Fully Specify URLs in HTML Code - Page 30

I do recommended using fully syntactically correct URLs in the hypertext links in actual HTML code. In particular, it is best to include the trailing slash for any URL that points to the default file in a directory. Most web servers can cope with a missing slash, but doing so typically requires the server to redirect the browser's request from the abbreviated version to the correct version, and doing so takes time and adds to the response time delay. Thus, if you want to refer to my Alertbox column in print, you would write the URL as http://www.useit.com/alertbox or even www.useit.com/alertbox

If you wanted to include a hypertext link to the column in one of your web pages, the HTML should be coded as <a href="http://www.useit.com/alertbox/">

URL Guessing

At a recent Digital Kids conference, a fifth grader was asked how he found things on the Internet. His answer was, "I sort of experiment. I take things I like and put '.com' after them." Most adults do the same. In fact, it is quite striking in user testing how often people revert to URL guessing.

Archival URLs

Links from other websites are the third most-common way people find sites (after search engines and email recommendations), so build your site to make it easy to attract inbound links.

Linkrot equals lost business, so make sure all URLs live forever and continue to point to relevant pages. Do not move pages around; instead, keep them at the same URL. It is very annoying for authors of other sites when their links either stop working or turn into pointers to something different because the original page has been moved and replaced by something new.

Beware of the Os and 0s

It is dangerous to use the digit 0 (zero) and the letter O (uppercase o) in URLs because users often confuse the two. The lowercase letter o is less of a problem. If you do need to use a 0 or an O in a URL, then you should establish an alias for the same URL with the erroneous character that points to the correct one. In particular, if reserving a domain name like box0.com, you should also buy boxO.com and have it forward hits to box0.com.

Content that changes on a regular basis is often stored under temporary URLs. Examples include the current issue of a magazine, today's front page for a newspaper, and the program for the upcoming version of an annual conference. You will often want to publicize virtual URLs that point to the concept of "CyberTimes front page," "this week's editorial," "list of keynotes at the next InternetWorld conference," and so on. In fact, users often prefer to bookmark such virtual pointers because they are interested in accessing the most current information whenever they visit.

Often, such topical content may be of long-term interest and should be archived under permanent URLs in addition to the temporary URL, which will be changed to point to new content on a regular basis. For example, I often want to link the readers of my online column to articles in online magazines, but of course I don't want to link to "the current week's editorial" but to "the editorial on overuse of animation." These two concepts may temporarily have the same URL, but it is much easier for me if I can use the permanent URL of the archived version as the link for my own HTML file. It would be a pain to have to update the link at a later date, and many authors forget to do so. Even worse, link-checkers will often not discover the mistake because the old URL continues to be valid. Rather, it simply points to new and irrelevant content.

Whenever you reorganize a site or move files around for other reasons, you have to make sure that the old URLs continue to work. Old URLs should be kept functional for at least half a year, and preferably for two years or more.

The preferred way of dealing with virtual URLs is to pre-assign an archival URL to the page and have a method for communicating this permanent URL to authors of other sites who want to link to you. For example, http:// www.foo.com/current/editorial.html could be the virtual URL that always points to the current editorial, and http://www.foo.com/990207/editorial.html could be the permanent URL pointing to the editorial for February 7, 1999. The permanent URL should be made active as soon as the page goes up, even if most users will be using the virtual URL to access it in the beginning. The reason to activate the eventual archival URL while the page is still current is that other sites that want to link to the page will get the ability to encode the permanent URL in their links and forget about it.

Basically, there are two ways of communicating archival URLs to other authors. You can list the URL in a footer on the page (e.g., "the permanent location of this page will be http://www.foo.com/990207/editorial.html"), or you can use a simple convention for generating archival URLs. Using a convention frees you from having an extra line on the bottom of your pages (which is good) but places an extra burden on people who want to link to you (which is bad and may cost traffic). Only use a naming convention if it is (a) adhered to consistently, and (b) very easy to guess from seeing one or two examples of older pages and their archival URLs. A good example might be the use of the publication date in the URL for a regular column.

Advertising a URL

To integrate your online presence and your real-world activities, all advertising and marketing collateral should come with appropriate URLs pointing to your website.

Any physical products should also come with URLs for their corresponding product pages engraved or stamped on the back. Making the URL part of the product ensures that users can easily get service without having to search the site. It also makes it easy for customers to recommend your product to new prospects, and it enhances the probability that they will return to your site when it is time to buy a replacement or make another new purchase.

URL Design - Page 29
Designing Web Usability
Supporting Old URLs - Page 31