Let’s embark on a journey to discover why “click here” should be left in the dustbin of web design history.
But, It’s Just a Link, Right?
You might be asking, “What’s the big deal? It’s just a link!” Well, the way we use hyperlinks might seem trivial, but it carries a significant impact on two crucial areas: accessibility and SEO.
Accessibility: Making Everyone Feel Included
First up, let’s talk about accessibility. Imagine, if you will, a blind user navigating your website with a screen reader. This tool audibly reads the content of a webpage, including the text of hyperlinks. If your links are peppered with the uninformative “click here”, it’s like giving someone directions to a secret treasure without a map. Confusion reigns, and the user’s experience suffers.
The solution? Be descriptive with your hyperlink text. Instead of “click here”, how about “Learn more about our services” or “Download our ultimate guide to gardening”? This way, you’re giving context to the link, making it easier for users with screen readers to understand the link’s purpose.
SEO: Keeping Google Happy
Next on the agenda is SEO (Search Engine Optimization). Google’s web crawlers are pretty smart, but they need our help to understand our content. Obscure text links like “click here” can cause confusion for these crawlers, making it harder for them to understand the relationship between the link text and the targeted page. This can negatively impact your site’s SEO, and no one wants that, right?.
So, what’s the solution? The same as before. Use descriptive text for your links. For example, instead of “click here for our blog”, use “Explore our blog on home improvement tips”. This provides valuable context to the crawlers, and they’ll reward you by enhancing your site’s visibility in search engine results.
User Experience: Frustration-Free Web Browsing
Lastly, let’s not forget about the majority of users who still scan webpages rather than reading them fully. When faced with the vague “click here”, they have to read the surrounding text to decipher the link’s destination. It’s like having a friend who always speaks in riddles. Charming at first, but quickly becomes frustrating. So, keep your users happy by providing clear and context-rich hyperlinks.
In Conclusion
In the grand scheme of web design, saying “click here” might seem like a minor detail. But when it comes to accessibility, SEO, and user experience, it’s a habit that we need to kick to the curb. By using descriptive link text, we can create a more inclusive, optimized, and user-friendly web experience. So, the next time you’re tempted to use “click here”, remember your friend who always speaks in riddles, and opt for clarity instead.
