How do you format tags like <NLCARTLINKHTML>

This is probably a basic question, but I've searched and searched and can't figure it out.

How do you format web tags such as <NLCARTLINKHTML>?  I'm use to being able to use something class or ID and CSS, for example <a class="Example" href="cart.html">, then in CSS putting a.Example:link   a.Example:visited  a.Example:hover  a.Example:active     - How do I setup <NLCARTLINKHTML> so that it will look different when someone is hovering over the link.

Also, I've tried using <%=getCartLinkHtml()%> and <%=getCartURL()%> within <a> tags with no luck.  I thought I could do something like <a class="example" href="<%=getCartURL()%>"> but NetSuite doesn't like that.  I've also tried <a class="example" href="%=getCartURL()%">, NetSuite doesn't like that either.