Fixing Link Text in Google Sites

Error: Link with no accessible text

This error can happen when copying and pasting from a different application, such as Microsoft Word or Google Docs. It can also happen when editing directly in the page editor. It essentially means that a link exists, but there is no text for a screen reader to interpret and read aloud. There are a couple of ways to fix this issue.

Fixing empty links in a text box

  1. Clean up before pasting
    If the content was copied from another document or application, first remove or correct any unnecessary link text there. Then, copy and paste the cleaned content into Google Sites.
  2. Locate and remove empty links
    Look for links that have no visible text (often positioned next to an existing link). Delete these empty links directly within the page builder.
  3. Reinsert links if necessary
    If the problematic links cannot be fixed, remove them entirely and reinsert the correct links with appropriate text.

Fixing empty links in an HTML embed

  1. Click on the HTML embed to open the navigation menu
    Click on the pencil icon to edit the HTML
  2. Edit the link in the source code
    In this view, the underlying HTML is displayed. From here, you can find and correct the empty link. Look for anchor (<a>) tags with no link text. You can:
    1. Remove the empty link completely, or
    2. Add descriptive text between the opening and closing tags.

Example:

  • Incorrect link code:
    <a href="https://www.cse.umn.edu"> </a>
  • Corrected link code:
    <a href="https://www.cse.umn.edu">College of Science and Engineering</a>

Manual Check: is this link meaningful and concise?

This alert appears when your page contains links with generic phrases such as:

  • Read More
  • Learn More
  • Click Here

These phrases are not meaningful on their own and may cause accessibility issues.

How to Fix

Instead of using vague link text, provide context that describes the destination or purpose of the link.

Examples:

  • Instead of "Read More," use "Read More About Our Services."
  • Instead of "Click Here," use "Download the Annual Report."
  • Instead of "Learn More," use "Learn More About Accessibility Best Practices."

Using descriptive, concise link text improves accessibility, makes your content easier to navigate, and helps all users—especially those using screen readers—understand where a link will take them.

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