Does “click here” work?

I’m sure you’ve seen something like this before:

For more information on XYZ, please click here.

So, does it work?

The pro “click here” argument is very straightforward. If you want someone to do something, you’ll get better results if you tell them exactly what to do. Simple as that.

And while there are certainly lots of supporters of the “click here” link, the opposers are much more vocal about their views. Here are just a few of them:

• It detracts from the value of the text.
• “Click here” is redundant and insulting to our reader’s intelligence. You know what they say: “If it’s blue and underlined, it must be a link.”
• “Click here” doesn’t help our readers scan pages looking for meaningful actions within links.
• It’s bad for accessibility for things like keyboard-based navigation and screen readers.
• “Click here” draws unnecessary attention to the mechanics of how the web works.

How to Write Great Links

• Call your reader to action.
• Use brief but meaningful text.
• Explain what the reader will find at the other end of the link.
• Aim for short text with a call to action at the end.
• Include some of the key information-carrying terms in the link itself.

Decide for Yourself

Which examples do you find more compelling? Which examples are you more likely to click on?

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