Links and downloads

Hyperlinks are used to link to documents or email addresses in a page of content, or to link to external and internal web pages.

Where you should place links

Make sure links are at the end or below a sentence. If below a sentence, no full stop required.

How to write hyperlinks

It's important that we write hyperlinks in a way that is useful to all of our customers.

• always write descriptive links that let the reader know where they’re going, for example 'planning website survey' not 'survey'.
• avoid saying ‘click here’, ‘can be found here’ or ‘visit this website’
• if you are linking to a social media channel, use the web address without www., like: facebook.com/westmorlandandfurnesscouncil
• 'ink to online services first. Offer offline alternatives afterwards where possible.

Use embedded hyperlinks, not a full URL

It is better for readers if we use hyperlinks instead of the full URL. It also allows you to give context to the information the link provides before the user clicks on it.

Never use a full web address like: https://www.cumberland.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/children-and-families/youth-homelessness, instead create the link in text, 'youth homelessness'. 

Embedded links are easier for people with poor eyesight. A screen reader is going to read the URL letter-by-letter so it's difficult for people using a screen reader to understand what the link is about.