If there were an internet cliché retirement home, “Click Here” would be sitting in a rocking chair next to “Sign My Guestbook” and “Under Construction.” Once a vital part of teaching humanity how to navigate the mysterious early internet, “Click Here” is now more of a running joke—or worse, a symptom of lazy digital design.

In 2025, we don’t click. We tap. We swipe. We talk to our screens. And yet, “Click Here” continues to haunt websites, emails, and poorly designed PDFs like a ghost of Geocities past. It’s time to take a long, honest look at how this phrase overstayed its welcome—and why your audience deserves better.

“Click Here”: A Phrase Born of Necessity

Let’s give credit where it’s due. “Click Here” had its moment. In the early 1990s, when dial-up ruled the world and your mom thought the internet was just AOL, “Click Here” was genuinely useful. People didn’t know what hyperlinks were. Navigation wasn’t intuitive. So telling users to “Click Here” made sense.

It was instructional: click this underlined blue thing to do something cool. In that era, “Click Here” was like a helpful tour guide: “Want more info? Just click here!” And we did.

But then something happened. We learned. We evolved. The web grew smarter. Users got savvier. Except somehow, “Click Here” stuck around like the one guy still wearing cargo shorts to business meetings.

Why It's Lazy (And You Know It)

Let’s be honest—most uses of “Click Here” today are just plain lazy. Instead of crafting thoughtful, engaging, descriptive hyperlinks, someone just plops in a bland “Click Here,” calls it a day, and moves on to binge another productivity YouTube video.

Here's a typical example:

To learn more about our services, click here.

Exciting, right? No? That’s because it tells you nothing. It could lead to a pricing page, a case study, or an alien conspiracy theory blog. Who knows?

Now consider this version:

Learn more about our custom website design services.

Not only is that clearer, but it’s descriptive, keyword-rich, and way better for both SEO and accessibility.

Speaking of SEO…

Google isn’t stupid. It reads anchor text (that’s the text inside a hyperlink) to understand what the linked page is about. So when you use “Click Here” as anchor text, you’re essentially saying: This page is about… clicking… something.

Great. Super helpful.

Compare that with:

Download our free digital marketing checklist.

Now search engines know what the content is. That’s good SEO. “Click Here” doesn’t just waste words—it wastes opportunity.

It’s an Accessibility Nightmare

For screen reader users, “Click Here” is a cruel joke. Imagine listening to a web page being read out loud and hearing this string of links:

• Click here

• Click here

• Click here

Useless. Context matters. Visually impaired users depend on clear, informative link text to navigate pages efficiently. So when you say “Click here,” you’re effectively locking some users out of your site’s functionality. And that’s not just bad UX—that’s discrimination.

Want to be inclusive? Try:

Read our privacy policy
See our customer reviews
Visit our FAQ section

These are usable, accessible, and human.

It’s Not Even Technically Accurate Anymore

We don’t just click anymore. We:

• Tap on phones

• Press on tablets

• Use voice commands

• Scroll with remotes

• Blink to select (in VR!)

Saying “Click Here” in 2025 is like asking someone to “dial” your number on a rotary phone. It’s outdated, device-specific, and makes you sound like you just discovered the internet yesterday.

If you must use a verb, use one that reflects the user’s likely interaction. Better yet, avoid it altogether by using smart, intuitive link text that doesn’t require verbs.

The Better Alternatives (That Are Still Somehow Ignored)

If “Click Here” is the canned soup of digital copywriting, then the following alternatives are the gourmet meals we keep ignoring:

• Learn more about our plans

• See real customer testimonials

• Download your free guide

• Start your trial now

• Explore our product features

These phrases have intent, personality, and context. They give readers a reason to engage. And more importantly, they respect their intelligence.

Why Writers and Marketers Keep Using It

The answer is simple: habit and fear.

• Habit: It’s a default. People have seen it a million times, so they just use it without thinking.

• Fear: Writers worry that more creative or contextual CTAs won’t convert. “Click Here” feels safe. Predictable. Familiar.

But safe is boring. Predictable is invisible. And familiar won’t drive action in a world where people scroll through hundreds of messages a day.

Want to stand out? Try specificity, urgency, and clarity. That’s how you win eyeballs—and clicks (ironically).

When “Click Here” Is Still (Sort of) Okay

Let’s be fair. There are rare, specific situations where “Click Here” might still have some value:

1. When teaching basic digital skills
   – For beginner users or educational materials, it can help. (“Click here to begin the tutorial.”)

2. In contexts where only one link exists
   – If the whole point is to do one thing, and it’s crystal clear, it might fly.

3. If the voice or tone of the brand is intentionally ironic or nostalgic
   – Sometimes bad design is good design when it's intentional and self-aware.

Even then, “Click Here” should be used sparingly and with purpose—not as a crutch for poor writing.

How to Kill the Phrase Without Killing Your Conversion

You might be wondering: “Okay, I get it. But I still want people to take action. What do I do instead?”

Here’s how to keep your CTA strong without falling back on old habits:

✅ Use benefit-focused language
Example: “Get your free demo”

✅ Add a sense of urgency
Example: “Claim your discount today”

✅ Make it relevant to the action
Example: “Compare all features”

✅ Match the voice of your brand
Example: “Let’s go shopping” (for an eCommerce site with a casual tone)

✅ A/B test your CTAs regularly
What works for one audience might flop with another. Test it!

Final Verdict: Retire It (Mostly)

“Click Here” had its time. It helped train a generation to navigate the web. But now, it’s the dad joke of digital language—predictable, tired, and a little embarrassing when used in serious company.

In 2025, we have the tools, knowledge, and audience awareness to do better. So please, next time you write a CTA, take 30 extra seconds to write one that actually says something.

Let “Click Here” go gently into that good night. Your users—and your analytics—will thank you.