Don’t Click Here
Never link the words “click here”. Or “here” or “this”.
Instead, choose words that describe the link destination.
Why shouldn't I link “click here”?
- It slows people down.
Meaningful link text lets people scan quickly to determine what will happen when they click on a link. Otherwise they have to do more work to look at the text around the link to figure out where it will go.
- It's confusing.
What will I see if I click a link labeled "click here"? I have no idea. Instead, choose link text that describes the destination.
- It focuses on mechanics instead of content.
You want readers to focus on the content of what you've written, not other things like the color of the page, the sound of the device, or the texture of the paper. Using the word "click" draws attention away from the writing.
- It confuses search engines.
Search engines rely on meaningful link text to make sense of content on the web. Content is more likely to be found by new readers if it's linked to correctly.
Objections
- But people won't know where to click?
It's not 1995.
- But there's no other way to say it!
There's always a way to re-write the link. One trick is to use the title of the page you are linking. Just put the title into a sentence then link the title.
- But the link won't be as prominent.
If you want to visually emphasize the link, put it at the end of the sentence either after a colon. Or on the next line.
Examples
For additional order details, please click here to go to your account.
(Jcrew email receipt)
For additional order details, go to your account.
If you want any of these scrumptious meals click here to unskip your order by Wednesday.
(Gobble food delivery email)
If you want any of these scrumptious meals unskip your order by Wednesday.
or
If you want any of these scrumptious meals see your deliveries to unskip your order by Wednesday
To review or adjust your AutoPay settings, click here.
(American Express email)
You can review or adjust your AutoPay settings at any time.
See the changes in the Google Document "Untitled": Click here
(Google Docs email)
See the changes in the Google Document "Untitled".
See Also
Author
berger.jon@gmail.com