HUD's Web Publication Procedures and Style Guide

Section 6: Rules About Links

A. Linking Policy: Be sure you're familiar with HUD's linking policy...and follow it (see HUD's Web Management Organization and Policies).

B. Intercepts:

Internet:

1. You must include a "intercept" when:
   • Linking to a non-federal government website,
   • Linking to an email form or mailto link on www.hud.gov or espanol.hud.gov, or
   • Linking to a PDF file.
     
     

   The intercept inserts an intermediate page that provides information needed to meet legal and regulatory requirements.

2. You do NOT use an intercept when linking to a website with a .gov or .mil domain.
   
   
3. For www.hud.gov, use /utilities/intercept.cfm for external links, mailto, pdf, and external pdfs
   

   Sample external link:
   /utilities/intercept.cfm?http://www.harvard.edu/

   Sample external PDF link:
   /utilities/intercept.cfm?http://www.psc.gov/SF-85.pdf?

   Sample internal PDF link:
   /utilities/intercept.cfm?/offices/hsg/mfh/mfhrrr.pdf

   Sample email link:
   /utilities/intercept.cfm?mailto:joejane@hotmail.com

4. Intercept scripts must specify the full path, to work correctly:
   Do: /utilities/intercept.cfm?/offices/hsg/mfh/gendocs/mfhrr.pdf
   Don't: /utilities/intercept.cfm?/mfhrr.pdf

Intranet:

5. No intercept is needed on hudatwork.

C. Format: There is no need for any special formatting to highlight links on a page. Links automatically display as bold, underlined text in the appropriate color.

D. Defining A Link: The words that are underlined, leading to a 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.

Do use: Visit our listings of homes for sale
Don't Use: Click here for listings of homes for sale.

E. Listing Links:

1. Lists of links should appear in "sentence case" (first letter of first word capitalized and no other capitalization except for proper nouns, acronyms, abbreviations).
   Do use: Visit our listings of homes for sale
   Don't use: Visit Our Listings Of Homes For Sale
2. When using a list of links, list them in alphabetical order unless:
   • Links intentionally follow chronological order or
   • Links intentionally lead the user through a logical sequence, e.g.,
     • Housing counseling
     • Homes for sale
     • HUD-approved lenders

G. Internal Links: When creating a link to another page on HUD's website, do NOT include "www.hud.gov" in the URL. All you need to use is the part of the URL that follows "www.hud.gov." This applies to both Internet and intranet.

Do use: /offices/fheo/index.cfm
Don't use: www.hud.gov/offices/fheo/index.cfm

H. Testing Links: Be sure to test all links on a web page to ensure that the URL is current and that the information in the linked page loads in a reasonable amount of time. In consideration of our audience members who use slow modems, we do not use links to sites with long load times.

I. Links To Commercial Sites: You may link to a commercial for-profit web page or website if it is clear that the primary purpose of the page or site is to provide free information or services. As a rule, links may not promote specific for-profit products or services.

1. It is permissible to link to the home pages and/or email addresses of a category of private for-profit HUD partners (for example, HUD approved lenders) when it will promote HUD's program and customer service objectives.
   • A complete list of the vendors in that category must be posted (both those with and those without websites/ email)
   • All vendors in that category must be notified that HUD will be creating links to the websites/ email addresses of those that have them, before any links are posted
   • Links must include the interceptor page with HUD's disclaimer

J. Required Links:

1. USA.gov Link: Every page on HUD's Internet websites must link to the federal government's web portal, USA.gov. The link will be built into the templates for HUD's web pages. The USA.gov link also should be built into any online applications.
2. White House Link: The White House link will be incorporated in the front page of www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov.