How to include links to outside sources?

1. 78

   CatherineGiordanoposted 9 years ago

   I used a link capsule at the end of my HUB  to list some Wikipedia pages "For More Information" as well as to a blog I do on the subject.  I thought that was the best way to link to outside sources.  I got this hint at the top right of my editing page for the hub. "We noticed you have a number of links grouped together. It's best to only incorporate useful, relevant links into the sentence structure of your Hub as anchor text or, if you would like to link to your own Hubs, group them using the Grouping feature."  What am I doing wrong? What should I do instead?

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   1. 73

      brakel2posted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I think the preferred way is to list them and not link them as resources. I still link my references, but may get a warning sometime. Someday, Staff says they may have an enforced rule about resources. I put the title resources and the links. It means the places I used for reference. Wikipedia is not supposed to be listed as a resource, even though we may use that source. It may have errors due to the procedure they use to get information.

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      1. 78

         CatherineGiordanoposted 9 years agoin reply to this

         My topic was dragons.  I didn't want to put long lists of books, games, etc. with dragon-themes so I used the Wikipedia links. In case anyone was interested.  A person would see that they were appropriate; a computer program can't see that.  I'll just take them off.

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   2. 86

      Marisa Wrightposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      This is a standard warning.  It's advisory NOT compulsory, so if it makes sense to have a list of links at the end of your Hub (e.g. if you've created a "further reading" section), then it's absolutely fine to ignore the warning and leave it there.
      
      However, I certainly would not be providing a list of Wikipedia links and nothing else.  Think about it for a minute:  if you want to get readers to have confidence in you, you need to convince them you've done your homework and know what you're talking about.  If the best references you can supply are from Wikipedia, that makes you sound like an amateur!
      
      I'd say, if you can't supply some proper, authoritative further reading on the subject then it's better not to bother.

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      1. 91

         Jean Bakulaposted 9 years agoin reply to this

         I have to agree with Marisa. We usually go to Wikipedia when we know nothing about a topic, or need to verify something, like a date. If you are going to list sources, use books you have read that enhanced  your interest in dragons. Or you could list articles by authors who are knowledgeable about dragons.

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2. 82

   psycheskinnerposted 9 years ago

   That message is automated and can't tell you are making a reference list which would naturally be at the end.

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3. 79

   Annie Wrightposted 9 years ago

   Hi,
   
   When I take classes online, we weren't allowed to use Wikipedia since anyone could input the data, and it might not be correct but we could click on the links there to see if there was a reliable source we could use. I find it helpful to write on topics I know about. But anyway just a thought. Try using online libraries which is a great source of all kinds of information, and free to use, plus ask the librarian about a topic and they will guide you in the right direction.
   Annie

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4. 60

   firstdayposted 9 years ago

   Excellent thanks for the information Annie Wright.

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