Each hyperlink we create needs to be descriptive - but what does that mean?
Descriptive links make it clear to the user where the link will take them. For example: Find out about fees and funding. Using 'Click here' as a link doesn't indicate the link destination.
Find out more about descriptive links.
The following words are examples of links that you sometimes find on websites. They need to be avoided because they aren't accessible and don’t provide any information about where the link goes.
Find out more about why 'Click here' should not be used.
There are four types of hyperlinks you might use on a webpage.
To link to a document, you will need to have uploaded your document to the Media Library first. But before you upload your document, you must make sure it's accessible.
Once you've uploaded your document to the Media Library, making sure it's in the relevant sub-folder, you're ready to create your link in the Rich Text Editor box.
See how to create document links in our events training video (at 0.55 mins and 24.01 mins).
If you want to link to another a page that is held in Sitecore, such as an event, news item or main website page, you'll need to use the Insert Sitecore Link button.
However, you shouldn't use this function for links to course pages, staff profiles or blogs. You should use the 'Hyperlink Manager' external link tool for these types of pages (see below).
See how to create internal links in our events training video (at 25.55 mins).
Creating links in Directory pages needs careful planning. Before you create the link, ask yourself:
If you’re editing a Directory page and the page you’re going to link to only sits in one Directory, you need to use the Insert Sitecore link. This is a single link. Highlight the text, then select ‘Insert Sitecore Link’. You then need to navigate through the content folders and find the page.
For example, if you want to link to the ‘Flexible working’ page which is only in the Staff Directory, you need to open - Content - Main Site - Home - Staff Directory Home. That page is in the ‘Employment policies and procedures’ category. Once you find it, just select it and that link will be added. It does mean you need to know which category a page sits in, but a quick search of the Directory will help you find it.
See how to create single links in our Directories training video (at 22.25 mins).
If you’re linking to another article that is cloned into both Staff and Student Directories, you need to use the Insert Contextual Sitecore Link button.
This does mean you need to find out whether that page exists in more than one Directory and a quick search on each Directory will help you know that. Generally speaking, People and Culture pages are on the Staff Directory, so this type of link is not needed for those pages. But if you’re linking to Canteen or another catering outlet, for example, these exist on all three Directories, so you here you need to use the contextual link button.
Here's the reason why we have to link in this way. If a user is browsing a Staff Directory page, for example, and they want to click on a link to Canteen, we know that there are three different versions of the Canteen page, one on each Directory. We don’t want the Staff Directory user to click on that link and be sent to the Canteen page on another Directory. So this function instructs Sitecore that if a user is on one Directory they need to be sent to the version of the linked page that is on the same Directory.
To do this:
What you’ll notice is that in the Rich Text Editor box and on the Experience Editor preview, the word you’ve linked appears multiple times. That’s ok, it won’t show like this on the website when it's published.
See how to create contextual links in our Directories training video (at 19.20 mins).
To link to another organisation’s website or to a page on a University of Essex website, but one which isn’t in Sitecore, such as HR Organiser for example, you need to use the ‘Hyperlink manager’ button. Select the Hyperlink tab and paste the web address into the URL box.
See how to create external links in our events training video (at 27.55 mins).
To add an email address, you need to have the email address written out on the page. Copy the address and then go to the ‘Hyperlink Manager’ button. Select the email tab and paste the email address into the address box.
See how to create an email link in our events training video (at 27.10 mins).