People here at RHD affectionately (NOT) refer to me as the web updates nazi at certain points because I have very particular pet peeves and standards that we follow for all web updates. For example, consistency in captions like things like using Exhibited by vs. Shown by vs. Owned by for captions. Another example is consistent image sizes, or not using music on websites, and things like that.
Perhaps my biggest pet peeve and web design no-no is the use of the words CLICK HERE TO.....bla bla bla. As in:
Click here to view videos
Click here to read our newsletter
Click here to see our sale catalog
The only way this could be worse would be if it is accompanied by a flashing icon that says CLICK HERE
View Video or Watch Video
All of these are active voice, direct, to the point, and the least amount of words as possible.
Here's another great blog on the history of why not to say CLICK HERE....
So CLICK HERE TO READ THE BLOG.
HA HA HA I just had to say it!
Perhaps my biggest pet peeve and web design no-no is the use of the words CLICK HERE TO.....bla bla bla. As in:
Click here to read our newsletter
Click here to see our sale catalog
The only way this could be worse would be if it is accompanied by a flashing icon that says CLICK HERE
Ugh I almost have a panic attack just looking at that!!!
Yet continually, we do have clients who ask us to put in the words "CLICK HERE TO..." and though we do it if the client specifically asks, I really hate to do it. And here is why.
The bottom line is it is insulting to your viewer. It implies that people aren't smart enough to know that if there is something that's a link, that you click on it to access it.
Second, it's unnecessary words. As trained journalists we are always working to keep things as concise as possible. Get your message out in the least amount of words as possible. Click here to is 3 un-necessary words.
As the updates nazi, I suggest replacing the words Click Here To" with something as simple as:
View Video or Watch Video
Read our Newsletter
Browse our Sale Catalog
All of these are active voice, direct, to the point, and the least amount of words as possible.
Here's another great blog on the history of why not to say CLICK HERE....
So CLICK HERE TO READ THE BLOG.
HA HA HA I just had to say it!
Hey Rachel. Thanks for the link to my blog post. I'm right there with you on the "click here" gripe.
ReplyDeletePart of the problem is that many big-name sites still use that phrase for whatever reason, so clients often reference them, thinking "If they say it, why shouldn't we?" Nevertheless, as you point out, it just doesn't make sense to use that language. Nice to see someone else promoting that idea.