Writing HTML might seems like a daunting task at first, but rest assured that the type of HTML allowed in the "About the Author" box here at Content Crooner is just plain basic. Simply follow the formulas and after a few tries, it will become much easier.
Remember that HTML is an exact language, all the wording has to be perfect for the codes to work properly. If the HTML is perfect, then the link will work. If there is just one tiny mistake in the HTML wording, then the link will not work!
Please remember there are only three types of HTML allowed in the "About the Author" box:
Links to a website or other resource (see below for instructions)
Boldface (use <b></b> only)
Italic (use <i></i> only)
The Super Easy Coding Formula
First, think about the coding that surrounds the text.
All links must have "<a href=" at the beginning to open the link. Notice that there is always a space after the "a", if there is no space, then the link will not work properly! All links must also have "</a>" at the end to close the link.
<a href="http://www.contentcrooner.com">ContentCrooner.com</a>
The link must always have the opening set of quotation marks and the closing set of quotation marks. If there are not two sets of quotation marks, then the link will not work properly.
<a href="http://www.contentcrooner.com">ContentCrooner.com</a>
The Super Easy Text Formula For Creating New Links
Next think about the text for the link. When creating a new link to a website, this is called an "anchor link". There are two basic parts to anchor links.
First there is the hypertext reference, which is the URL where the link goes.
<a href="http://www.contentcrooner.com">ContentCrooner.com</a>
Second, there is the link text, which is the actual text that the reader clicks on to get to the URL.
<a href="http://www.contentcrooner.com">ContentCrooner.com</a>
A properly formatted link looks like this when you write it:
<a href="http://www.YourFullyQualifiedURL.com">the link text you want readers to click on</a>
Let's say Joe wrote an article about staying organized during remodeling projects and he's selling a toolbox organizer. He wants to drive traffic to his site by having them click on "cut your project time in half", which will send visitors to his site, www.JoesHardwareSupplies.com.
The reader will see "cut your project time in half" highlighted in the text of Joe’s About the Author box. When he clicks on the text he goes right to Joe's site.
Take special note that:
The URL (http://www.joeshardwaresupplies.com) is wrapped in straight quotes, not curly quotes. If you use MS Word to write your articles, be careful that you aren't using curly quotes. Learn how to fix and avoid the curly quotes here.
There are no spaces within the link itself.
You may link your readers to any page on your site that makes sense. Joe could have linked to http://www.joeshardwaresupplies.com/toolboxorganizer