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About Us 2007 is when I began creating niche stores. Many kind and giving people shared their knowledge with me, making it easier to improve my sites. I have gathered much of what I've learned and put it here, on this site, as a way of giving back. It is my hope that this site will help you improve your niche stores and sites, too. ~ Rochelle
How to Add External Links to Your Site’s Sidebar
Posted by
Rochelle in Someone recently saw a niche store that included a link to an external web site in the Site Navigation sidebar menu. He asked if I know how to do this. I do and am sharing here because I’m sure there are more people who would like to do this, too.
This mod came from Pip on the Build A Niche Store forum. Apparently there is a way to add links to the middle of a menu but I don’t know how to do this. If someone reading this post knows please let me know and I’ll add those instructions. I have since learned how to do this. You can read my instructions to add links alphabetically to your sidebars here.
My instructions to add an external URL to your Site Navigation sidebar: | ||
Step One | ||
| Log in to your site’s Admin and click on the ‘Template‘ tab. | ||
| ||
| Save a copy of the original code (click here for instructions on how to do this). | ||
| Step Two | ||
| Search for the following code: | ||
| <?=$front->pagenav();?> | ||
| Decide if you want any links you add to be ABOVE the sidebar’s links or BELOW the links. In other words, decide if you want to add a link to Google above your Home page and Sitemap links or below them. After you decide follow the appropriate instruction: | ||
| ||
| <li><a href=’http://www.newURL.com’ target=’_blank’>Anchor Text</a></li></ul><?=$front->pagenav();?> | ||
| ||
| <?=$front->pagenav();?><li><a href=’http://www.newURL.com’ target=’_blank’>Anchor Text</a></li></ul> | ||
| Make the following changes before saving: | ||
| ||
| When the added link is clicked it will open the site in a new window or tab. If you don’t want this then remove target=’_blank’ from the code. | ||
| If you want to add multiple links modify the code as follows: | ||
| To add multiple links ABOVE (change links to your desired URLs and anchor text): | ||
| <li><a href=’http://www.newURL01.com’ target=’_blank’>Anchor Text for First New Link</a></li> <li><a href=’http://www.newURL02.com’ target=’_blank’>Anchor Text for Second New Link</a></li> <li><a href=’http://www.newURL03.com’ target=’_blank’>Anchor Text for Third New Link</a></li> <?=$front->pagenav();?></ul> | ||
| To add multiple links BELOW (change links to your desired URLs and anchor text): | ||
| <?=$front->pagenav();?><li><a href=’http://www.newURL01.com’ target=’_blank’>Anchor Text for First New Link</a></li> <li><a href=’http://www.newURL02.com’ target=’_blank’>Anchor Text for Second New Link</a></li> <li><a href=’http://www.newURL03.com’ target=’_blank’>Anchor Text for Third New Link</a></li> | ||
| Save changes and view site. | ||
. | ||
Rochelle
24 Responses to “How to Add External Links to Your Site’s Sidebar”
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Hi Rochelle
Thank you so much for this. I have been trying to find this for a few weeks after seeing it on one of Mark’s sites. I shall be trying it out this evening. As always, your site is a wonderful resource and greatly appreciated.
Denise
Denise,
The person who asked me about this mod also saw it on one of Mark’s sites (well, his wife’s actually). In this case it didn’t occur to me to write this instruction so I’m glad he asked about it. Please feel free to ask if I know how to achieve something if you aren’t finding an answer. I may not always know but there are ‘How To’ instructions that I intend to share but haven’t yet done so. In other words, I will help if I have the knowledge you are looking for.
Rochelle
Rochelle
Thank you for your offer of help. I have to admit that it did occur to me to ask you about the above mod, but I felt that you had helped me so much so far, that it was a bit of a cheek. However, I shall now “feel free” to ask, as you suggest. Rest assured though, that I shall not take offence if you can’t help, don’t want to help or haven’t got time to help.
Thank you again.
Denise
Hi Rochelle-
Thanks for all the great tips you offer on your site! I tried adding the links as directed in the post, but the links weren’t working correctly. I figured out that the ‘ before and after the URLs should actually be ” – this enabled them to link correctly in my case!
Thanks,
Gene
Rochelle
Can you tell me how to add a signature to a blog post as anchor text? I notice you, and many others, do this on Marks Forum. I have been into Profile and cannot work it out. I’m used to having a hyperlink sympol to click. I believe (?) that the code would be as follows, but I don’t know how to get it in.
Bonsai for Sale
Thank you, as always.
Denise
The code has turned into the link on your site, and all I did was type the code that starts Bonsai for Sale – . However, on Mark’s Forum, it does not do this.
Denise
Sorry Rochelle, for messing up your blog with my messy posts! I left a little of the code out, but still created a hyperllnk! Anyway, I’ve obviously got the right code because it works on your site, but I’ve tried again elsewhere, and can’t get it to work.
Thanks.
Denise
Denise,
Lol! It’s ok about all the links. More backlinks for you : )
You asked about creating a signature for blog posts. Is this really what you mean or do you mean in the forum?
I’m unaware of how to create signatures for blog posts but this can be done in the forums by going to your profile and looking at the various links available. Each site will be a little different. There should be instructions someone on the site explaining how to add a signature with anchor text.
If it is the forums you mean please tell me exactly which forum you want to add a signature through and I’ll give more specific instructions.
Rochelle
Thanks for your response Rochelle. I’m mixing up my terms – I’ll try and be clearer!
For example, when you post on Mark’s Forum, at the bottom of your post in small print is :
_________________
Niche Store Strategies | How to Write Articles for Qassia | How to Write Ads for USFreeads
How do you put them there? I’m assuming that this is a “signature” that you added into your Profile area?
Denise
[...] recently wrote about how to add external links to your sidebar menus. Those instructions tell you how to add external links that are either above or below your Site [...]
Denise,
Now I understand : )
For Mark’s forum you first need to log in. Click the ‘User Control Panel’ link (upper left), click the ‘Profile’ link (left sidebar), then click the ‘Edit Signature’ link. There are several buttons you can use, similar to the content page sections of BANS Admin, that will help you edit your signature as you want, including a link button.
Hope this helps,
Rochelle
Rochelle
Thanks very much – I found the section and found how to insert a web address using the URL button. I couldn’t find a button to make anchor text, but the web address link is enough.
Thanks again.
Denise
Denise,
If it helps, here is the code I used for my signature in Mark’s forum (hopefully it won’t convert to links):
[url=http://www.nichestorestrategies.com/]Niche Store Strategies[/url] | [url=http://www.nichestorestrategies.com/how-to-write-qassia-intel/]How to Write Articles for Qassia[/url] | [url=http://www.nichestorestrategies.com/how-to-write-ads-for-usfreeads/]How to Write Ads for USFreeads[/url]
Rochelle
Rochelle
Thank you so much for the code – it works perfectly. I have just been listening to Michelle Macphearson’s free video on how important anchor text links are and how Google gives credit for them. I can’t wait for your update on 30 Minute Backlinks.
I notice that you do not have an affiliate link for this nor for Instant Article Wizard. If I buy these products, I should like to do so through your site as a small token of appreciation for the help that you give so generously.
Denise
[...] How to Add External Links to Your Site’s Sidebar [...]
Denise,
You can now see all my niche store related affiliate links at http://www.nichestorestrategie.....ate-links/
I sincerely appreciate your wanting to use my affiliate links and I thank you, and any one who uses them.
Rochelle
Thank you so much for mentionng this, I was trying to figure it out for awhile. After reading this I put my clickbank I.D. to use in the side bars of my (6 days ago) websites and come to find that putting hose CB links there gives me a really good click thru rate…no sales yet but I am confident I will get some. Thanks again Rochelle for reminding us all of other ways to monetize.
Michelle D.
Michelle,
What an excellent idea! I hadn’t thought of promoting clickbank items but there are tons to choose from so, why not? I’m off to go do this
Rochelle
Hi Rochelle,
I’m finding your instructions and tips very helpful, but one I couldn’t find is how to change your site navigation (content pages) to the right sidebar.
Is this something you could possibly help with?
Thanks in advance
Shelley
This is something I should like to do as well. Is it just a question of moving the relevant piece of code from the header.php file to the footer.php file, within the BANS Admin section?
Thanks.
Denise
Shelley and Denise,
Moving one of your sidebar menus from one side to the other is a fairly simple thing to do and I can write instructions on it. I’ll aim to do this some time this upcoming week.
Rochelle
Thanks Rochelle – that’s great. I shall look out for your post.
I hope you are recovering well from your illness and beginning to feel like yourself again.
Denise
Over the past few days I have begun to feel like myself again. It’s good to be back.
Rochelle
Hey – solid interweb, just looking around some internet, feels a extremely enormous platform that you’re using. I’m at this time using Wordpress for a number of of my data but looking to adjust one of them by to a platform comparable to yours for a trial operate. Anything in special you’d recommend about this?