As you discover more about WordPress, you may occasionally come across references to the term blogroll.
A blogroll is a list of hyperlinks pointing to other sites or web pages that display 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 featured links section on your sidebar or footer using the Link Manager plugin for WordPress.
Prior to the release of v3.5, Links were a visible feature of the WordPress CMS. After v 3.5, the Links manager and blogroll sections were removed …
Before …
(Links was part of the WordPress admin menu until the release of WordPress v 3.5)
After …
(Post version 3.5 – no WordPress Links Manager feature)
If you have used an earlier version of WordPress than v 3.5 and upgraded your installation, the Links Manager would have been removed, unless you’ve 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 WordPress dashboard you will need to install a plugin. This tutorial will show you how to add, edit, delete and manage blogroll links on your sidebar using WordPress plugins.
Link Manager
(Link Manager)
Download URL
http://wordpress.org/plugins/link-manager
Description Of Plugin
Use this plugin to display the Links Manager, 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. The last time we 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 plugin below instead, or contact us for help editing your template code.
Simple Links
(Simple Links)
Download URL
https://wordpress.org/plugins/simple-links/
Description Of Plugin
Simple Links recreates the same concept as the built-in WordPress Link Manager while removing the shortcomings of the deprecated functionality.
Plugin Installation
To install the Link Manager plugin on your website, follow these step-by-step instructions:
From the WP admin menu, select Plugins > Add New …
(Plugins – Add New)
Click on the Install Plugins > Search tab, type ”link manager” into the search field and hit Enter …
Locate the plugin in the results screen and click Install Now …
Activate the plugin after it has been installed …
Once you’ve activated the plugin, a ‘Links’ section will show up on your admin menu …
(WordPress links menu)
Configuring The Plugin
Before you start adding new links, it’s a good idea to 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 new link category, go to your WP admin menu and click on Links > Link Categories …
(Links – Link Categories)
The ‘Link Categories’ page will display in your web browser.
Enter the following information:
- Name: Enter the category name.
- Slug: The slug shows up in the URL of the link category name. 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)
after entering your information, click the Add New Link Category button to save …
(Link Categories)
Your link category will display in the list …
(Link Categories)
Tip: WordPress calls its default link category Blogroll . Unless you specify the category when adding a link, WordPress will assign new links to the default category …
(Default link category name)
You may want to change this to something that will make sense to your blog readers. This not only makes it easier for visitors, but any new links that you add to the Links section will automatically display under the new category name …
(Consider changing the default ’blogroll’ to something better suited to your business)
To edit the ‘Blogroll’ link name, hover your mouse over the item and click on the Quick Edit link …
(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 …
(Update Link Category)
Replace the category name ‘Blogroll’ with a name more suitable to your purposes (e.g. ‘Recommended’, ‘Our Partners’ etc).
Let’s create a link category description. To add a description to an existing link category, click on Edit under the category name …
(You can add/edit the category description)
Add your link category description field and click Update …
(Edit Link Category area)
Repeat the above process to add as many link categories as your site needs.
After setting up your link categories, you can being adding new links.
Adding Links
To add a new link, go to your dashboard menu and select Links > Add New …
(WP Links Menu – Add New)
This brings up the ‘Add New Link’ page …
(Add New Link page)
You can also access this screen by clicking on ’Add New’ at the top of the main Links page …
(Add New Link button)
The ‘Add New Links’ page includes the following sections:
Name, Web Address & Description
The first section lets you enter your link details …
(Name, Web Address& Description area)
Enter information into the following fields:
- Name: What you type in this field is the category name that will display on your site.
- Slug: The slug appears in the web address of the 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 in the links section, or as a tool tip when visitors hover over the link name. (Optional)
Categories & Target
Select a Category and Target for the new link …
(Categories & Target fields)
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 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 by visitors:
- _blank means that a new window will open up in their web browser to display the information associated with the link. This lets your visitors access the information without leaving your site
- _none means that when visitors click on your link, they will leave your site and a new site or page will load in your browser window instead.
- _top opens links 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 section provides some additional link functionality …
(Add New Link – Link Relationship (XFN))
Link Relationship (XFN) – XFN (XML Friends Network) is a way to define your relationship with the linked person. For example, if you work with Emma Cooper 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 of your links will still work. 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.
You can learn more about XFN by visiting the site below:
Advanced
The last section of the Add New Link’ screen lets you specify Advanced features for your links (some themes will ignore this. You can leave these fields empty unless you have a reason to use them) …
(Advanced fields)
The Advanced link settings section includes the following:
- Image Address: Lets you specify an image to be displayed with the link. 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 link’s RSS feed can 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).
Type in your information in the above fields or just leave this section blank.
When you have finished 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, the link will not be visible in your Blogroll section …
(Make your links private)
Making a link private lets you toggle link visibility on or off without deleting it (this is useful if you want to add seasonal links) …
(Toggle link visibility on and off)
To see all your links, go to your WP navigation menu and select Links > All Links …
(Links Menu – All Links)
The ‘Links’ page will display in your web browser. The Links screen displays a list of your links and link information (e.g. URL, link categories, rating, etc.) …
(Links screen)
Tip: To view or hide information in the Links table, click on the ‘Screen Options’ tab near the top of the screen …
(Screen Options – List of links)
Show/hide information on your Links table by ticking/unticking their check boxes …
(Show/hide links)
How To Edit Link Information
To modify a link, choose Links > All Links in the admin menu to bring up your links table …
(Links – All Links)
Select the link to be edited and click on Edit to bring up the link’s information …
(Editing links)
Make the changes you want to the link …
(Edit Link page)
After you’re done editing your 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 (your link will open up in a new window),
- Click Delete to delete the link from your table of links …
(Edit Link: Update Link button)
How To Remove Links
To delete links, go to the main admin menu and select Links > All Links …
(Links Menu – All Links)
The ‘Links’ page will display in your web browser.
You can delete links individually, delete multiple links, or perform a bulk delete.
To delete individual links, hover over the link title that you want to remove and click on Delete …
(Deleting links)
To delete links in bulk, either click on the check box next to each item that you want removed, or select all links by clicking on the main check box next to the ‘Name’ column header at the top of the list …
(Delete multiple links)
Choose Delete from the ‘Bulk Actions’ menu, and click the Apply button to remove all selected links …
(Links: bulk-delete function)
The links will be removed …
(Link deletion message)
Using The 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 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 navigation menu and select Appearance > Widgets …
(Appearance Menu – Widgets)
The ‘Widgets’ screen will display in your web browser.
You will see a ‘Links’ widget in the Available Widgets section …
(Links widget)
Drag the ‘Links’ widget to one of the widget sections and drop it wherever you would like your links to display …
(Drag & drop your links widget to add it to a widgetized menu)
The Links widget offers various options. For example, you can specify what information you want to show about your links and how many links you want to display on your sidebar …
(Link widget - configurable options)
You can also add as many link widgets as you want. This lets you create and feature specific a number of different links throughout your site …
(You can add multiple link widgets to your widget bars)
Display a list of links for a specific category …
(Link widget options – Select Link Category)
You can sort links by Link title, Link rating, Link ID, or display links in Random order …
(Link widget settings – Sort by options)
After setting up your Links widget, click Save to update your settings. Your links should appear on your website …
(Links can be displayed on your site’s 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? We have written a comprehensive article about using widgets. Go here to learn more about this:
Link Manager – Additional Information
If you have added many links, the Link Manager plugin lets you easily administer these using searching, sorting, and filtering functionality.
Sort Your Links
To sort links, hover your mouse cursor over the title of the column you want to sort and click on the black triangle displayed next to the column title …
(Sorting your links)
Finding Links Function
Type a search term into the search field and click the Search Links button …
(Finding your links)
Filtering Links
You can filter links by categories …
(Filter your links by categories)
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 screen)
This displays a list of all links listed 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 want to add a ‘Links’ page 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 – WordPress Link Management Plugin)
Plugin Download URL
http://wordpress.org/plugins/link-library/
Plugin Description
Link Library allows you to output a list of your link categories and a complete list of links plus notes and descriptions …
(List of links created with Link library. Screenshot taken from Link Library plugin site.)
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, 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 of your links so that your site users can be made aware of any additions made to to your link library.
To learn more this WordPress plugin, visit this site:
Congratulations! Now you know how to how to add a blogroll and manage links in your WordPress sidebar menu.
We have written a comprehensive article about how to add links to WordPress posts and pages. For more details:
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