Source trail · 7 minute read
Keep Link Notes That Still Make Sense After the Page Changes
A URL without context is easy to save and hard to trust. A small link note should explain what the page was, why it mattered and what changed later.
Quick answer
Save the role and reason beside every URL
Keep album, catalog, marketplace and agent-wrapped links in separate fields. The same item may appear across them, but each page contributes different evidence.
Use dated status updates instead of overwriting history. A changed destination is a research fact, not an inconvenience to hide.
A link may be revisited, shared internally or compared with another source.
Record seven small fields and append later status changes.
A link trail another reader can understand without reopening every tab.
Record seven fields, not just the address
Describe how the pages are related
Specific relationship
“Album item code AB-204 links to a Weidian item with the same code and blue color; size options still need comparison.”
Unclear relationship
“Seller link—looks right.” The page role, match and remaining uncertainty are missing.
Use a simple status lifecycle
Not every link reaches every stage. The important part is that a later status is appended with a date rather than replacing the earlier observation.
Review a saved link with five questions
- Does the raw URL still open the same type of page?
- Does the visible item still match the saved code or description?
- Did the destination, uploader context or source relationship change?
- Is the reason for saving still relevant to the current decision?
- Should the link remain active, move to a watch list or be archived?
Archive without deleting the lesson
Keep the old URL, last useful state, final observed change and reason for archiving. This prevents a broken or replaced page from being rediscovered and mistaken for a new lead.
