Managing Links

Links are the heart of your Linked.Church page. This guide covers everything you need to know about managing your links effectively.

Understanding Link Management

The Links dashboard is your central control panel for all links on your church's page. From here you can:

• Add new links
• Edit existing links
• Delete outdated links
• Reorder links with drag-and-drop
• Toggle visibility on/off
• View click statistics
• Organize with headers

Adding a New Link

Step 1: Access the Link Form

1. Navigate to Links in your dashboard
2. Click the "Add New Link" button
3. The link creation form will appear

Step 2: Fill in Link Details

Title (Required)

The text that appears on your link button:

• Keep it concise and action-oriented
• Use title case for consistency
• Examples: "Watch Live", "Give Online", "Join a Small Group"

URL (Required for Regular Links)

The destination when someone clicks your link:

• Must include http:// or https://
• Test the link before saving
• Can be external sites or mailto: links
• For phone numbers use: tel:+1234567890

Link Type

Choose the appropriate type for your link:

Regular Link (Default)

• Standard clickable button
• Opens URL in new tab
• Most common type

Header

• Non-clickable section divider
• Used to organize links into groups
• No URL needed
• Style differently from regular links

Social

• Special links for social media profiles
• Displayed as icon buttons
• Grouped at bottom of page
• Auto-detects platform from URL

Icon Selection

Add visual context to your links:

• Choose from 100+ icons
• Icons appear to the left of title
• Helps users quickly identify link purpose
• Optional but recommended

Common icon choices:

• 🎥 Video/Play - Live streams, sermons
• 💝 Heart/Gift - Donations, giving
• 📅 Calendar - Events, schedules
• 📧 Envelope - Contact, email
• 📱 Phone - Call or text
• 🙏 Praying Hands - Prayer requests
• 📖 Book - Bible studies, resources

Description (Optional)

Add context or additional information:

• Appears as smaller text under the title
• 1-2 sentences maximum
• Great for event dates or brief explanations
• Example: "Sundays at 9am & 11am"

Visibility Toggle

Control when your link appears:

• ON: Link is live and visible to visitors
• OFF: Link is hidden but not deleted
• Useful for preparing links in advance
• Hidden links show a "hidden" badge in dashboard

Step 3: Advanced Options

Thumbnail Image

Add a small image to your link:

• Appears as a preview image
• Great for sermon series or events
• Recommended size: 200x200px
• Supports JPG, PNG, WebP

Link Highlighting

Make important links stand out:

• Adds special styling (glow, animation, or color)
• Use sparingly for maximum impact
• Good for time-sensitive items
• Example: "Easter Service Registration"

UTM Parameters

Track link performance in Google Analytics:

• Source: Where traffic comes from
• Medium: Type of link (social, email, etc.)
• Campaign: Specific campaign name
• Automatically appended to your URLs

Custom CSS Class

For advanced users with custom themes:

• Add specific styling to individual links
• Requires CSS knowledge
• Consult documentation for class names

Step 4: Save Your Link

1. Review all information for accuracy
2. Click "Save Link"
3. Link appears immediately on your public page
4. Success message confirms creation

Editing Existing Links

Quick Edit Mode

For simple changes:

1. Find the link in your dashboard
2. Click the pencil icon
3. Make your changes
4. Click "Update" to save

Full Edit Mode

For comprehensive updates:

1. Click the link title or "Edit" button
2. Full form opens with all options
3. Make necessary changes
4. Preview changes before saving
5. Click "Update Link"

Common Edits

Updating URLs

• When your website changes
• Switching streaming platforms
• Updating form links
• Always test new URLs

Refreshing Titles

• Seasonal updates ("Easter Service" → "Summer Series")
• Clarifying language
• Matching current campaigns

Changing Icons

• Better visual representation
• Seasonal themes
• Consistency across links

Deleting Links

Temporary Removal

If you might need the link again:

1. Toggle visibility to OFF
2. Link is hidden but preserved
3. Can reactivate anytime
4. Keeps all settings and analytics

Permanent Deletion

When you're sure you won't need it:

1. Click the trash icon or "Delete" button
2. Confirm deletion in the popup
3. Link is permanently removed
4. Analytics data is preserved for historical reports

Bulk Operations

Select Multiple Links

1. Check boxes next to links
2. Use bulk action menu
3. Options: Delete, Hide, Show

Delete Multiple

1. Select links to remove
2. Choose "Delete Selected"
3. Confirm bulk deletion
4. Cannot be undone

Organizing Your Links

Using Drag and Drop

Reorder Individual Links

1. Hover over the grip icon (⋮⋮)
2. Click and hold to grab
3. Drag to new position
4. Drop to place
5. Order saves automatically

Move Between Sections

1. Grab link as above
2. Drag to different header section
3. Drop below desired header
4. Link inherits section styling

Creating Logical Groups

Best Practices

• Group similar links together
• Most important links at top
• Use headers to separate sections
• Limit to 3-5 links per section

Common Groupings

WEEKEND SERVICES
├─ Watch Live
├─ Service Times
└─ Plan Your Visit

CONNECT
├─ Small Groups
├─ Serve Opportunities
├─ Prayer Requests
└─ Contact Us

RESOURCES  
├─ Sermon Archive
├─ Bible Reading Plan
├─ Give Online
└─ Church App

Link Performance

View Click Statistics

In your dashboard, each link shows:

• Total clicks (all-time)
• Recent clicks (last 30 days)
• Click rate (clicks vs. page views)
• Last clicked timestamp

Optimize Based on Data

• Move high-performing links up
• Reconsider low-performing links
• Test different titles/descriptions
• Monitor after changes

Best Practices

Writing Effective Link Titles

• Start with action verbs
• Be specific, not vague
• Keep under 30 characters
• Use familiar terms

✅ Good Examples:

• "Watch Sunday Service"
• "Register for VBS"
• "Give Online"

❌ Avoid:

• "Click Here"
• "More Information"
• "Link"

URL Management

• Always use HTTPS when possible
• Shorten long URLs with bit.ly
• Update promptly when URLs change
• Test on mobile devices

Visual Consistency

• Use icons from same style set
• Maintain color harmony
• Keep descriptions similar length
• Align highlight usage

Regular Maintenance

• Review monthly for outdated links
• Remove expired event links
• Update seasonal content
• Check for broken links

Troubleshooting

Link Not Working

• Verify URL is correct
• Check for typos
• Ensure http:// or https:// prefix
• Test in private browser window

Changes Not Showing

• Clear browser cache
• Check visibility is ON
• Refresh public page
• Wait 30 seconds for updates

Can't Reorder Links

• Ensure JavaScript is enabled
• Try different browser
• Check for browser extensions interfering
• Use up/down arrows as fallback

Next Steps

Master these advanced features:

• Organize with headers
• Schedule time-sensitive links
• Add rich media embeds
• Track link performance

Need help? Contact our support team!