“Click here.” That’s a classic example of anchor text or hyperlink text done wrong. (Anchor text is a clickable link on a website, usually highlighted and underlined.)
That’s because people want to know where a link is going to take them. Also, people who are visually impaired rely on screen readers or other technology, which require more helpful direction than “Click here.” “Register here,” for example.
Good link text is part of writing that is more readable and more inclusive. In my latest roundup of links shared on social media, I’ve collected tips that help, from better anchor and alt text and avoiding ageism to covering transgender issues:
You’ll find detailed and helpful advice in the “Guide to Using Alt-text to Make Images More Accessible” from The Open Notebook, including “Roughly speaking, alt-text should be one to two sentences — around the length of a tweet, or less, if possible.”
Helpful tips for writing descriptive anchor text, which is not just good for accessibility but benefits everyone who scans web pages looking for “signposts” (and don’t we all?).
Three practical ways to integrate accessibility into your everyday life, like stop using “click here,” by Amanda Cosentino for IABC/Toronto.
“Disabled” is often seen as a bad word. People with disabilities are working to flip the script.
People with developmental and intellectual disabilities are often left out of conversations about love, romance and pleasure. A new lab out of University of Calgary makes way for equitable (and fun) sex education for everyone.
Good advice on avoiding ageism in writing from the National Institute on Aging, including “When possible, describe the population or age group more specifically, such as: ‘This study focused on disease risk in Black women between the ages of 65 and 75.’”
Three ways brands handled (or didn’t handle) Pride Month last year, including staying the course – whether sticking with their support or staying silent – and flipflopping, by Allison Carter.
Casey Parks, a social-issues reporter for the Washington Post, turned a mountain of survey results into a “stunningly full picture of life as a trans person in the U.S. today.” The story itself is behind a paywall but the back story in The Open Notebook is fascinating.
Here’s a gripping story annotation for Nieman Storyboard: Trevor Pyle talks to reporter William Wan about “Finding the ‘bigger and higher purpose’ to cover transgender issues and suicide.”
Communicators often need to navigate polarizing topics when dealing with diversity and inclusion. Among the lessons, says Gini Dietrich: “You are not going to make everyone happy—and that’s OK. But you should be prepared to hold your ground and have messaging ready for the naysayers.”
What other helpful, interesting or insightful posts have you found online? Please share in the comments or send me an email.
Image of chain links by Mike Alonzo on Unsplash.
Related reading
DEI stats to measure and more from Pride Month 2023
Visual treatments that improve accessibility and more tips for inclusion
Ideas to make content more accessible and other links related to diversity