Accessible Links and Button Labels
Links and buttons are the verbs of your website — they take people somewhere or make something happen. When their labels are vague, users who navigate by listening to controls out of context have no idea what they do.
Clear, descriptive labels are a quick fix that improves usability for everyone and tidies up your content at the same time.
Make Labels Self-Explanatory
A screen-reader user can pull up a list of every link on the page. If they all say 'click here' or 'read more', that list is useless. Each label should make sense alone.
- Describe the destination or action, not the mechanics.
- Avoid repeating 'click here' and 'read more'.
- Keep labels short but specific.
Links Versus Buttons
A link goes to a new page or location; a button performs an action on the current page. Using the right one matters, because assistive technology announces them differently and users expect different behaviour from each.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it really a problem to say 'read more'?
On its own, yes. A screen-reader user reviewing a list of links sees only 'read more' repeated, with no idea where each goes. A descriptive label fixes that instantly.
If you need a hand with any of this, your Progressive Robot delivery team is ready to help. Raise a ticket from the Support area of your client portal or speak to your account manager and we will guide you through the next steps.