Links are one of the most important parts of your website. They direct users to the information they need and are essential to navigating across your website and getting to other websites and information. Nevertheless, links are often an under prioritized component of public sector web content. In this article, I’m going to down the top 3 issues I find with link text on public sector websites:
Links are one of the most essential parts of your website. They play a crucial role in guiding users through your site and connecting them to valuable information. Yet, in the realm of municipal web content, links often don’t get much focus. In this article, I’m going to dive into the three most prevalent issues I encounter with link usage on municipal websites:
- Not using enough links
- Not integrating links into sentences
- Broken links
Issue 1: Not Using Enough Links
Websites are aptly named, being a “web” of information. That web of information relies heavily on links to help users navigate between pages and documents. Links should be added to content liberally, making it easy for users to find any information you’re referring to. These are a few key scenarios where links should be used:
- When referencing reports, by-laws, or other important documents.
- When referring to another department’s information or processes. And I don’t mean linking to that department’s landing page, I mean the particular content that the user may need. This could require collaboration with other departments, which is time well spent!
- Any external sources or information you reference (yes, this can lead to broken links later, see issue #3 below!)
Issue 2: Not Integrating Links Into Sentences
In addition to meeting the accessibility requirements for link text, it's important to consider how links are integrated into your content for readability. Consider the following sentences:
- Click here to sign up for Development Services and to see if we can help with your new business or location.
- In response to the ongoing pandemic, the city has implemented safety measures. To learn more about these measures, click here.
- The upcoming community cleanup event is scheduled for Saturday. For more information, click here.
These sentences are choppy, and often more wordy than necessary. By rephrasing and integrating links more seamlessly, you can provide a smoother reading experience for users while directing them to pertinent information. Here are those sentences above, adjusted to integrate the link text more effectively:
- Sign up for Development Services to see if we can help with your new business or location.
- In response to the ongoing pandemic, the city has implemented safety measures.
- The upcoming community cleanup event is scheduled for Saturday.
Not only do these changes enhance the content flow, but they also reduce word count in most cases.
Issue #3: Broken Links
Maintaining a website is an ongoing effort, often requiring significant resources. Unfortunately, many municipalities lack processes, such as a governance structure, to stay on top of their content. This leads to outdated content, inaccurate content, and of course, broken links! Numerous software tools are available to help you manage broken links. Some Content Management Systems (CMS) include built-in broken link checkers, but scanning tools like Monsido can be invaluable if your CMS lacks this feature or if it's insufficient. Most scanning software also offers the option to schedule reports that can be sent directly to your staff's email inboxes, ensuring regular checks and fixes for broken links.
Taking Action: Improving Your Website Content
Enhancing the use of links across your website is a crucial first step in improving the readability and user experience of your content. Sometimes, website managers may find themselves unsure of where to begin when it comes to making these improvements. I recommend conducting a comprehensive audit of your website to assess your use of links. Review a selection of pages from each department or area of your website to identify areas that require the most improvement. If your team is unable to undertake this task, don't hesitate to reach out to us for a consultation on Plain Language and Web Content Audit services.
