UsableWebb

Use tools such as Mozilla Firefox and the Link Evaluator extension to quickly check all links on a given page. Another way to check links is to use Firefox or Internet Explorer 7, and hold down Ctrl ( on Mac) on your keyboard as you click each link. The new links will open in tabs of the current browser window. Quickly flip through the tabs by pressing Ctrl-Tab (or Tab) on your keyboard, to close a tab press Ctrl-W (or W).

The urge to insert the phrase “click here” or “more” is somewhat common among content contributors when creating links on a page. Non-descriptive link text makes your site difficult to scan and causes accessibility and search engine optimization (SEO) issues. Replacing the phrase click here with a meaningful word or phrase (which makes sense out of context) will make your site more user-friendly.

Example 1
Before: For the latest news, Click here.
After: Read the latest news on Medicare Bill (HR 6331).

Example 2
Before: To download the registration form, click here.
After: Download the Spring Fling Registration Form (PDF file).

More Information

• Trigger words - users love ‘em!
  
• Don’t ‘click here’: writing meaningful link text
• Don’t say “click here” not everyone will be clicking

A common goal of usability and user-centered design is making the desired action as clear as possible.

The first thing you’ll notice about the webcast player page (below) is the Download Player/ System Requirements stand out nearly as much as the desired action (viewing the webcast).

Before:

To solve this:
I moved the download player links below the System Requirements & Settings. I also removed a lot of unnecessary copy from the page. If there are more specific requirements, they could be listed along with the other bullets or added to the help section.

We’ll discuss click here as link text in a separate post. For now, resist the temptation to link click here text. The linked text should state what will happen when someone clicks.

After:

Your thoughts?

We will focus on usability examples that can be implemented in 30 minutes or less. Each post will include a specific example with before and after shots, along with an explanation of the changes and the reasons behind them. We’ll be underway momentarily.