As you discover more about WordPress, you may occasionally come across something called a blogroll.
WordPress refers to a list of hyperlinks pointing to other sites or pages that display on your sidebar menu 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 add a set of links using the Links menu in your WordPress Dashboard. These links will display on your sidebar or footer if you have added the Links widget.
Prior to the release of v3.5, Links were a built-in feature of the WordPress CMS. From version 3.5 onwards, the Links Manager section was removed …
Before …
(WordPress Links Manager Feature – pre v 3.5)
After …
(Post v.3.5 – no WP Links Manager feature)
If your website or blog had the Links Manager installed, then it will still be available when your site updates to a newer version. If you’ve never used Links Manager, however, or if your site installation is new, then this function will remain hidden – you will not see it 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 you can’t see the Links feature when you log into your WordPress admin area you will need to install a plugin. In this tutorial, you will learn how to add, edit, delete and manage blogroll links on your site’s sidebar using plugins.
Link Manager
(Link Manager – Plugin For WordPress)
Download URL
http://wordpress.org/plugins/link-manager
Plugin Description
You can use this plugin to display the built-in Links Manager, even if you upgrade WordPress to a later version or remove all of your current links.
Note: All this plugin does is add a single line of code to your installation in order 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 – WordPress Link Management Plugin)
Plugin Download URL
https://wordpress.org/plugins/simple-links/
Plugin Description
This plugin 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 your WordPress admin area, select Plugins > Add New …
(Plugins – Add New)
Click on 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 activating the plugin, a ‘Links’ item will be added to your WP dashboard menu …
(Links management menu section)
Plugin Configuration
Before you start adding any new links, we recommend setting up your link categories. This way, you can assign new links to a link category you have already created.
Link Categories
To create a link category, choose Links > Link Categories in the main navigation menu …
(WP Links Menu – Link Categories)
You will be taken to the ‘Link Categories’ screen.
Type in information into the following sections:
- Name: What you enter here is the link category name that will display on your site.
- Slug: The slug shows up in the SEO friendly URL of the link category. 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. (Optional)
When finished, click the Add New Link Category button to save your new link category …
(Link Categories)
The new category will be added to the list …
(Link Categories area)
Tip: The default WordPress link category is called Blogroll . Unless you specify the category for a link, WordPress will automatically assign new links to the default category …
(Default link category)
You may want to change the default WordPress link category name to something that your visitors can relate to. This will not only make it easier for visitors, but any new links that you add to the Links section will automatically be listed 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 item and click on Quick Edit …
(Quick Edit)
Change 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), then click on the Update link Category button …
(Quick Edit)
In our example, the category ‘Blogroll’ has been replaced with a more suitable category name (e.g. ‘Recommended’).
Let’s add a description for this link category. To add a description to an existing link category, hover over the link category name and click Edit …
(Link category description)
Add your link category description field and click Update …
(Edit Link Category area)
Repeat the above process and add as many new link categories as your site requires.
After setting up your link categories, you can add new links.
How To Add Links
To add a new link, go to the main admin menu and choose Links > Add New …
(Links Menu – Add New)
The ‘Add New Link’ page will load in your web browser …
(Add New Link page)
You can also reach this screen by clicking on ’Add New’ at the top of the main Links page …
(Links – Add New Link button)
The ‘Add New Links’ page includes a number of sections:
Name, Web Address & Description
Enter your link details in this section …
(Name, Web Addressand Description section – Add New Link screen)
Type in information into the following sections:
- Name: Whatever you enter here is the category name that will display on your site.
- Slug: The slug appears in the search-engine friendly URL 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 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 your new link …
(Add New Link – Categories & Target section)
In the Categories section, select a link category 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 where your link should open when clicked on:
- _blank means that when visitors click on the link, a new, separate browser window will open up to display the content for that link. This allows your visitors to access the information without leaving your website
- _none means that when a visitor clicks on the link, they will leave 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 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 – allows you to define your relationship with the linked person. For example, if you have a professional relationship with Nicole Jenkins and you link to her blog, you would probably check co-worker or colleague.
XFN relationships are optional. You can ignore this section and all of your links will work just fine. 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 specifies a 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, help, index, etc. Separate multiple ‘rel’ keywords with spaces.
To learn more about XFN, visit the site below:
Advanced
The last section of the Add New Link’ screen 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 link settings – Add New Link page)
The Advanced link settings section includes the following:
- Image Address: Lets you specify an image to be displayed with the link. 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 link’s RSS feed can be displayed next to your links.
- Notes: Add notes about the link in this section 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 ignore this section.
When you have finished adding your new link information, click on the Add Link button to save your new link …
(Click on the Add Link button to update your link settings)
Note: If you tick the Keep this link private checkbox, your link will not be visible in your Blogroll section …
(Make links private by checking the box)
Making links private allows you to toggle link visibility on and off without deleting these (this is useful if you would like links to display during certain periods and hide them when they are no longer required) …
(Toggle link visibility on and off)
To view all your links, go to your WP dashboard navigation menu and choose Links > All Links …
(Links Menu – All Links)
This takes you to the ‘Links’ page. The Links table displays a list of all your links and link information (e.g. link URL, categories, relationship, etc.) …
(List of links)
Tip: To show or hide columns in the Links page, click on the ‘Screen Options’ tab at the top of your screen …
(Links page – Screen Options)
Enable/disable information on your Links table by ticking/unticking their check boxes …
(Links screen – Hide or show screen options)
How To Edit Links
To modify a link in the Link Manager, go to the main navigation menu and click on Links > All Links to bring up your links table …
(Links Menu – All Links)
Locate the item to be edited and click on Edit to bring up the link’s information …
(Editing your link information)
Make changes to your link …
(Edit Link screen)
After editing your link, you can:
- Click on Update Link to save and update your link details,
- Click on Visit Link to make sure that you have set up your link’s URL correctly (your link will open in a new window),
- Click Delete to remove the link …
(Edit Link: Update Link button)
How To Remove Links
To delete links, go to the WP navigation menu and choose Links > All Links …
(Links Menu – All Links)
The ‘Links’ screen will display in your web browser.
You can delete links individually, delete multiple links, or perform a bulk delete.
To delete individual links, hover your mouse cursor over the link you want removed and click on Delete …
(Delete your links)
To delete links in bulk, either tick the check boxes next to individual links that you would like 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 …
(Delete multiple links)
Select Delete from the ‘Bulk Actions’ menu, and click the Apply button to remove all selected links …
(Bulk-delete links)
Your selected links will be deleted …
(Deleted links notice)
Using The Plugin
Now that you know how to configure link categories and how to add, edit and delete links, it’s time to learn how to display links on your website.
Using The Links Widget
The Links Manager plugin adds a ‘Links’ widget to your ‘Widgets’ section.
To access and configure your Link widgets, go to the WP admin menu and choose Appearance > Widgets …
(Appearance Menu – Widgets)
This loads the ‘Widgets’ page in your web 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 sections and drop it wherever you want the links to display …
(Drag and drop the links widget to add it to a widgetized menu)
The Links widget includes a number of options. You can specify what information you want to display about your links and how many links you want to display on your sidebar menu …
(Link widget - configurable options)
You can also add multiple link widgets to your sidebars and footers. This lets you add and feature specific multiple lists of links throughout your site …
(Add a number of link widgets to your sidebar)
Display a list of items for a specific category …
(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 settings – Sorting options)
Once you are done setting up your links widget, click the Save button to update your settings. A link section will show up immediately on your site’s sidebar menu …
(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 using widgets? We have written a comprehensive article on using widgets. If you would like to know more about this here:
Links Manager – Additional Information
If you have many links, the Link Manager plugin lets you easily administer these with search, filter, and sort features.
Sorting Links Function
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 …
(Sorting your links)
Searching Links
Find links using the ‘Search Links’ function …
(Search links)
Filter Links
You can filter links by link category …
(Filtering links by category)
You can also search and filter links in the Link Categories page. Use the ‘Search Link Categories’ button to search for link categories, or click on the category links in the ‘Links’ column …
(Search and filter links in the Link Categories page)
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 intend to add a page containing a list of links 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 your links.
Link Library
(Link Library)
Plugin URL
http://wordpress.org/plugins/link-library/
Plugin Description
Link Library lets you output a list of your link categories and a complete list of all your links with descriptions and notes …
(Link Library links. Screenshot taken from Link Library plugin website.)
This plugin can be used to create a page on your website containing a list of all of the link categories in your Links section, and 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 of your links so that your site users can be made aware of additions to your link library.
Go here to learn more this great plugin:
Congratulations! Now you know how to how to add and manage links to other websites and pages in your WordPress sidebar menu.
We have written a comprehensive article on how to add hyperlinks to your WordPress content. Go here to learn more:
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