Links

This section is where you can add links to outside sources and display them in the “Links” sidebar widget.

There are 3 subsections for this control panel – Edit, Add New (link), and Link Categories.

WordPress comes with a default category named Blogroll which has some WordPress links assigned to it. You are not required to use Blogroll and can create your own categories. You can change/delete the links that are already there, or not use the category altogether. You cannot delete or rename this category.

Let’s say for example that your site is about travel. You may want to provide your readers with links to online travel sites like Expedia, Travelocity, etc.

You would click on “Link Categories” and create a category named “Travel Reservations.”

Then click on “Add New,” name the link, type in the URL address, add a short description of the site you are linking to, and check the box next to the category you want the link to appear under.

Repeat this for as many links as you want.

Now, using the Widget control panel, you would drag the “Links” widget to the sidebar you want, click on the dropdown menu in the widget, check the categories to be shown, click save, and there it is… displayed in your sidebar.

You can also sort the order of your links by assigning them a numerical value in the “Rating” column on the right side of the Links control panel.

NOTE: When creating a new link you have the option of adding a description. This is recommended.

The description for your link will show up when a visitor hovers their mouse over the link.