Embedding Web Links in Email Messages

While you could copy and paste information that you have found on a web page to someone in the body of an email message or send it as as an attached file, it is easier to send a hyperlink to the web address.

The process of doing this varies from one webmail or email client to the next. Some automatically recognize a web address (URL) beginning with http:// and create a clickable link in your message. Others require an additional step.

Practice Embedding a Hyperlink

Open a new message and address it to your own address. Type Link Test in the Subject: box. In the message body, type a web address or two. We are going to try several different formats to see how each one works. For starters type these two forms of a web address:

http://www.google.com

www.google.com

Send the message to your own address. Open and view the message. Try clicking on the two web addresses. If the Google website opens, you will know that you can just type or copy and paste a web address, embedding it in the message.

If clicking on the web addresses does not work, you will need to look around on your email client to see if there is a toolbar icon or menu item for embedding hyperlinks in email messages. If you find one, try this:

ype the word Google on a separate line in a new email message addressed to your own address. Select the word Google and look in the formatting tool bar for the hyperlink icon (it often looks like several links in a chain). Complete the web address in the Hyper Link box being sure to include the http:// and not inserting any extra spaces. It should look like this:

http://www.google.com

Click the Apply button. You will notice that the word Google now looks like a clickable hyperlink.

Send the message. When the message arrives back in your Inbox, click on the link to confirm that you have created a live link. You will be able to recognize clickable links in messages that others have sent to you by the blue text color and underlining.

Again, if the suggestions above do not work, you will need to check your email client's Help files to see if embedded hyperlinks are available and the steps that you need to use to implement them.

Netiquette Issues

Recipients of your messages will be able to copy and paste web addresses that are not clickable links into the browser address bar to view the page but will thank you for taking the time to create a clickable hyperlink.

Some junk mail filters are set to flag messages that have a large number of clickable hyperlinks as potential junk mail messages. You will want to keep that in mind when you use this feature.

Next: Customizing Your Settings