As you continue to discover more about WordPress, you may occasionally come across the term blogroll.
A blogroll is a list of links pointing to external websites 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.”
You can display a links section on your sidebar using the Link Manager plugin for WordPress.
Before the release of v.3.5, Links were a built-in feature of the WordPress CMS. After v3.5, the Links Manager section was removed …
Before …
(WP Links Manager Feature – pre v3.5)
After …
(The Links Manager – no longer shown in the WordPress dashboard menu after WordPress v 3.5)
If you have used an earlier version than v.3.5 and upgraded your installation, the Link Manager would have been removed, unless you have previously used it.
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 feature is not visible when you log into your WP admin area, you can add this feature by installing a plugin. In this tutorial, you will learn how to add and manage links on your sidebar using plugins.
Link Manager
(Link Manager Plugin)
Plugin URL
http://wordpress.org/plugins/link-manager
Plugin Description
The Link Manager plugin restores the Links menu on your WordPress dashboard, even if you upgrade to a later version of WordPress or remove all of your existing links.
Note: All this plugin does is add a single line of template code to restore the hidden feature. When we last checked, the 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 plugin below instead, or contact us for help editing your site’s template code.
Simple Links
(Simple Links)
Plugin URL
https://wordpress.org/plugins/simple-links/
Plugin Description
This plugin attempts to recreate the same concept as the built-in Link Manager while addressing the shortcomings of the deprecated feature.
Plugin Installation
Let’s install the Link Manager plugin.
From the WP admin menu, select Plugins > Add New …
(Plugins Menu – Add New)
Select the Install Plugins > Search tab, then type ”link manager” into the search field and hit Enter …
Find the plugin in the results screen and click Install Now …
Activate the plugin …
Once the plugin is activated, a ‘Links’ section will show in your WP dashboard menu area …
(Links menu)
Setting Up The Plugin
We recommend setting up your link categories first before you start adding any new links. This way, you can assign any new links to link categories you have already created.
Link Categories
To create a new link category, go to the admin menu and select Links > Link Categories …
(WordPress Links – Link Categories)
This loads the ‘Link Categories’ screen in your browser.
Enter the following information:
- Name: Whatever you type in this field will display as the link category name.
- Slug: The slug is the web address bit of the link category. Use only lowercase letters without spaces (use hyphens to separate words).
- Description: Some themes may display your link category description.
Click the Add New Link Category button to save …
(Link Categories)
Your category details will be added to the list …
(Link Categories)
Tip: The default WordPress link category is called Blogroll . Unless you specify the category for a new link, WordPress automatically assigns new links to the default category …
(Default link category)
You may want to change this to something better suited to your business. This will not only make it easier for users of your site, but any new links that you add to your site will automatically be assigned to the new category name …
(Change the default ’blogroll’ to something your visitors will understand)
To edit the ‘Blogroll’ link title, hover your mouse over the list item and click on Quick Edit …
(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 Update Link Category …
(Edit the link category)
Replace the link category name ‘Blogroll’ with a name more suitable to your purposes (e.g. ‘Recommended’, ‘Links’ etc).
Let’s now add a link category description. To add a description to an existing link category, click on Edit under the category name …
(You can add/edit your category description)
Add your description in the ‘Edit Link Category’ screen and click Update …
(Edit Link Category area)
Repeat the above process to add as many link categories as you need.
After configuring your link categories, you can add new links.
How To Add New Links
To create a new link, choose Links > Add New in your admin menu …
(Links – Add New)
This brings up the Add New Link’ screen in your browser …
(Add New Link page)
You can also reach this page by clicking on the ‘Add New’ button in the main Links screen …
(Add New Link button)
The ‘Add New Links’ page includes the following sections:
Name, Web Address & Description
Enter your link details in this section …
(Name, Web Addressand Description fields)
Type in the following information:
- Name: Enter the category name here.
- Slug: The slug is the web address bit of your link category. It must all be in lowercase letters and contain no spaces (use hyphens to separate words).
- Description: Some themes may display a link category description in the links section, or as a tool tip when visitors hover over the link name with their mouse. (Optional)
Categories & Target
Select a Category and Target for the link …
(Categories & Target section – Add New Link)
In the Categories section, tick a link category you’ve already set up, or click on ’+ Add New Category’ to add 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 where you want the link to open when clicked on:
- _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 leave 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 section provides some additional link functionality …
(Add New Link – Link Relationship (XFN) fields)
Link Relationship (XFN) – XFN stands for XML Friends Network – is a way to define your relationship with the linked person. For example, if you work with Natalie Jones and you link to her blog, you would probably check co-worker or colleague.
XFN relationships are optional. You can leave everything in this section blank and all of your links will work just fine. Defining relationships with XFN makes the links defined on your site 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 specifies the relationship 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. Other ‘rel’ attributes include author, start, index, help, etc.
You can learn more about XFN by visiting this site:
Advanced
The last section allows you to enter Advanced features for your links (some themes will ignore this. You can leave the fields in this section blank unless you have a reason to use them) …
(Advanced fields)
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 where the image is stored and make sure that your 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 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).
Type in your information in 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 update your link settings …
(Click on the Add Link button to save your new link)
Note: If you tick the checkbox next to Keep this link private, your link will not be visible in your Blogroll section …
(Make your links private)
Making a link private allows you to toggle its visibility on and off without deleting it (this is useful if you would like your link to display during certain periods and hide it afterwards) …
(Toggle link visibility on and off)
To see all your links, click on Links > All Links in the WP dashboard menu …
(WP Links – All Links)
You will be taken to the ‘Links’ screen. The Links page displays a list of all of your links and link information (e.g. URL, link categories, relationship, etc.) …
(Links table)
Tip: To display or hide information in the Links table, click on the ‘Screen Options’ tab near the top of the screen …
(Screen Options – Links table)
Display/hide information on your Links table by ticking/unticking their checkboxes …
(List of links – Show/hide screen options)
How To Edit Your Links
To edit links in the Link Manager, go to your WP navigation menu and click on Links > All Links to bring up the links screen …
(Links Menu – All Links)
Locate the item to be edited and click on Edit to bring up the item’s link information …
(Editing link information)
Make changes to your link fields …
(Edit Link page)
After editing the link, you can:
- Click on Update Link to save and update your link details,
- Click on Visit Link to check that you have set up everything correctly (the link will open up in a new window),
- Click Delete to remove the link if it’s no longer required …
(Update Link button)
How To Delete Links
To remove links from the Link Manager, go to the main dashboard menu and choose Links > All Links …
(WP Links – All Links)
The ‘Links’ table will display in your browser.
You can delete links individually, delete multiple links, or delete all links.
To delete individual links, hover your mouse cursor over the link that you want removed and click Delete …
(Deleting your links)
To delete a number of links at once, either click on the check box next to each item that you want to be removed, or select all links by clicking on the check box next to the ‘Name’ column header at the top of the list …
(Deleting multiple links)
Choose Delete from the ‘Bulk Actions’ drop menu, and click Apply to delete your selected links …
(Links: bulk-delete function)
The links you have selected will be removed …
(Deleted links message)
Plugin Usage
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 website or blog.
Using The Links Widget
The Link Manager plugin adds a ‘Links’ widget to your ‘Widgets’ section.
To access and configure your Link widgets, choose Appearance > Widgets in the admin menu …
(Appearance Menu – Widgets)
The ‘Widgets’ page will load in your web browser.
You will see that a ‘Links’ widget has been added to the Available Widgets section …
(Links widget)
To make the ‘Links’ widget active, drag it to one of the active widget bars in the Widgets screen and drop it wherever you would like your links section to display …
(Add a links widget to a widgetized area)
The Links widget offers various settings. For example, you can specify what information you want to display about your links and how many links you would like to display on your sidebar menu …
(Link widget - configurable options)
You can also add as many link widgets to your sidebar and footer as you want. This lets you create and feature several link sections throughout your site …
(You can add multiple link widgets to your sidebar)
Select a link category to display a specific list of items …
(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 – Sorting options)
Once you are done setting up your Links widget, click Save to update your settings. A links should now display 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 with widgets? To learn more about adding widgets, refer to this article:
Links Manager – Additional Information
If you have added many links, the Link Manager plugin allows you to easily administer these using sorting, searching, and filtering features.
Sorting Links Function
You can sort links by hovering your mouse cursor over the title of the column you want to sort and clicking on the little triangle displayed next to the column title …
(You can easily sort your links)
Searching Links Function
Type a search term into the search field and click the Search Links button …
(Finding links)
Filter Your Links
You can filter links by link category …
(Filtering your links by link categories)
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 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 link category)
Links – Additional Options
If you plan to use links extensively on your website or blog, or if you intend to add a ‘Links’ page to your site (i.e. not just add a links section to your sidebar), then you may want to look at using a plugin that can help you administer your links, like Link Library.
Link Library
(Link Library WordPress Plugin)
Plugin URL
http://wordpress.org/plugins/link-library/
Plugin Description
Link Library lets you publish a list of all your link categories with a complete list of links plus notes and descriptions …
(List of links created with Link library. Image sourced from Link Library plugin site.)
Link Library creates a page on your site containing all the link categories in your Links section, plus 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 for your link collection so that your site users can become aware of additions to your link library.
Visit the plugin website to learn more this plugin:
Congratulations! Now you know how to how to add a blogroll and manage links in your WordPress sidebar menu.
Go here for a detailed article on adding HTML hyperlinks into WordPress posts:
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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