Smart Link Manager is getting a feature that goes beyond the automatic internal linking the plugin is known for. Link aggregators let you build manually curated directories of links and embed them anywhere on your site. Below we explain what they are, how they work, and who they make sense for.
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What are link aggregators in Smart Link Manager?
Link aggregators are a curated way to build ready-made link directories in Smart Link Manager, our WordPress linking plugin. You manually pick which pages and posts should go on the list, give each one a readable label, and the plugin renders it as an organized section. It’s a tool for an editor who wants full control over what goes on the list and how, instead of leaving it to automation.
The key distinction is built into the feature itself: aggregators are completely independent from the plugin’s main mechanism. They don’t affect internal or external linking, don’t change indexes, and don’t show up in reports. It’s a separate subsystem that displays exactly the links you point it to.
How does a link aggregator work?
You configure a link aggregator in three layers. First, in the settings, you turn on the feature and define named directories, for example “Business directory,” “Glossary of terms,” or “List of guides.” Then, when editing a post or page, in the plugin’s metabox, you assign it to the chosen aggregator and enter the phrase that will show up as the link’s label. Optionally, you can assign the post to a category within the aggregator.
You embed the finished list on a page with a single shortcode . From that point on, the plugin itself collects the published pages and posts assigned to that directory, fetches their current URLs, and assembles the link section. You don’t have to update the list by hand when a URL changes or a new post is added.
How do you customize the aggregator’s look without code?
You adjust the aggregator’s look from the panel, without writing any CSS. You can sort links alphabetically and group them by the first letter of the phrase or by your own categories, while keeping a fixed order for the groups. The same list can therefore look like a simple index or an elaborate, multi-column directory.
You have several display settings available:
- render a bulleted list or links in a single line,
- arrange groups in a grid with control over column width and spacing,
- add headings above groups to make navigating long lists easier.
Why are aggregators efficient on large sites?
Aggregators are designed not to burden the page on every view. The rendered output goes into a cache with a version counter that automatically invalidates it whenever a post, its assignment, or the directory settings change. So the list never shows stale data, yet it isn’t rebuilt from scratch on every refresh. The plugin fetches assigned pages in bulk instead of querying the database separately for each post, which matters where a list runs to dozens of entries.
Who are link aggregators for?
Link aggregators work well anywhere you need a manually controlled list of links: business and location directories, alphabetical glossaries, lists of guides, or elaborate navigation sections. They complement automatic linking with an element where the editor makes the call. The feature is available in the premium version of Smart Link Manager – just turn on aggregators in the settings and define your first directory.
