When redesigning a website, content updates often focus on page design, column adjustments, and copy replacement, while friend links are easily overlooked. However, friend links are part of a website's external connections; improper handling can lead to dead links, incorrect redirects, and even affect search engines' evaluation of the site. This article outlines the fundamental steps for managing friend links in three phases: before, during, and after the redesign.
Before the Redesign: Inventory Existing Friend Links
Before starting the redesign, it's essential to identify all current friend links to avoid missing any. You can export all external link pages or use webmaster tools to crawl the entire site, then organize the data into a spreadsheet, recording link positions, target URLs, anchor text, and the pages where they appear. Also, check whether these links are still valid—some may have already become inactive, and the redesign is a good time to clean them up.
Additionally, distinguish between types of friend links: are they the common row of links at the bottom of the homepage, or recommended links on inner pages? Different types may require different handling during the redesign, but all should be documented.
During the Redesign: Update Link URLs and Anchor Text
During a redesign, the website's URL structure may change, such as switching from dynamic to static URLs or adjusting category paths. If the old URLs pointed to by friend links are no longer valid, update them to the new addresses promptly. Also, anchor text (i.e., the link text) should remain relevant to the target page's content; if the partner site has been redesigned or its content adjusted, you may need to update the anchor text accordingly.
For bidirectional friend links (where both parties link to each other), proactively notify the partner to update their links after the redesign, so they don't continue pointing to old addresses. Provide the new URL and anchor text to facilitate quick updates on their end.
Before Launch: Verify Link Availability One by One
Before the redesigned site goes live, check all friend links to ensure they redirect correctly. You can use online tools for batch detection or manually click to test. Focus on the following aspects:
- Whether the link returns a 200 status code (normal access);
- Whether it redirects to the expected page, not a 404 error page;
- Whether the link has a nofollow attribute (if it's a partnership link, confirm it aligns with expectations);
- Whether the anchor text displays correctly, without garbled characters or errors.
If dead links are found, fix or remove them promptly to avoid users encountering invalid links after launch.
After Launch: Continuous Monitoring and Regular Maintenance
After the site goes live, friend links require ongoing monitoring. It's recommended to check all friend links periodically (e.g., quarterly), as partner sites may be redesigned or shut down, causing links to fail. Additionally, if your site's content is updated frequently, you may need to adjust anchor text and target pages to maintain relevance.
For any dead links, remove or replace them promptly to avoid negatively impacting user experience and search engine crawling.
In summary, friend links may seem minor, but they shouldn't be ignored during a website redesign. By taking stock before the redesign, updating during it, checking before launch, and maintaining after, you can ensure friend links function properly, laying a solid foundation for your website's operations.
