Hyperlinks

By Laurie Epps

When you first start blogging, it can be an overwhelming experience. Everyone seems to know the lingo except you. This is one of those discussions that should clear up at least one more vocabulary word for you.

Just follow along with us in Edie Melson's book, Connections: Social Media and Networking Techniques for Writers. Her book will break down for you all the terms you need to know in very simple terms.

I know you've all heard the term "hyperlinks". But what are they? And, how to they help your blog? In basic terms, hyperlinks are links embedded in a post that your readers can redirect to another page, blog, or website by simply clicking on it. 

Sometimes hyperlinks are also called "hot-links" or just simply "links".

Hyperlinks are helpful for a few reasons:

• If you include them in your blog, they increase your search engine ranking.
• It's just another way to utilize previous posts and get more traffic on your blog.
• This makes you more valuable to your readers, by helping them find more useful information with zero research on their part.
• By sending them to other expert sites, you also increase your credibility.

Make sure your hyperlinks "go to work" for you by:

• Use keywords to increase your SEO. (Search Engine Optimization) You'll create a buzz by having cross referencing words commonly used by Google.
• Double check and make sure your link opens up another window. This enables your visitors to see both texts at once.
• Make sure that your link works. You don't want your links to die with your blog. It's frustrating for your readers too, if your link doesn't go through for whatever reason. This also decreases your credibility.
• Take the extra step, and let those you're linking to know that you're sending viewers to their site.

Connect Activity: Double check all your links. I can't reinforce this enough.

Can't get enough about social media? Check out Edie's Social Media Mondays column at: http://thewriteconversation.blogspot.com

Be sure to join us next week when we'll talk about Blogging for the Visually Impaired.

Laurie Epps is a senior at Anderson University majoring in Creative Writing. Already Laurie is most published as a feature article writer, essayist, and poet. A seeker of beauty and world traveler, Laurie hopes to grow into a career in travel writing illuminating the many stories that make us human despite our differences. Currently, Laurie also has a Thoughtful Thursday column dedicated to the fine art of poetry.