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HomeGuidelines > 3. Cook up hot links. > 3c. Shift focus from the links or the linked-to documents to the subject> Challenges

 

Diagram

Background

Examples

Audience Fit

Challenges

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Challenges

Create new sentences replacing lame phrases by shifting the focus from the link or document to the subject matter. Bury the URL inside the linktext, rather than displaying it.

(a)

Information on the California state mascot, the snail, is available at http://www.… .

Answer

(b)

Click this button to get the article about the gas chromatograph/mass spectrometers for on-site identification of ultra-small traces of certain compounds.

Answer

(c)

The article describes the problems faced by inspectors who must count the number of warheads on a missile without disassembling the missile.

Answer

(d)

Here is a link to the best site on the history of Barbie. Did you know that the inventor named her after her own daughter?

Answer

(e)

Link to Heaven to get the latest on angels, who have been showing up just about everywhere, from small villages to Hollywood.

Answer

(f)

Point your browser at this hot site for flaming chiles, the pride of New Mexico, and … .

Answer

(g)

This site provides a description of the methods for detecting clandestine nuclear explosions in the upper atmosphere, by detecting low-frequency sound waves, which can travel and be detected at great distances.

Answer


 

Other ways to make links hot

3a. Make clear what the user will get from the link.

3b. Within a sentence, make the link the emphatic element.

3c. Shift focus from the lnks or linked-to documents to the subject.

3d. Provide depth and breadth through plentiful links to related information within your site.

3e. Establish credibility by offering outbound links.

3f. Make meta information public.

3g. Write URLs that humans can read.

3h. Make links accessible.

3i. Tell people about a media object before they download.

3j. Announce the new with special links.

3k. Write meta-tags to have your pages found.

Resources on writing links

Taking a Position on Links

Heuristic Online Text (HOT) Evaluation for Links

Poster

 

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