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Links should be clearly labeled, using text rather than graphics when possible.
The words that make up the link should describe what the user would find at the linked page. Software that "reads" the link to a person with visual problems literally reads the words that are underlined.
Examples:
County listing of departments of social services
Not:
For a county listing of departments of social services, click here.
Lists of links should appear in "sentence case" (first letter of first word capitalized and no other capitalization except for proper nouns, acronyms, abbreviations).
Examples:
Not:
For lists of links, place them in alphabetical order unless:
Items should not have both a link, and a list beneath.
No items should start with generic words like “information.”
Accessibility requirement! If the wording for a link is NOT entirely descriptive, use the “title” attribute. Remember that text readers often go from link to link and do not always pick up surrounding text.
Example:
CODE: The CDC has <a title=”CDC home page on rabies” href=”http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/rabies/”> more information available on rabies.</a>
HOW THIS TRANSLATES ON THE PAGE: CDC has more information available on rabies. (A screen reader will also pick up the words: “CDC home page on rabies.”)
Avoid using the same link text on more than one page in the same website if the links do not lead to the same page.
Links to information that is particularly important should be repeated in more than one place on the website. This makes it easier for visitors to find this important information that they might have missed otherwise.
If a link promises certain content, the link should take you exactly to the place that offers that content.
If you are listing 5 to 8 links or more, normally you should break them into groups under sub-headings.
In general links should open in the same window. Opening in a new window breaks the back button, and visually impaired site visitors may get lost. If there is a compelling reason to open a web page in a new window, alert the visitor with "link opens in new window." This wording should be part of the link text.
Check the website for broken or irrelevant links often. Broken links will cause visitors to leave the website and look for information elsewhere. Implement a schedule to check for broken links on a regular basis.
Reduce duplication of content. All content should be published by the website with the greatest expertise in that particular area; if there is a website that would do a better job of explaining the information, link to that website instead of trying to publish the information again.
Avoid “dead-end” pages. All pages within the hierarchy of the website should contain, at minimum, a link back to the homepage, and possibly links to other pages within the site as well.
Make sure that links can be easily told apart from text that is not a link. Avoid using misleading details such as blue coloration of text and underlining that may cause visitors to think something is a link when it is not.
Link text should match the title or heading of the destination page, or close enough that there’s no confusion.
Links should use wording that makes it easy for visitors to understand where the link will take them. Links should be descriptive and avoid using terms that are unrelated to the topic, such as “More Info” or “Click Here.”
Avoid using acronyms in links.
Embedded links (that is, links that appears within sentences) should be as descriptive as possible. Visitors should be able to determine the link’s destination by looking at the text of the link itself. Do not rely on the text surrounding the link to give clues about its destination, as many visitors will focus on the link and not read what is written before or after it.
Link text should be made as short as possible.
Use text rather than URLs when linking. For example, use “NC Department of Health and Human Services” instead of www.ncdhhs.gov. Only use URLs to link when the URL is particularly important and you want the user to remember it.
When linking to an email address, include the address itself. Site visitors who are not on their own computers may need to copy the email address into an email client. Include the person’s name if it’s not spelled out in the email address.
Examples
Email John.Doe@dhhs.nc.gov.
Email Jane Doe at jdoe@dhhs.nc.gov
Whenever possible, email addresses should not go to individuals but to groups of individuals, such as public.affairs@dhhs.nc.gov or care.line@dhhs.nc.gov.
In general, only one version of any document should appear on the website. If multiple versions of a single document are on the site, ensure that no site visitor would mistake the older version for the current one. In the title tag and in the description of older documents, specify “This document is superseded by Version X, Dated Y.”
Departmental policy states:
Linking to the following types of external sites is strongly discouraged. This includes any site that:
Before a DHHS web page can link to these types of external sites, the link must be approved by the DHHS Office of Public Affairs (OPA). Exceptions may be granted if the website belongs to a nonprofit organization that contracts with DHHS.
When possible, link within the website. Links should be used to reinforce the message of the website, not to distract readers or send them off chasing a minor footnote in some other website.
Links to state rules on the North Carolina Office of Administrative Hearings website should take the site visitor directly to the subchapter they are interested in. The link wording should incorporate the title of the rule.
Example:
Adult Care Homes (Licensing of Homes for the Aged and Infirm). Title 10A Chapter 13, Subchapter 7. 
All NCDHHS websites should link to the standard disclaimer at www.ncdhhs.gov/disclaimer.htm. This will inform the user that the department is not responsible for content found on external pages.
Pages devoted to lists of links to outside sites are difficult to maintain, and are not a best practice since URLs change so frequently. In general, if a link to an outside site is considered needed, it should be incorporated into the content of the web page.
For external links, make it clear that the reader is being taken outside of the NC DHHS site.
Example:
Ready North Carolina: An Emergency Preparedness Guide (NC Department of Crime Control and Public Safety) 
(See information about the icon in the subsection below.)
All outside links should be evaluated using the following criteria:
When linking to a site not managed by N.C. DHHS, an icon should be used in the DHHS redesign site. The icon is located in the /library/images/ folder, called "external-link.gif". The ALT text says "Link goes outside of N.C. DHHS."
Example:
At the bottom of any page that includes this icon is an explanation: " Denotes link to site outside of N.C. DHHS."
