[thelist] RE: linked verbiage (was Free Tip)

[Stephen Rider]

On Jan 14, 2005, at 11:01 AM, Steven Streight wrote:

> Rob Smith said:
>>
>> ... follow this formula for proper links:
>>
>> Verb Adjective Noun ('stuff in single quotes is linked verbiage')
>>
>> 'Get Results Now' for rapid weight reduction
>> 'See Sunday's Article' for the game schedule
>
> "click here" carries no information, just a command.
>
> In your example, I beg to differ slightly. Why not:
>
> "rapid weight reduction" as the linked verbiage?
>
> and...
>
> "U of I football game schedule" as the linked
> verbiage?

I agree with Steven here.  If the link points to an "object" (such as a 
page or PDF) I try to name the object.

See 'our schedule' for more information.
Read the 'whole article'.
Download a 'rental application' (PDF).

Or... sometimes the link is a verb (or as Steven put it a "command"):

Feel free to 'contact us' with any questions.
'Return to Homepage'

For me, I always try to use a noun first, and only use the verb option 
if the noun form seems awkward.

Rob's suggestion (including the Unnecessary Caps) screams "marketing 
school" to me.  (Actually, the "Get Results Now" smacks of TV 
infomercials and spam email -- I would prefer to see "click here" than 
that.)

Also, I believe that some search engines *cough*google*cough* put more 
weight on link text than regular text, meaning that you'll get better 
mileage from

	Get results now for 'rapid weight reduction'

than from

	'Get Results Now' for rapid weight reduction

when somebody searches for "weight reduction".  (And... not to beat a 
dead horse, but... nobody is going to search for "get results now".)  
Rob's "Sunday's Article" link isn't as bad, but still lacks information 
-- what article?

Regards,
Steve