What are Hyperlinks?

If you want to be technical, there are different types of hyperlinks: absolute, relative, internal, external, etc. 

Let's not get technical.

Let's just go over the absolute basic information that you need to know if you are writing a blog - or adding content to your web site.  Hyperlinks help you provide better content and you should use them. 

What is a hyperlink?

A hyperlink is a bit of text that appears in a different font color, letting the reader know that clicking on that text will allow them to go to another website that provides information about the text itself.

Insert them into your post by blocking the targeted text and then finding the word "link" or an infinity sign (or sideways 8) in your blogging platform's palette; click on this hyperlink icon and a window will appear, allowing you to insert the url for the hyperlink. 

Why hyperlinks are helpful:

1. Hyperlinks can provide support for your post (e.g., you reference source material, and hyperlink to its website).
2. Hyperlinks can save time (instead of providing the recipe, just link to where it can be found on the web).
3. Hyperlinks can build traffic for you (assuming that you are linking to sites or blogs that have traffic which may find you via the hyperlink).
4. Search engine optimization benefits from hyperlinks; for how that happens, go read the posts here that discuss how Google, etc. search and rank.

Stand Up While You Are Reading This

Like many of us, I spend way too much time setting in a chair, staring at a screen.  I'm learning that this is bad for your body. I'm discovering that doctors (and researchers) are investigating the many ways that this may detrimentally impact our health - even if we have a routine exercise schedule and consider ourselves to be physically fit.

It seems that the simple act of sitting for an extended period of time is bad for our internal organs, as well as our joints, etc.  Answers?  Regularly moving - standing, stretching, moving every thirty minutes or so is being discussed.

So are standing desks. Check out this cool standing desk setup here.

It may take me awhile to get there, but I think a standing desk might be a nice thing to own. I'm gonna check into it. 

Twitter Tip: What is a Hashtag?

Organize your tweet according to its topic(s) within your tweet by using a hashtag (#) - which is the number sign found on your QWERTY keyboard above the number 3.

Using this symbol (without a space) allows you to place your tweet into a Twitter stream that is filled with other tweets sharing that same topic.

For example, #Facebook in your tweet will place it amidst countless other tweets that are discussing that social networking site in some way.

Why should you care?

1. Hashtags help driving trending topics -- when breaking news is happening, the hashtag symbol allows all sorts of folk who don't follow each other to share information. 
2. Hashtags will help you find tweets that you find interesting on Twitter.  
3. Hashtags will help strangers (and new followers) find you.  
4. Hashtags will help your tweets appear in Twitter Search.

You can put your hashtag anywhere within your tweet.  Most folk (like me) stick them on the end.  For examples, just go surf around Twitter for a bit.