Maintenance: Error Detection

There's nothing more frustrating for your users than link rot. This occurs when URLs become outdated or change. With hundreds or even thousands of links on your pages, how do you keep up?

Email Requests

Be sure to include an email address contact on every page of the website. Encourage people to email changes, updates, or link rot.

Page Helpers

Consider using volunteers to help keep particular area up-to-date. Like the Adopt-A-Highway program to keep roadsides clearn, many webmasters use the Adopt-A-Page approach. Students, parents, or volunteers can provide updates or suggestions for particular pages of interest. For example, a person interested in gardening may volunteer to keep this Pathfinder updated.

Change Detectors

An automated system can save you time in detecting link rot. On the other hand, if you have thousands of links, it can also be overwhelming.

Read Do I Detect a Change by Steven J. Bell in Library Journal (or go to Steven Bells' Web Page Change Detection Services). The article discusses five products for detecting changes in the website: InfoMinder, TrackEngine, ChangeDetection.com, Watch-ThatPage.com, and Website-Watcher.

Learn More

Link Checker from AnyBrowser.com

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