Updating button hover text on WordPress homepage for improved user clarity

Issue summary:
A client requested a design adjustment on their WordPress homepage to make a call-to-action button more descriptive when hovered over. Specifically, they wanted the “Technology” button to display “OneStream Implementation” on hover. The Freshy development team implemented this change using custom CSS and JavaScript to dynamically update the button text without affecting the site’s layout or functionality.

Issue background

The homepage featured several call-to-action buttons linking to service pages. The “Technology” button led to the OneStream Implementation section but did not clearly communicate that connection. The client asked to have the hover state display “OneStream Implementation” instead of “Technology” to help users better understand where the button leads.

The request also included keeping the existing button arrow icon consistent with other buttons on the site.

Diagnosis

The development team reviewed the site’s homepage and confirmed that:

• The buttons were built using standard WordPress Gutenberg blocks with custom CSS classes.
• Each button included a text span and an SVG arrow icon.
• The hover behavior was controlled by CSS transitions, without any existing JavaScript text changes.

To achieve the requested behavior, the team determined that JavaScript would be the most efficient and non-disruptive way to dynamically change the button text during the hover event while preserving the site’s current layout and hover animation effects.

Resolution steps

1. Reviewed the homepage button structure
   Located the “Technology” button within the homepage code. Identified its class selector to target it specifically without affecting other buttons.
2. Added JavaScript for dynamic text change
   Implemented a hover event listener that updates the text to “OneStream Implementation” on mouseover and restores it to “Technology” on mouseout. Ensured that the event does not interfere with existing CSS animations or links.

   const techButton = document.querySelector('.button--technology');
   const originalText = techButton.textContent;
   
   techButton.addEventListener('mouseenter', () => {
       techButton.textContent = 'OneStream Implementation';
   });
   
   techButton.addEventListener('mouseleave', () => {
       techButton.textContent = originalText;
   });
   

3. Maintained consistent styling and layout
   Preserved the arrow icon placement by wrapping the text in a span and ensuring the hover script only modified the text, not the entire button content. Verified that the button’s dimensions and padding remained unchanged on hover.
4. Tested across browsers and devices
   Verified the hover text behavior in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. Tested on desktop and mobile devices to ensure no visual or functional issues.
5. Client feedback and refinement
   The client approved the hover text behavior but requested that the arrow remain to the right of the text, consistent with other buttons. The development team adjusted the markup to maintain the arrow icon position and re-tested to confirm all visual elements aligned correctly.

Final outcome

The homepage “Technology” button now dynamically updates its label to “OneStream Implementation” when hovered over, clearly indicating the page it links to while maintaining consistent design and user experience.

Results:

• Improved clarity for users navigating to the OneStream Implementation service.
• Seamless hover animation preserving the existing design style.
• Fully responsive and browser-compatible implementation.

Key takeaways

• Small UX enhancements like hover text changes can significantly improve user navigation and clarity.
• Dynamic JavaScript-based hover behaviors can be implemented safely without altering core page structure.
• Maintaining design consistency across buttons ensures a cohesive user experience.
• Always validate cross-browser and device behavior to prevent unexpected visual shifts.

If you need help improving interactivity and user experience on your WordPress site, contact the Freshy team for expert front-end development and design solutions.