Link to source page or link to site?

12-03-2013

Indeed, how to make correct source links: to the page or even to paragraph, OR to the site or homepage?

A link has two ends - called anchors - and a direction. The link starts at the "source" anchor and points to the "destination" anchor, which may be any Web resource (e.g., an image, a video clip, a sound bite, a program, an HTML document, an element within an HTML document, etc.)

As we write the article our final aim is to give a reader the destination, where he/she can find extended information. So, our reader like to be directed to the original source of information with explanations, pictures, etc. - to a source page.

If we lead the reader to the home page and throw him there to choose the source itself, it is obvious, one won't be satisfied.

So, why some big name newspapers, infosources often lead their URLs to source homepage (site), but not a source page?

The explanation is simple. Rules of etiquette recommend refer to source. If you write "The CNN said that" then, of course, you need to make a reference to the site. But in case "James D. wrote a funny essay", then link to the article. If in the the latter case you make reference to the whole site, it will look like a moveton. And remember of copyright law - most of info resources request to make obligatory reference to source.

Google: Links are good when they are convenient to User.