The web is based around links. Links that open doors to different pages in your website and links that open up your site to other sites. If you want users to follow the links on your site, you have to make them feel safe and confident in clicking the link. Let them know what to expect when they click on it.
The text used in a link is very important for usability, accessibility and search engine optimization. Link text should be descriptive, clear and concise.
Do not use the term: Click Here
Usability Issues with Click Here
Most users are looking for particular information, so they scan your website pages looking for what they want. When scanning a screen of text, links are often one of the elements that stand out to a user. While it does give a clear action, a link that says Click Here does not tell the user where that link will take them. Links need to make sense out of context.
Accessibility Issues with Click Here
Web users with visual impairments use screen readers to look at a website. The screen reader reads the content on a webpage to the user. Visually impaired users like to scan pages just as non-visually impaired users do. To scan a page for links, many use a tool that pulls all page links into a list and reads them out loud. This pulls the links that are being read by the screen reader out of context and Click Here does not make any sense.
Search Engine Optimization Issues with Click Here
Search engines follow links to spider the web. Therefore, links are a great place to have keywords associated with your site. Search engines are likely to notice them while following links.
Search engines, especially Google, are very fond of websites that create the best user experience. Writing good links will not only create a more usable website, but will also make your site more search engine friendly.
Great Link Examples
Remember, all links need to be descriptive, clear and concise.
- Download magazine article PDFThis link is clear that the user will be downloading a PDF. It is descriptive in what content the PDF will contain. And the link is concise and to the point. Every word in the link serves a purpose.
- View web design services
This link clearly states that a user is going to a page with content about services. It describes that the services are web design services. The link is also concise, only including text that helps to make the link descriptive, clear and concise. - Contact Us
This link clear and descriptive, telling the user that they will be taken to a page with contact information for the website they are on. It is very concise with a quick action.
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