People scanning a document often look for headings first. People using a screen reader may also navigate through its recorded headings. For both approaches to work, sections need to be identified as headings rather than merely made visually prominent. Links have a similar requirement: their visible wording should explain the destination without forcing readers to decode a long address or reread the surrounding paragraph.
Let the hierarchy follow the content
Use the heading styles provided by your word processor. A major heading introduces a major section, while the level below it identifies that section's parts. Do not jump between widely separated levels just to obtain a smaller font. If the appearance is wrong, adjust the appropriate style.
Write headings that predict what follows. In workshop instructions, “Materials for the first session” is more useful than “Further information.” Consider whether two similarly named sections serve different purposes or belong together. A useful hierarchy comes from clear editorial decisions, not from having as many levels as possible.
Make link wording identify the destination
Link meaningful wording such as “Workshop registration form” instead of “click here.” If several links lead to different places, do not label all of them “More.” Readers should be able to distinguish the requested form from background information.
For a download, a short indication of format or content can help, such as “Materials list, PDF.” A long technical address does not have to appear in full in running text. However, a document distributed only on paper needs an additional usable route, such as a short written address. Clickable wording alone is not useful on a printed page.
Check meaning and navigation together
Read the headings in sequence without the body text. Do they form an understandable progression? Then test the links individually: is the destination correct, is the resource available, and does it require access that recipients actually have? A well-named link can still lead to a private draft.
Do not identify links solely through a subtle color difference. Their appearance should remain recognizable under less favorable display settings. Use an accessibility checker as an aid, but do not treat a warning-free result as complete proof. Software cannot reliably decide whether a heading accurately describes its content.
Include the delivered format in the review
If you deliver a PDF, use an export method that preserves document structure and links where supported. Open the exported file and test navigation again. A well-structured source is the starting point, but conversion can change its properties.
For recurring documents, build the structure into the template. New editors then do not have to guess the role of each emphasized line. Brief instructions about headings and link wording are often more useful than elaborate design rules that nobody can maintain consistently.