What Features Should an Automated Link Checker Have?

If you're using an automated link checker for your website, there are several features you should look for. One of the first things to do is to ensure that the automated link checker identifies the types of links your website contains. For example, if you have an embedded video on your website, the automated link checker won't detect it. Another important feature to check is whether your website has banner ads or widgets.

The second feature is to be able to check broken links. While an automated link checker can detect broken links, it can be difficult to verify the validity of each link manually. Many tools require human intervention to ensure that all links are valid. In some cases, search engine optimization techniques or content management system software may change the URL of a page to make it look different. In this case, the link checker may think it's a new page and continue to check.

Another feature is the ability to schedule the process. Using an automated link checker will allow you to specify how often you'd like to run the tests. A few hours of setup time can ensure you're always monitoring your website for problems. You can then use an Excel report to check if your website is up to date. There are also some tools that are completely free. However, you may want to pay for them. They're not very expensive and can be used for small and medium-sized businesses.