Are links to other sites a good idea?

[Walter R.]

When I first designed my web (see signature below), I took great pride in
including a large number of outside links to sites that I considered
interesting.

Recently I read a comment saying that links to extraneous sites are *not* a
good idea because they tend to draw visitor away from one's own website.
They sidetrack visitors into lands unknown, never to return.

Would anyone care to comment?

 

[Anne Troy]

I use Insert-->Hyperlink, then choose the Target Frame button and choose New
Window (using FP 2002). (you can set it as the page default on your links
page). That way, it opens their page in a new window...leaving yours open.

************
Hope it helps!
Anne Troy
www.OfficeArticles.com
Check out the NEWsgroup stats!
Check out: www.ExcelUserConference.com

 

[Steve Easton]

They're not a bad idea.

If you send a visitor to a site they deem interesting or useful, they'll
most likely come back to see what else you've discovered that's interesting.

Also, I regularly check server logs to see who's sending traffic to my
sites, then visit them and see if it's something I want to link back to.

--
Steve Easton
Microsoft MVP FrontPage
95isalive
This site is best viewed............
........................with a computer

 

[Tina Clarke]

When I first designed my web (see signature below), I took great pride in
including a large number of outside links to sites that I considered
interesting.

Recently I read a comment saying that links to extraneous sites are *not* a
good idea because they tend to draw visitor away from one's own website.
They sidetrack visitors into lands unknown, never to return.

Would anyone care to comment?

Hi Walter

Have a rule .... which is.... Will MY readers benefit from this link?

If they will not, because it does not compliment YOUR subject matter, then
do not link.

If you get a request, look at the site and consider it carefully, does it
have unique content? Is it full of ads? Would being linked (ie to a link
farm site) harm yours?

I have links to other sites opening in a new window, so that my site is
there when they close what they were looking at.

You might find this article to be helpful
http://www.website-development-training.com/are-outgoing-links-harmful/

hth

Tina

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