The Right Way to Use READ MORE Buttons in Web Design
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A Sparkbox usability test looked at a common web design habit: adding a "Read More" button to every article preview.
Researchers showed 74 people a mobile page with three articles. Each article had an image, headline, short description, and a "Read More" button. When asked which part they would click to read the article, only 28% clicked the button.
Most people clicked the image or headline instead. No one clicked the description.
So why do we keep using "Read More" buttons if most people don’t use them? And could they hurt your website’s clicks, accessibility, or SEO?
That’s what this guide explores.
TL;DR
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What Is a "Read More" Button, and Why Is It Everywhere?
A "Read More" button is a link that takes visitors from a short content preview to the full article, product description, or page. You’ll often see it on blog listings, homepages, product pages, and other sections where showing the full content would take up too much space.
There are a few reasons businesses use them:
They keep pages easy to scan. Showing short previews instead of full articles makes a page less crowded.
They encourage visitors to click through. Businesses can see which content people choose to explore.
They can generate additional page views. This can be useful for websites that rely on traffic and page views.
But there’s a problem: what works for the website owner isn’t always what works best for the visitor.
If visitors naturally click the headline or image instead, adding a separate "Read More" button may simply add another element without making the experience easier. That’s where thoughtful links and page design become important.
Do "Read More" Buttons Get Clicked?
Usually not as much as the headline or image.
A 2022 Sparkbox usability study tested how people interact with article listings on mobile. Each listing included an image, headline, concise description, and a "Read More" link.
The results were clear: 71% of participants clicked the image or headline, while only 28% clicked the "Read More" link. No one clicked the description.
The takeaway isn’t that "Read More" links are useless. It’s that they’re usually not the main thing people want to click.
If your article card only makes the small "Read More" button clickable, you may be making visitors work harder than necessary. Linking the headline and image or making the entire card clickable creates a larger, more natural target.
This is especially important on mobile, where larger tap targets are easier to use.
Check your blog and resource pages. Are the headline and thumbnail clickable, or is the "Read More" button the only option? If our team can help, this is the kind of quick UX improvement one should look for first.
The SEO Problem Nobody Talks About
This is where "Read More" becomes more than a UX issue. It can also create an SEO problem because of the link text.
Anchor text is the clickable text of a link. It helps search engines understand what the linked page is about. Google recommends using anchor text that is descriptive, concise, and relevant to the page being linked.
"Read More" doesn’t tell Google or your visitors much about where the link goes. If the same generic phrase is used across dozens of pages, you’re missing opportunities to give search engines more context.
We’ve covered this in more detail in our breakdown of how the wrong anchor text can hurt internal linking.
Nielsen Norman Group has also pointed out that generic links such as "Learn More" can create uncertainty for users and provide less useful context, particularly for people using screen readers.
The fix is simple: make your link text descriptive.
Instead of “Read More,” try “Read our guide to Core Web Vitals” or “See how AODA compliance works.”
It takes only a few extra words but gives both users and search engines much more context.
Does Google Penalize Content Hidden Behind a "Read More" Toggle?
A common question is whether Google penalizes content hidden behind a "Read More" button, accordion, or expandable section.
The answer is no. Google can crawl and index content that is hidden behind a click-to-expand element, as long as the content is present in the page's HTML and accessible to Googlebot.
This means you don’t need to worry about using expandable sections simply because some content isn’t visible immediately.
However, not being penalized doesn’t mean hiding everything is a clever idea. From a user experience perspective, valuable information is often better when it’s visible without requiring another click.
A simple rule is to use "Read More" or expandable sections for additional details, FAQs, specifications, or supporting information.
Keep your most valuable information visible, including your main value proposition, key service details, and content that directly answers the visitor’s question.
In other words, hiding content won’t automatically hurt your SEO, but making valuable information easy to find is usually better for your visitors.
Read More vs. Load More vs. Accordion vs. Pagination
Not every "Read More" problem needs the same solution. Different types of content work better with different patterns:
Read More (single article link): Best for sending visitors from a short preview to a full article or page. Use descriptive link text and make the headline or card clickable where appropriate.
Read More (text toggle): Useful for shortening longer sections on the same page, such as FAQ answers, bios, or additional details.
Load More: Best for product grids, blog archives, and search results with lots of items. Research from the Baymard Institute suggests that “Load More” combined with lazy loading can provide a better experience than traditional pagination or endless scrolling.
Accordion or tabs: Useful when information is divided into related sections, such as product specifications, FAQs, or multi-part answers.
The key is to choose the pattern that fits the content. A solution that works well for a blog article may not work for a product catalogue. The goal is to help visitors find and explore information without creating unnecessary clicks or frustration.
7 Rules for Using "Read More" Buttons the Right Way
If you use "Read More" buttons on your website, these simple rules can make them more useful and accessible:
Make the whole card clickable. Link the image and headline, not just the small button.
Use the descriptive link text. “Read our guide to AODA web design” is more useful than “Read More.”
Consider screen-reader users. If you keep a short "Read More" label, add additional context for screen readers.
Keep valuable information visible. Don’t hide your main sales message or key service information behind a toggle.
Choose the right pattern. Use “Load More” for lists, accordions for grouped information, and "Read More" links when sending visitors to a full page.
Make buttons easy to see. Use strong colour contrast so they stand out from the surrounding content.
Test before launching. Try your links and expandable sections with a screen reader to catch accessibility issues that may not be obvious visually.
The Final Take
"Read More" buttons aren’t inherently bad, but they’re often used in ways that create unnecessary friction for visitors. In many cases, a clickable headline, image, or content card provides a more intuitive experience than relying on a small button alone.
The good news is that the fixes are usually simple: use descriptive link text, make important click targets easy to interact with, consider accessibility, and choose the right pattern for the type of content you’re displaying.
These may seem like minute details, but they can have a real impact on usability, accessibility, and engagement. At REM Web Solutions, we believe that great websites are built by getting the trivial things right consistently. When combined, these improvements help create a better experience for visitors and a stronger foundation for long-term website performance.
Think your website could use a UX boost? Talk to our team to find out where slight changes can make a significant difference.
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