Component: Popular Links

They serve as a secondary navigation aid, offering relevant links that enhance the user experience by improving discoverability and efficiency. To maintain clarity and usability, Popular Links should be limited to a maximum of seven items per list.

What’s a Popular Links Component?

A Popular Links component is a curated list of relevant links that are prominently displayed on a page. These links guide users to high-priority content, such as frequently accessed services, important documents, or related resources. Unlike primary navigation, Popular Links act as a contextual enhancement to help users find supporting content without overwhelming them.

Examples of Popular Links

• Support page: featuring quick access to FAQs, troubleshooting guides, and customer service.

• Content-heavy page: providing shortcuts to related articles or tools.

Usability Concerns to Consider

• Avoid Overloading Users: A maximum of seven links should be displayed to prevent decision fatigue and maintain focus.
• Unclear Link Labels: Ensure links use descriptive and meaningful labels rather than generic phrases like "Click here."
• Lack of Context: Avoid placing Popular Links in a way that distracts from primary content. They should complement, not compete.

• Position Thoughtfully: The component should be placed in a way that enhances, rather than interrupts, the reading flow (e.g., in a sidebar or below the main content).

• Maintain Visual Hierarchy: The links should be styled to stand out without overpowering the primary content.

When to Use & When to Avoid

When to Use

• When certain links are frequently accessed and need to be surfaced.
• When users may need related content in a specific context.
• When supporting links help users complete a process more efficiently.

When to Avoid

• When the primary navigation already provides a clear way to access the content.
• When the list would contain too many items, leading to decision fatigue.
• When Popular Links are placed too prominently, making them compete with the main content.

• If the page already contains a heavy number of links, leading to unnecessary redundancy.

• If the primary call to action (CTA) might be diluted by additional link distractions.

Things to Consider

• Hierarchy & Priority: Ensure that the most critical links appear at the top of the list.

• Contextual Adaptation: Links should dynamically adjust based on the page’s content to remain relevant.

• Positioning: Popular Links should be placed alongside or beneath the main content, not at the top of the page.
• Grouping: If necessary, links should be categorized for better clarity (e.g., Forms, Guidelines, Services).