Free Website Content
10 Steps to Getting The Click
Encouraging Visitors to Click
By Sharon Housley
10 Steps To Getting The Click
There are a number of steps a webmaster
can take to encourage visitors to "click" on a link
or graphic located on their website. The following steps
will help "get the click"...
1. Colors
Use contrasting colors for links. This
makes the links easier to discern from other text on
a web page. Also, avoid placing links against a patterned
background, as it will make it much more difficult to
read the link text. Bottom line, the link color should
stand out from the rest of the web page, and be easy
to locate.
2. Link Traits
Underlining is still the universal
indication of a link. Using the "underline" for links
will send a clear message to website visitors about
which text on the webpage is just text, and which text
is actually a hyper-link. And along this line of thought,
you should avoid using underlining for text that is
not a link, just to avoid confusion.
3. Visible
Make all the links visible. Do not hide
the links or navigation on a web page. Avoid using scripting
to display links, as these links will not be visible
to website visitors who have turned scripting off in
their browser for security reasons.
4. Textual
Text links have a higher rate of clicks
than linked images. The one exception is typically a
"Buy Now" button, which tends to be more effective than
text-only "Buy Now" links. Keep this in mind when creating
a linking scheme for your website.
5. Consistent
The location of links should be consistent
as the visitor moves from page to page through your
website. Do not move links around as the content of
the web page changes.
6. Position
Place important links in a location that
is easy for the website visitor to see without having
to scroll. Position important links "above the fold"
on the website.
7. Font Style & Size
In order to make links easy for the visitor
to see, be sure to use a font style and size that can
be easily read.
8. Graphic Links
If you use image links, the clickable
graphics should be vibrant and should stand out from
the other content on the page. Use bright or bold contrasting
colors for the graphic. Be sure to include appropriate
ALT text for each linked image, so the visitor will
have an indication of the material being linked to as
they move their mouse over the graphic.
9. Split-Test
Conduct split-testing by changing colors
and moving links around, and then monitor and track
which options and locations result in the highest number
of clicks. What may seem intuitive is not always as
obvious as you might think.
10. Fresh Eyes
Ask a friend or family member to navigate
your website. It may surprise you to learn what they
see and where they click. A fresh set of eyes will give
a good indication of how others will perceive your website
and the clickable content.
About the Author:
Sharon Housley manages marketing for FeedForAll http://www.feedforall.com
software for creating, editing, publishing RSS feeds
and podcasts. In addition Sharon manages marketing for
RecordForAll http://www.recordforall.com
audio recording and editing software.
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copy of the issue or a link to any online posting would
be greatly appreciated send an email to sharon@notepage.net
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