Don’t Click Here — Writing Better Link Copy

Don’t Click here. Please. I beg you. 

You should shun “Click Here syndrome” and its evil cousin, “the document is here.” In addition to being deadly dull, bad link copy makes us look dated, confuses users, is not equitable or accessible, and foils our search engine results. There are lots of good reasons to write more specific and helpful copy for your web links. And it just takes a little more effort. 

A few reasons to banish Click here are below.

Why?

1. It’s old school from the early days of the web

From a time when clicking was a novelty and we really had to explain it. Now, not so much. It makes us look like we got into the Wayback Machine. Or before then. Nobody wants to be the one still wearing our hair the way we did way back in the 80s — not our best look then and definitely doesn’t work for us now that we’re sophisticated and seasoned. 

2. It’s not helpful to users

People want to know where they will be going to see if it will be worth their time and effort. Write more specific link copy that gives them some guidance on what they will find when they follow the link. It’s important to include the name of the document, the website, or the subject matter of the page they will visit.

3. Clicking is no longer the only way that people navigate websites 

Now it’s more often swiping, reading, or speaking. So “click here” is a relic from the past click-happy days. It’s long overdue for an update, yet I still see it every day. 

4. It hinders accessibility for users accessing through assistive devices

For users with low vision using text readers or other assistive devices, having descriptive and meaningful links is important. Instead of “click here,” tell them the topic and/or the site for the link you are sending them to.

Do NOT at all costs spell out the entire URL. For users reading accessibility devices like text readers, they have to listen to the reader spelling out every. single. letter. like. h.t.t.p.://Badkarma.wedon’tcareaboutyou.org.

Annoying and confusing your users isn’t a sound loyalty strategy. 

5. It negatively impacts search engine optimization and how our links are catalogued 

Search engines rely on the strength and detail in our web links to determine placement in search engine results. More specific information means better information (and therefore higher placement) to the search algorithm. While the number of links (to information within and outside our website) is important, how link texts are worded is also significant.