Make Links Meaningful
Avoid using language that reminds people they're on a website. (Example: "Click here"...) When reading a book, the author does not tell you to turn the page; the same principle applies to the Web.To avoid text referring to the medium:
- Indicate the nature of the link in your phrasing. Help the user predict what they will see when they click on the link.
- Only add links to pages when content is complete.
- Add relevant "Related Content" links whenever possible.
Use English for link text. Do not use plain URLs as link text; instead, use human-friendly text. The complete URL (http://www.etc...) is "machine-language" and is generally not informative about the content behind the link. Do not highlight punctuation before and after your link.
Use the title of the page being linked to as the text for the link. The reader deserves immediate reassurance that the link and the page delivered are actually related. The title of the page is also usually informative about what the reader is likely to see when they get to that page, helping them make an informed decision about whether it's worth their time to click the link.
Put links at the end of phrases. When you put the link at the beginning of the sentence, the reader has to complete the phrase or sentence to figure out if the link is worth investigating, and then backtrack visually to find the link.
Keep links relevant. Links on a single page should be related to one another to avoid distractions from your content. If necessary, you can direct visitors to additional information by using links in the "Related Content" box.
Do not open new browser windows. Leave the choice about opening a new browser window in the hands of the user (right-clicking on any link gives the option of opening the link in a new window). For more information about practices that support improved accessibility of our website see Dive Into Accessibility.
Samples
Not This: The Spiritual Development Seminar is intended for all Youth and Youth Leaders. (startlink)Click here(endlink). But This: Youth and Youth Leaders are invited to the Spiritual Development Seminar. The event will be on October 10th from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Registration is free. To sign up, see (start linkcode)Spiritual Development Seminar (endlinkcode). It is generally preferred that web pages be offered in HTML format, since those are the most accessible and cross-platform compatible. PDF files are also very accessible, although since they require additional software to view, careful consideration should be given to the type and number of documents offered in this format. For accessibility reasons, all documents on UUA.org must be delivered in HTML or PDF format. This means that any Word, Excel, etc. documents must include a PDF or HTML alternative. Links can be shown as follows: (startlinkcode)Grant Application(endlinkcode) (Word, 25 pages) (PDF). When linking to documents that are not regular web pages (PDF files, email addresses, Excel files, etc.) you must indicate the format of the document. For instance, a PDF file must include the following notation after your link: (PDF); a Word document must include (Word), etc. If your document is more than 5 pages long, you must also indicate a page count, for instance: (PowerPoint, 7 pages). Last updated on Thursday, March 29, 2007. Linking to Documents (PDF, etc.)
Format Identification
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