I was looking at an old post today (it was from nearly three years ago), and the link in it was dead (it was to a news story since taken down). Normally I just ignore those, but I know that it annoys me when I go to a site and click on a dead link.
So, a question: When I run across dead links on my blog, should I remove them? I mean, if it doesn’t go anywhere, what’s the point? Clearly this isn’t something I’d set about doing as a project, but I do come across them from time to time. Is their some sort of etiquette for this?
I’d be curious to hear what other bloggers do and what readers would like to see.
7 comments:
I say leave them broken. The fact that you referenced a source adds something to your credibility, even if the link's outdated and broken. Readers checking out old posts shouldn't be surprised.
Great blog btw -- I really enjoy it.
Keeping the original content seems like the correct thing unless it's a minor and easy to make fix.
Otherwise, you might could add a link to the item using the way back machine if it has a copy-- http://www.archive.org/web/web.php
I'd leave the link broken. I think it more important to keep the original post with references than fix a broken link.
If it's easily fixed, I'll fix it, but I have trouble enough worrying about TOMORROW'S blog to fuss about an old one.
The exception is if I'm writing something current and linking to an old post, I might look about a little more.
Still a blog post from three years ago is a post from a point in time and I wouldn't worry about it.
I also leave them as is. Links are still the closest thing we've got to a bibliography when it comes to web pages.
It sucks when material is removed from the web, and it's frustrating for readers, but even if a link doesn't work anymore, the citation can be important.
Thank you all! I was thinking that leaving them would be a good way to indicate what my original sources were, even if the links are gone. I'm glad to see others share that opinion. I thought about the Wayback Machine option, but I suppose if someone really wants to, they can try that option themselves. Besides, it's not the original source.
On a side note, the "Comment deleted" above was a spam comment. I thought it was particularly appropriate for a post like this to leave it as "This post has been removed by a blog administrator."
Oh, side note two: Check out Jamie's blog (or is that Ja'mie?) for some GREAT photos of New Zealand as well another perspective on being an American expat in New Zealand.
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