Make your links say where they go.
Replace “click here” with words that help readers choose the right destination.
The words are part of the navigation.
Imagine a message with three links, all labeled “click here.” You have to reread the surrounding sentences to tell them apart. A descriptive link label lets the reader make that choice directly.
In HTML, an anchor combines a destination with visible words. The href attribute contains the address. The text between the opening and closing tags is what readers see. Those two pieces should agree about where the link leads.
Link labels
Click here · Click here
Read the agenda Download the checklist PDF
Be specific without copying the whole address.
“Read the packing checklist” is usually more useful than “more,” and easier to scan than a long URL. If a link downloads something rather than opening an ordinary page, a label such as “Download the checklist PDF” can set a clearer expectation.
You can practice this without building a website. Look at a draft message and underline every phrase you would turn into a link. Would those phrases still make sense when read on their own? If not, add the missing purpose.
<a href="https://example.com/checklist">Read the packing checklist</a>Make it yours.
- Write three fictional links labeled “click here.”
- Replace each label with the action or resource it leads to.
- Read just the labels aloud, without the surrounding sentences.
What changed when you tried it?
A little nudge
The visible label describes the destination; it does not need to repeat its entire URL.
What to look for
Each label identifies a different destination or action, such as “Read the agenda” and “Download the packing checklist.”
Take it one small step further
Include a file type in a label when the destination is a download.
A useful link makes sense before you open it.
Read more: MDN · Creating links ↗
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