useful if you want your link to display during certain times and hide it after it’s no longer required) …
(Making links private toggles their visibility on and off)
To see all the links you have added, select Links > All Links in the WP navigation menu …
(Links – All Links)
You will be taken to the ‘Links’ table. The table of links displays your links and link information (e.g. link URL, categories, rating, etc.) …
(Table of links)
Tip: To view additional options in the Links table, click on the ‘Screen Options’ tab near the top of the screen …
(Screen Options – Links screen)
Display/hide fields on your table of links by selecting/deselecting their check boxes …
(Hide or show – Links page)
How To Edit Your Links
To modify a link, select Links > All Links in the main admin menu to bring up your table of links …
(WP Links – All Links)
Locate the link you want to edit and click on Edit to bring up the item’s link details …
(Editing links)
Edit the link …
(Edit Link screen)
After you’re done editing the link, you can:
- Click on Update Link to save and update your link details,
- Click on Visit Link to view your link and make sure that you have set up its URL correctly (the link will open in a new window),
- Click Delete to delete the link from your table if you no longer require it …
(Update Link button)
How To Delete Links
To remove links from the Link Manager, select Links > All Links in your WP dashboard menu …
(WordPress Links – All Links)
The ‘Links’ table will display in your web browser.
You can delete links individually, delete multiple links, or delete all of your links.
To delete links individually, hover your cursor over the link title that you want to remove and click on Delete …
(Delete your links)
To delete a number of links at once, either click on the check boxes next to individual items that you want to remove, or select all links by clicking on the checkbox next to the ‘Name’ column header …
(Deleting multiple links)
Choose Delete from the ‘Bulk Actions’ menu, and click Apply to remove your selected links …
(Bulk-delete links)
All the links you have selected will be deleted …
(Deleted links notification)
Using The Plugin
Now that you know how to configure link categories and how to add, edit and delete links, let’s show you how to display links on your website.
Using The Links Widget
The Link Manager plugin adds a ‘Links’ widget to your ‘Widgets’ page.
To access and configure your Link widgets, go to the WP dashboard menu and select Appearance > Widgets …
(Appearance – Widgets)
This brings up the ‘Widgets’ screen.
You will see that a ‘Links’ widget has been added to the Available Widgets section …
(Links widget)
To make the ‘Links’ widget active, drag the widget to one of the widget areas in the Widgets page and drop it wherever you would like the links to show up …
(Adding a links widget to a widgetized area using drag and drop)
The Links widget offers a number of configurable settings. You can specify what information you want to show about your links and how many links you want to display on your sidebar menu …
(Link widget options)
You can also add as many link widgets to your sidebar and footer as you want. This allows you to add and feature a number of links on your site …
(You can add multiple link widgets to your sidebar)
Select a link category from the ‘Select Link Category:’ drop-down menu …
(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)
After configuring your links widget, click Save to update your settings. Your links should now display on your sidebar, footer or wherever you have added the links widget to …
(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 detailed article on using widgets here:
Links Manager – Additional Information
If you have many links, the Link Manager plugin lets you easily administer these with searching, sorting, and filtering functionality.
Sort Links
You can sort links by hovering your mouse over the title of the column you want to sort and clicking on the little triangle displayed next to the column title …
(You can sort links)
Find Links
Search for links using the ‘Search Links’ button …
(Finding links)
Filter Links Function
You can filter links by link category …
(Filter links by link category)
You can also search and filter links in the Link Categories screen. Use the ‘Search Link Categories’ button to search for link categories, or click on the links in the ‘Links’ column …
(Search and filter links in the Link Categories page)
This displays a list of all links grouped under a specific link category …
(Links filtered by category)
Links – Additional Options
If you plan to add lots of links to your website, 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, like Link Library.
Link Library
(Link Library Plugin)
Plugin URL
http://wordpress.org/plugins/link-library/
Plugin Description
Link Library gives you the ability to display 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. Screenshot taken from Link Library plugin documentation.)
This plugin creates a page on your site that contains a list of all of the link categories in your Links area, and all links defined for 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 of your link collection so that your site users can be made aware of additions to your link library.
For more details about this WordPress plugin, visit the plugin website:
Congratulations! Now you know how to add a blogroll to your WordPress site.
To learn more about how to add links to WordPress, see this article:
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