Does Your UX Suck? Principle #6: Links Are Consistent & Easy to Identify

Links must be easily identified and their look should be consistent throughout the document, but does a hyperlink have to be the default of blue and underlined these days for readers to know it's a hyperlink?  No. These days any element given emphasis to stand out from the other components on the page is expected to be linked. Let me example what I'm saying right here: hyperlinks don't have to be blue or underlined. Any element can be given emphasis to attract a reader's attention and today's readers test for interactivity, looking for small clues like the hand cursor to indicate the presence of a hyperlinked element. The upside of this for web designers is that links can be within the colour scheme of the website and therefore harmonious to their surrounds and the readers flow inside the document.

Older UX checklists advise to limit hyperlinks so as not to distract the reader, but the value of hyperlinks to Google's understanding of your website is well known by SEO strategists. Many of the top ranking SEO companies have over 1000 links on their websites. In the past the links have contributed to the authority of the website and it's credibility, but Google warns that things have changed and link farming is frowned upon. Websites risk being demoted by Google in future if the links are found to be pointless. Still, sites with heaps of links are achieving a higher page authority and a higher rank than those without, so Snap2's Local Bizz Refresh steadily adds quality links to websites, both inbound and outbound links, and seeks out links of real value to your audience.