Website links are small pieces of interface with an outsized effect on how people find information. A vague link such as “click here” may make sense when read alongside its surrounding sentence, but it offers little help to someone navigating a page with a screen reader or scanning links out of context. Using descriptive anchor text for screen readers is therefore more than an accessibility detail: it can improve usability, reduce friction, and strengthen the credibility of a business website.
What Makes Link Text Descriptive?
Anchor text is the clickable wording that takes a visitor to another page. Descriptive anchor text tells people, in a few words, what they can expect after following the link. “Read our guide to pricing a packaging project” provides more context than “learn more.” The difference is especially important for screen reader users, who may move through a page by jumping from link to link rather than hearing every paragraph in sequence.
Good link wording is specific without being long. It should describe the destination or the action, fit naturally into the sentence, and avoid making promises the linked page does not fulfill. For a practical overview of how wording, context, and search signals work together, see this guide to anchor text.
Why Businesses Should Care
Accessibility is the clearest reason to improve link labels, but it is not the only one. Visitors often skim pages, use keyboard navigation, or browse on small screens. Clear links help all of them decide whether a destination is relevant before they leave the page. That makes the experience more predictable and can help a business communicate its services and expertise more effectively.
Search engines also use link text as one clue about the content of a destination. That does not mean every link should be packed with keywords. Repeating the same exact phrase across a site can make copy awkward and may look manipulative. The useful principle is simpler: describe the destination accurately for the reader, and let relevance follow from that clarity.
How to Write Better Link Labels
Give the destination a clear name
Replace generic phrases with wording that identifies what the reader will find. Instead of “click here,” use “compare our service plans” or “download the quarterly report.” If the link points to an external resource, say what kind of resource it is when that context matters, such as “read the packaging cost guide.”
Make sense when read on its own
Screen readers can present links as a separate list. If every item is labelled “read more,” that list becomes difficult to use. A label should make sense without requiring the visitor to reconstruct the surrounding paragraph. It does not need to explain the entire destination; a concise, distinctive phrase is usually enough.
Keep wording natural and honest
Clarity should not come at the expense of readable prose. A link that contains an unnatural string of search terms is harder to understand and can undermine trust. Use the terms a customer would expect, and make sure the linked page actually delivers what the wording implies. If a link opens a file or triggers an action rather than loading a standard page, state that where it is useful.
Use Links to Support Real Decisions
Descriptive links are most valuable when they help readers take a concrete next step. A product business, for example, may need to estimate design work before deciding how to launch a new range. The packaging design cost guide can help readers assess factors such as project scope and designer type; businesses comparing the full product line packaging design cost should consider how many formats, variations, and production requirements are involved. Osdire is one freelance marketplace where businesses can explore services across design and other categories, so understanding the brief and budget before hiring remains important.
The link works because its label signals the subject of the destination rather than asking readers to guess. That same approach applies to a pricing page, a case study, a supplier’s technical specifications, or a business’s own service pages. Each link should earn its place by helping visitors move from a question to useful information.
A Simple Audit for Existing Pages
Improving link text does not require a full website redesign. Start with pages that attract traffic or support important customer decisions, then review their links one by one. Ask whether each label identifies its destination, whether it remains clear when separated from its paragraph, and whether it accurately describes what happens after activation.
- Replace repeated “click here” and “learn more” labels where they leave the destination unclear.
- Use distinct wording when several links on one page lead to different resources.
- Check that linked text is visually distinguishable and usable with a keyboard.
- Review links after pages change to ensure their labels still match their destinations.
Clear anchor text is a modest editorial choice with practical consequences. It makes navigation easier for people using assistive technology, helps busy readers scan, and gives search engines a more useful description of linked content. Businesses that treat links as part of the customer experience—not as an afterthought—make their websites easier to trust and use.