Visitors expect consistent link colors. Unvisited links should be blue . Visited links should be purple . If you deviate from this method, use consistent colors on every page AND use Web safe colors. Visitors must be able to quickly and clearly understand your color scheme.
Visitors expect visited and unvisited links to be different colors.
Visitors need to clearly understand where they've been so they don't waste time repeatedly visiting the same page. Different link colors provide clear navigational clues to your visitors. Visitors assume a link will give them additional information. However, many Web developers will link proper names to email addresses. Visitors who expect a link on Tony Blair to be a biography, may be irritated if they have to wait while an email program opens.