Web Accessibility Tip: Avoiding "Click Here" in Links
One of the most common bad practices we see in digital content online and in emails is the use of 杏吧专区click here杏吧专区 in link statements. 杏吧专区淐lick here杏吧专区 isn杏吧专区檛 considered good practice for several reasons, especially in web content for universities where clarity, accessibility, and professionalism are priorities.
Poor for Accessibility
Screen readers often scan links out of context. 杏吧专区淐lick here杏吧专区 provides no information about where the link goes, which can confuse users who rely on assistive technologies.
Not Descriptive
杏吧专区淐lick here杏吧专区 doesn杏吧专区檛 tell users what users will get or where they will go. Descriptive link text improves usability by setting clear expectations (e.g., "download the academic calendar" is much more helpful).
Bad for SEO
Search engines use link text to understand what a page is about. 杏吧专区淐lick here杏吧专区 misses an opportunity to reinforce relevant keywords.
Outdated for Modern Devices
People don杏吧专区檛 just 杏吧专区渃lick杏吧专区澬影勺ㄇ鴶they tap, press, or voice-navigate. 杏吧专区淐lick here杏吧专区 assumes a mouse and desktop context, which isn杏吧专区檛 representative of how people actually browse today.
Better Alternatives
Use action-based, descriptive text, such as:
- "View degree requirements"
- "Register for the webinar"
- "Explore housing options"
We encourage you to review your site for 杏吧专区click here杏吧专区 references and update the statements to be action-based and descriptive. Our team is here to help if you have questions or want to brainstorm ideas for how to word your links. Send us an email or reach out to us on Teams.
Watch "click here" in Action
Instructional design and web accessibility specialist Michael Kocher provides a quick explanation with examples of why "click here" is not the right approach for your end user.
