Web sites that are linked by a common theme or interest
sometimes will join together to form Web rings. A Web ring is a community of
Web sites linked one to another, so that visitors go from one site to the next
until they return to the site where they started. A Web ring is an ideal way
for Web users to find a wide variety of sites on a particular topic.
Most Web ring systems provide a listing or a directory of all the sites within
a ring, which is known as the hub or list page. Such directories frequently
include a description of each site and a link to let the visitors quickly go to
a particular site within the ring.
Each member site within the Web ring also provides a navigation panel with
links for "Next site," "Previous site," etc. that help the user move from site
to site, skipping ones that are offline or going back to a site they visited
previously. View a demonstration of a Web ring on
The World of Webrings site.
Checklist for starting a Web ring
(adapted from
The World of Webrings Web site)
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Decide on a topic for your Web ring.
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Decide on a title.
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Make a home page.
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Create the navigation panel(s) you wish to use.
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Decide how the Web ring will be hosted - on a commercial system or on a
self-hosted system (see
The World of Webrings
web site for pros and cons for each option).
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Set up join and edit forms on your home page, and then be the first to join
your Web ring, so you can test everything out.
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Create or edit e-mail messages that will be sent out to new applicants.
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Using your e-mail software, create the message templates that you will be
sending out to these various applicants once they have joined.
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Post your Web ring's site to at least two search engines.
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Once your Web ring has at least three member sites, then list it in the
Ringlink Webring Directory, and the WOW Webring Directory.
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Do a search on the topic or theme of your Web ring. Visit the listed Web sites.
If they are a good fit, send them an invitation.
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Search for other Web rings on your topic at the other Web ring systems such as
WebRing and RingSurf. Visit some of the sites in those Web rings. Send
invitations to those sites that you would like to have them join your Web ring.
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Maintain your Web ring at least once a week, adding new sites as appropriate
and deleting inactive sites.
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Keep your home page updated and error free, and consider setting up a forum or
a mailing list for your members.
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Backup your Web ring's data on a regular basis and then store the backup file
in a safe place.