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Navigating Usability: The Do's and Don'ts

This series will provide essential insights, dos and don'ts, and practical tips to ensure digital content is user-friendly for diverse audiences.

Author: Alyssa Lawson

Ghost Buttons

The Do's:

Buttons call attention to important  links on a page. Buttons are meant to trigger some type of action for the site visitor: "a button does something, a link goes somewhere". The best practice of using a button is to make sure it is short and has it's own separate line as a consideration for the mobile users. Buttons should be created by adding CSS class ''btn btn-primary".  Learn More About Button Styles

Primary button code screen shot
Visit the Hotline button

 

 


The Don'ts:


We have observed some  sites that have buttons from the old Drupal CSS class 'button'.  This creates a ghost button making the link text disappear when hovered over. While ghost buttons may have been a trendy design, it causes usability and accessibility issues for users. When hovered over, the link text disappears.


 

Duplicative Titles and Links

While it might seem like a minor inconvenience, having links and pages with the same name can lead to a cascade of issues that affect user cognition, trust, SEO, and overall satisfaction. When site visitors  encounter multiple links with the same name, it creates confusion as to whether they have interacted with a particular link before. 

Snippet of navigation showing duplicate entries

Repeated links also present accessibility challenges, particularly for users with cognitive disabilities. Efficient navigation not only enhances user experience but also respects users' time by avoiding unnecessary detours.

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