It’s not unusual to see phrases like “click here” or “read more” even though these are far from optimal. People who use screen readers and other assistive technologies (AT) often use the same techniques. They might jump around your page looking for important features — and hyperlinks are certainly important. Screen readers will pull up a list of all links on a web page so the user can go through and click on the ones that would provide them with the information they seek. A list that just contains a list of click here links is useless to the user.
- Google reads your page more or less the same way Colleen’s screen reader does, except it follows each and every link.
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- They can also negatively impact your SEO and are exclusionary to those relying on assistive technologies, such as screen readers.
- Every member of your organization has a responsibility to think about real-life users.
- Select a program, get paired with an expert mentor and tutor, and become a job-ready designer, developer, or analyst from scratch, or your money back.
- Instead of writing “click here” why not try to use descriptive anchor text that accurately describes where the link leads?
UX Design
The information provided in this blog post is just the tip of the iceberg. More and more users are accessing websites on mobile or tablet devices. The phrase “click here” is restrictive because it shifts the focus to the user’s mouse. However, it ignores other means of website navigation – such as mobile screen taps, keyboard navigation, or voice recognition. Furthermore, it implies that these modes are not supported.
What to write instead of “click here”
In our Busting Website Myths blog series, we explained that people don’t read everything on a web page. Instead, they’ll scan the page to look for keywords, meaningful headings, and links. The easiest way to write great links is to simply use the name of the destination page. This reassures your readers that they have arrived on the page Australian casino information they intended to reach, and haven’t gotten lost by accidentally clicking something else. It’s not about the journey, it’s about the destination. Describe the destination instead of dictating how she should get there.
Click Here Labs
Furthermore, “click here” is ambiguous on its own. A link’s text should explain what users are clicking, give them an idea of where it will take them, and help them understand the context of the link. Consider using short, yet descriptive words to clearly explain what the link is or where it will lead site visitors. “Click here” is deadly for your search engine optimization. Google reads your page more or less the same way Colleen’s screen reader does, except it follows each and every link.
Change the destination anytime without reprinting. While these are simple examples, they hopefully offer some idea of the kind of anchor text that users will find helpful without being overly wordy or confusing.
Today, however, people access information from various devices, including smartphones, tablets, smart devices, watches, and even TVs. As you’ll know if it’s ever happened to you, coming across the phrase “click here” can be very jarring when you’re using a touchscreen or remote control. But this aspect of the user experience—the language used in hyperlinks—is commonly overlooked.
- This practice is outdated but also ingrained in our collective consciousness.
- People who use screen readers and other assistive technologies (AT) often use the same techniques.
- Your time is valuable, so you looked for the information you need.
- For example, when you opened this blog, there’s a good chance that you scanned the subheadings before deciding whether you wanted to read the article.
- However, if all links are simply labeled “click here” users lack context.
- The web has been part of our professional lives for twenty years now.
- I was previously a freelance WordPress developer in higher education.
“Clicking here” is not device agnostic
Indeed, diversification of anchor text is one way to avoid SEO penalties. However, stay mindful of the language you’re using, and you can improve the user experience on your website or app for all your users. This will increase the effectiveness of your content and perhaps even boost your business. It’s an easy win, so think about the impact of the language you’re using. Whether you’re a UX designer or digital marketer, another reason to avoid “click here” links is that they are poorly optimized for SEO.
Check out this YouTube video demonstrating what a screen reader sounds like if you haven’t heard one before. This blog post was developed from a presentation on this topic delivered by Missy Kahn, Ben Kahn, and Christopher Bayerle at the Portland Pardot User Group in February 2020. Most people generally know what a link is, what it looks like, and what will happen when they access it. Calling attention to the mechanics of the link is unnecessary. Instead of using the word “click,” consider an action verb that relates to the task.
Why is hyperlink text important for accessibility?
Our websites are public extensions of the organizations we work for. We need to make them accessible in the same way we make public spaces accessible to everyone. And, as I said above, if you’re a marketer like me, everything you create should be accessible to as many people as possible. Download our Accessibility Checklist for some best practices and tips to ensure your website stays compliant. I’m a front end developer working on open source library software.
Activate this link to learn about our new product, “Easy Work,” and to see how it can change your life by reducing the time you spend on repetitive tasks. To download Amaya, go to the Amaya Website and get the necessary software. We are ready with expertise, ideas, and advice. In most cases, it’s best to identify or describe the link’s destination, as in the third example.
Plus, they focus on the mechanics of using a mouse, which, let’s face it, as touchscreen devices start to dominate the market, is not always the case. It also allows users to assess if they are interested in the link’s content without them having to visit the page first, thereby improving the browsing experience. The W3C QA Tips are short documents explaining usefulbits of knowledge for Web developers or designers, hosted and produced by the Quality Assurance Interest Group at W3C. Click Here Labs is a full-service digital marketing agency where creativity, technology, and strategy converge. Our mission is to create solutions that resonate deeply, helping brands forge meaningful and lasting connections with their audiences.
It compares the phrases people use when linking to a page and the text on the page itself. Instead of writing “click here” why not try to use descriptive anchor text that accurately describes where the link leads? This can improve the user experience, help your SEO efforts, and—most importantly—heighten the user experience.
Will is a freelance copywriter and project manager with over 15 years’ experience helping firms communicate all things tech- and education-related. His words have been published in print and online, including in the Daily Telegraph, TES, and across other education sector media. He’s also known for his ability to complete a Rubik’s Cube in under five seconds, but it has to be seen to be believed.
“Click here” requires context.
Does more than half your traffic come from mobile devices? You’re already getting sick of seeing it on this page, aren’t you? But it’s so much worse for people with attention deficit problems or visual impairments. Hit the heart while viewing any site to add it to your favorites, and everything you land on is kept in your history. Both live in your browser and never leave your device. Click the Red Button is a free website discovery tool.
It can be confusing about what the link is or where it will lead you. Specifically, here are 3 reasons why links that just say “click here” are bad. The final and most overlooked reason for avoiding “click here” hyperlinks is that the term presumes users are on a computer with a mouse or trackpad. As a marketer, a big part of your job is to create content that’s informative and compelling to a large audience. But you’re not doing your job if your work isn’t readable or listenable to all of your audience. That means considering people who are blind, low vision, or hard of hearing when you design marketing materials.
No sign-up, no account — just press and explore. A few of the 482 sites in the catalogue, so you know the shape of it before you press anything. Every one has its own page, and the full index lists the lot. Put your short link in a bio, story, video, email or on a QR code. See where each one came from, on what device, from which country, and whether it is a new visitor. Group links by campaign or channel and see their combined performance.