Chrome Now Lets You Link to Part of a Webpage

Have you ever been creating a hyperlink when you realized that the page you were linking to was massive and full of information? You were just using one single quote, but you had to link to the page as a whole. You knew that would make it confusing for the reader. Well, Google’s Chrome browser has taken that problem head on, utilizing a new extension that gives you the ability to pick out a fragment of text and create a unique link to that fragment. You can then hyperlink to the exact quote or text that you choose on the page, rather than just to the page as a whole.

The extension is called Link to Text Fragment. Those already using Chrome can simply add it to the browser. Once it is in place, you can use your mouse to highlight the relevant text that you’re after. A right click brings up your options, one of which is “Copy Link to Selected Text.” That stores the link in the Copy/Paste function so that you can easily paste it into your code or the location where you want to use it. Anyone who later clicks that link will be taken to the text you selected.

Providing Focus

Imagine, for instance, that you’re writing an article about car accident statistics. You want to link to relevant statistics kept by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC page that you like, though, lists all types of accident injuries and fatalities: slip-and-fall accidents, dog bites, unintentional poisonings, workplace accidents, etc. It’s a wealth of information, but you just need a few lines about car accidents.

Linking to the entire page works, but a reader who is going to fact-check your work — something that is very important in today’s age of misinformation — may have trouble finding the specific stats you quoted. In the best case, it will take them a while and they’ll be frustrated. In the worst case, they won’t find the information quickly and they’ll come to the conclusion that you made it up, eroding the image of you as an authority on that topic. Either way, your generic page link causes issues that a more focused, specific link to the relevant text would not.

Putting the Reader First

At the end of the day, this is just about putting the reader first and providing a better experience for them. It makes it faster and easier for them to check your links and your facts. It gives them the information that they need in seconds, rather than minutes. It also gives you more flexibility to take the actual quotes you need out of massive, authoritative sources. Everyone wins, and this extension streamlines the process.

Here at Content Customs, we work hard to stay on top of developments like these so that we can provide you with expert content that is designed to connect with your readers, showcase the value your site provides and make the experience faster and easier for everyone. Please do not hesitate to get in touch with us now to learn more.