"Click here"

|tera|

|tera|

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This isn't a spam thread, don't worry ;)

I read an article sometime last year that dealt with the issue of the infamous "Click here" text accompanied by a link to a page or article etc.

I can't remember where it was, but it was so well written and actually just plain obvious to understand that I've never forgotten about it.

The summary of it all is basically this.

When typing a sentence, any reference to something/someone or it, never substitiute a word with "click here".

You might think that people are daft/noobish in life that they don't know Joe's Dirt Box actually leads to Joe's dirt box, but they are not.

Always, always, when creating a page/news letter or any online resource with a link, use a word or descriptive method, like a picture or icon to lead your readers in the correct direction.

I was googling for the GPRS string to use in Vodacom DUN modems for cellphones and the GPRS site on Vodacom is completely filled with this rubbish.

Basically scanning through the page, all my eyes saw and noticed were the "click here" and I promptly closed it when seeing the information wasn't even there.

That's my tip for the day. Hope you web designers/developers out there realise from a surfer like me that there really should never be an excuse to have any "click here" links.

;) :D :p

tera
 
i like them - makes it easy for me to spot where to click to download the actual file (it's usually "click here to download now"

these icons/animations/java/buttons/flash and stuff suck cause every site is different - "click here" is always the same.
 
Good points, tera. It actually goes quite a bit further than dumbing down your visitor IQ though.

Use code like this for links:
Code: 
<a href="link.html" title="My (expanded) link description">Link description</a>
The link is obvious, the title can be used to expand on the link when the visitor hovers over the link, and Google picks up both for good SEO. ;)

I think I'm going to write my own article on basic SEO for my site. It's about time, methinks. :p
 
Keeper said:
i like them - makes it easy for me to spot where to click to download the actual file (it's usually "click here to download now"

these icons and stuff suck cause every site is different - click here is easy enough.
Click to expand...

Click here is what a designer/developer does when they have a lack of vocabulary.

Click here is not cool dude :p

Raithlin said:
Good points, tera. It actually goes quite a bit further than dumbing down your visitor IQ though.

Use code like this for links:
Code: 
<a href="link.html" title="My (expanded) link description">Link description</a>
The link is obvious, the title can be used to expand on the link when the visitor hovers over the link, and Google picks up both for good SEO. ;)

I think I'm going to write my own article on basic SEO for my site. It's about time, methinks. :p
Click to expand...

That's so cool. Taken and noted ;) Thanks Raithlin :p Would love to read your article.
 
Keeper said:
i like them - makes it easy for me to spot where to click to download the actual file (it's usually "click here to download now"

these icons/animations/java/buttons/flash and stuff suck cause every site is different - "click here" is always the same.
Click to expand...

As you mentioned and as Raithlin will confirm, almost all those things you mentioned are never picked up by Google and is plainly ignored, so I would never recommend it. Using common sense is a recommendation however :p
 
teraside said:
As you mentioned and as Raithlin will confirm, almost all those things you mentioned are never picked up by Google and is plainly ignored, so I would never recommend it. Using common sense is a recommendation however :p
Click to expand...

"click here to download Firefox 3" will be picked up. flash/buttons/etc won't.

I'm not saying I add "click here", but I don't see what the problem is when on a site with them??:confused:

all sites look rubbish compared to my own... :p
 
No, using a few verbs and nouns helps. "You can download Firefox 3 to experience the world wide web in true surfing style", goes a lot further, don't it? ;)
 
teraside said:
No, using a few verbs and nouns helps. "You can download Firefox 3 to experience the world wide web in true surfing style", goes a lot further, don't it? ;)
Click to expand...

ok, that's just being silly now tera.

all you did was add a few words - I was just giving an example man....(ie: they are both the same type of link.)

i'm talking about TEXT vs BUTTONS (like you said)
 
Keeper said:
ok, that's just being silly now tera.

all you did was add a few words - I was just giving an example man....(ie: they are both the same type of link.)

i'm talking about TEXT vs BUTTONS (like you said)
Click to expand...

You are reading buttons dude and you are reading it out of context. Think like a web designer. Would you really not place a link to FF3 with a FF3 logo? Download FF3: {with the logo}

I've seen it tons of times and if the link is properly formatted it's the exact same as an html/text link.
 
teraside said:
You are reading buttons dude and you are reading it out of context. Think like a web designer. Would you really not place a link to FF3 with a FF3 logo? Download FF3: {with the logo}

I've seen it tons of times and if the link is properly formatted it's the exact same as an html/text link.
Click to expand...

yes, i know - but adding "click here" isn't a bad thing - help's some of the dumbasses and Internet n00bs understand your site, and therefore stay, and visit your site.

i've seen a lot of sites with random words that are underlined, different color and hyperlinked - only to bring up a "Dictionary Window of that word" with crappy advertisement/sponsored links. When I see "Click here" or "right-click and save" I know it's a main link on that page.

Adding pictures and hyperlinking random words isn't enough - as a lot of sites have this junk.
 
You both have good points. Images (with the "alt" tag filled in with good information) are good sources, and translate to user and search spiders. "Click here" gives no information to Google, which place importance on links, is all.
 
Raithlin said:
You both have good points. Images (with the "alt" tag filled in with good information) are good sources, and translate to user and search spiders. "Click here" gives no information to Google, which place importance on links, is all.
Click to expand...

/slaps Raithlin upside the head

IE much? :)

the alt tag in images according to W3C standards are for an alternative content when the original content (the image) is not available.It should NOT be used as description and won't be picked up under normal circumstances for good SEO.

M$ perpetuated that wrongly until old FF showed up and taught me that the sun doesn't shine out of IE's butt.

The correct tag to use in both instances is the "Title" attribute (as with your reply to the OP for links). This gives you the little tooltip popup and should most definately get more descriptive hits from the bots and index accordingly.

Google's AI is smart but if you want to appeal to a larger standardized audience, don't use alt unless you reckon the image might not make it for the full term of your post/website ;)
 
Interesting thread. I personally don't like "Click here" links and find a descriptive label for a hyperlink much more appealing. As for images and *ugh* "flash" for hyperlinks - I stay faaaaaaaaar away. I'd rather style the hyperlinks using CSS. That way, if you want to have an image as a background for the "button" and it isn't available, it can at least revert back to the background color without the annoying "red cross" appearing all over...
 
AcidRaZor said:
/slaps Raithlin upside the head

IE much? :)

the alt tag in images according to W3C standards are for an alternative content when the original content (the image) is not available.It should NOT be used as description and won't be picked up under normal circumstances for good SEO.

M$ perpetuated that wrongly until old FF showed up and taught me that the sun doesn't shine out of IE's butt.

The correct tag to use in both instances is the "Title" attribute (as with your reply to the OP for links). This gives you the little tooltip popup and should most definately get more descriptive hits from the bots and index accordingly.

Google's AI is smart but if you want to appeal to a larger standardized audience, don't use alt unless you reckon the image might not make it for the full term of your post/website ;)
Click to expand...

I mentioned the alt tag because that is what shows up in text-only browsers (accessibility, anyone?). HTML 4.01 Strict requires alt tags - although you are right, title is better for SEO.

/ducks

[EDIT]
Actually, I use alt for all my images for accessibility, but I don't always add the title tag - some images don't need a pop-up, like logos, for example, or <shudder> heading images (I steer clear from this if I can, but the client is king).
 
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