3 ways to use a hyperlink (that won't send your site visitors round the bend!)

Have you been unfortunate enough to pay a visit to the Gov.uk site lately? Wow, that site really sends me over the edge. Why? Because you get directed to link after link after link, only to find you are back where you were 5 minutes ago, still none-the-wiser about the answer you were seeking. Infuriating! Imagine me trying to find out about biodiversity net gain regulations on there. Don't try that unless you absolutely have to - trust me!

So how can we make sure we use hyperlinks in a useful way so that we don't send our site visitors completely bananas and waste their precious time? Let's think first about what they are for.

The important role of hyperlinks

According to Wix:

3 ways to use hyperlinks effectively on your website

First ask yourself, am I helping someone navigate easily by adding this link? If not, why are you using it? It should be helping someone easily find the additional information they are looking for. Here are 3 different ways to use links in a useful way:

1. Links within your own site

   When you refer to another aspect of your own website, it is sensible to provide a link so if someone wants to check it out, they have the navigation immediately if they choose. Just be mindful that nobody wants to be going round and round in circles as that's a big turn-off. People want to get to the point quickly so you need to get them straight there, pronto. You're helping them have a smooth journey through the site without being slowed down. They'll be happy to visit again!

   
   

2. Links to another site

   Sending a site visitor to someone else's website might sound counter-intuitive, however, sometimes there is too much detail to explain for yourself, and the linked site might have it ready on a plate instead. If that's the case, then it would be crazy not to! The secondary site can then be visited if your reader is interested, or they can happily skip past the link and choose to continue on your site at their leisure, rather than wade through additional information they neither want or need to get to the point.

   
   

3. Take your customers to a document or product

   Getting your visitors to a document or product swiftly is a big plus for their ease of experience on your site. And a link makes it so convenient and compact. Imagine if you had to post a massive image of a document you want people to have access to. It would take up the whole page and other important details would be squeezed out of view. Hyperlinking to a document gives your reader the choice of whether to download it and take a look. Make your preamble such a hook that they just can't resist taking a look!

   
   

So what are the headlines here?

For hyperlink success:

• keep it quick and easy

• get straight to the point

• don't send site visitors round in circles

• create links to documents for ease and keep a tidy site

If you follow the next link, you can get in touch with me and I can remould your website if you think you're taking your customers round in circles. Let's sort it!