How should a link look like?

As far as the trailing slash, I answer that at the end of this post:

http://www.casinoaffiliateprograms.com/bb/no-link-url-text-question.12114.html?

It is not necessary for domain access, but files within a domain should be addressed with the trailing slash. In my opinion, I think it is good form to use it for domain names as well.

Reguarding the use of www to link to your domain:

http://www.stackedpoker.co.uk is a valid hostname
stackedpoker.co.uk is a valid hostname

Testing xxwww.stackedpoker.co.ukxx for HTTP access
Port 80 access successful

Testing xxwww.stackedpoker.co.uk for redirect to stackedpoker.co.uk
xxwww.stackedpoker.co.uk does not redirect to stackedpoker.co.uk.

Testing stackedpoker.co.uk for HTTP access
Port 80 access successful

Testing stackedpoker.co.uk for redirect to xxwww.stackedpoker.co.uk.

stackedpoker.co.uk does not redirect to xxwww.stackedpoker.co.uk.

No redirection detected… testing to see if stackedpoker.co.uk matches xxwww.stackedpoker.co.uk.
stackedpoker.co.uk HTML matches xxwww.stackedpoker.co.uk

According to the way you have your web server configured, or how your ISP has it configured, neither redirects to another. Meaning that xxwww.stackedpoker.co.uk and stackedpoker.co.uk displays the same exact index page. This means that either way is appropriate for displaying links to your site.

http:// should be included in all links, this is the correct way to formulate a hyperlink.

As far as SEO goes, I feel that the use of web standards and proper structure is very important. This is an opinion however, because nobody knows for sure. So lets see what others on here have to say…

http://www.stackedpoker.co.uk – Don’t use it in the link code (you can use it in your anchor text, but you will be wasting valuable space where you can put keywords)

http://www.stackedpoker.co.uk/ – Don’t use it

http://wwwstackedpoker.co.uk – you can use it but dito what Joe Deeds said.

http://stackedpoker.co.uk/ – You can use it but I don’t recomend it (I recomend it should be a permanent 301 redirect to your www. version anyway)

http://www.stackedpoker.co.uk/ – Perfect.

The http:// is necesary. The www. is best for consistency since most directories (and people linking to you independently) will use this version. You want all your links pointing to one version of your URL not two (unless different pages).

Remember that this is the URL you should put in the code of your link. This is not the same as the anchor text of a link. Be sure to select a good anchor text as that is one of the most heavely weight factors for google.

Top 3 European Poker Rooms

The text “Top 3 European Poker Rooms” is your anchor text. Make sure to pick good keywords for this text.

The title atribute in the link tag helps for accesability but is not necesary (I try to use it). When you put your mouse over a link the text in the title atribute of the link will appear.

Best Regards,
Nicolas