Link labels should be unique and descriptive (they should clearly tell users where they’re going).

Many users scan webpages for links to help figure out where to go next. Link labels should clearly indicate where the user is headed. Users of assistive technologies often browse webpages by only reading the link labels and not the text surrounding it – so it’s important that they are unique and descriptive. Good link labels also help search engines find your content.

Do: Use descriptive but concise language

Try the Library Search.

For more information, see our guide to Citing Sources.

⊗ Don't: use “naked” link labels

Try the Library Search: https://www.gvsu.edu/library/librarysearch

⊗ Don’t use generic link labels

Additional information about citation tools can be found here. 

⊗ Don’t use extraneous words in or around the links.

Click here to access Library Search

Click here to access Library Search

⊗ Don’t have multiple link labels that say the same thing but go to different places.

Try this website or this website.

Tip: imagine the link out of context – is the destination clear?

For more information, see our guide to Citing Sources.

Email links should show actual email address.

Clicking on a mailto link will typically launch an email app  – but for users who use webmail instead, it can cause confusion or just makes it hard to figure out what the email address is.

DO display the full email address and make it clickable.

Contact Matthew Reidsma at reidsmam@gvsu.edu.

⊗ Don’t hide an email address behind text or a name

Contact me
Matthew Reidsma

Buttons should have action-oriented & descriptive labels.

(not generic labels that might not make sense out of context)

• Yes: “Give Feedback”
• No: Go

Use the appropriate button for the task

Links that go to another page should use the btn btn-default class, so they appear as white/gray:

View This Page

Links that submit a form or produce an action on a server should use the btn btn-primary class, so they appear as blue:

Submit This Form