External links on MnDOT websites
Principle
Linking to other websites is a key part of how the internet works. Adding links to outside sources can make MnDOT websites more helpful by giving visitors access to more tools and information. It’s often better to link to trusted sources than to copy or recreate the same information ourselves.
External links help:
- Keep information accurate and up to date
- Save time and money
- Connect visitors to useful tools and resources
- Encourage other organizations to link back to MnDOT, which helps more people find our site
MnDOT offices should choose links carefully, let users know when they’re leaving a MnDOT site, and check links regularly to make sure they still work.
Standards
General Rules
- All links (internal and external) must be secure and use https.
- Do not link to any site that:
- Is blocked by MnDOT’s firewall
- Supports or opposes political parties, candidates, or groups
- Encourages action on laws or regulations
- Goes against MnDOT policies or decisions
- Charges a fee (unless it’s a research journal or approved by the Communications & Public Engagement Office)
- Uses annoying tech (like pop-ups or hard-to-close windows)
- Asks for memberships (unless MnDOT has a formal agreement with them)
- Sells products or services (unless it’s an approved vendor)
- Asks for donations (with a few exceptions listed below)
- Tells people to contact elected officials or take political action
Donation Link Exceptions
You can link to a site with donation requests if:
- MnDOT has a formal relationship with the organization (like a grant or partnership)
- The donation link is part of the site’s global navigation and not the main focus of the page
- The donation link is not on the page you’re linking to
Linking Best Practices
- Link to the most relevant page—not just the homepage—when possible.
- If you can’t link directly to the right page, give clear directions on how to find the information.
- For database-driven sites, explain how to search for the right info (e.g., which database to use and what to search for).
Social Media Links
- If your project has a social media presence, add a link to it on the project’s main webpage.
- You can embed videos or link to them on YouTube.
- To embed a Facebook post, contact the Social Media Coordinator.
- Do not use Twitter widgets.
- Only link to outside social media accounts if MnDOT has a partnership with them (e.g., TZD, DPS, PedalMN).
Accessible Hyperlinks
How to Make Links Accessible
Embed links in text (don’t just paste the full URL).
- Accessible: External links on MnDOT websites
- Not accessible: https://www.dot.state.mn.us/designsystem/links.html
Keep links short and clear.
- Concise: Hyperlink standards for MnDOT sites
- Not concise: This page contains the standards and guidance for adding hyperlinks to MnDOT websites.
Make link text descriptive.
- Descriptive: How to add a link to a MnDOT webpage
- Not descriptive: Links
Use clear email links.
- Accessible: webteam.dot@state.mn.us
- Not accessible: Web help
Other Best Practices
- Make sure the link text clearly describes what the user will find.
- Don’t use raw URLs as link text unless the page is meant to be printed (MnDOT sites will show the full URL when printed).
- If a link downloads a file, say so.
- If a link opens in a new tab or window, say so.
- Example: MnDOT Homepage (opens in new tab)
- Don’t change the default hyperlink styles:
- Underline all links
- Use a color that stands out from the rest of the text
- Use the same color for all links on the page