What Is Anchor Text in SEO
When you are surfing the web, you tend to hit the blue and underlined words which lead to a different webpage. Such words that can be clicked are referred to as anchor text. Anchor texts are important in Search Engine Optimization (SEO) although they may appear to be simple.
Learning the proper use of anchor text may help your site rise in the ranking, user experience, and the overall credibility of the site. To understand better what anchor text is, why it matters to SEO and how to use it, then let’s further examine the concept of anchor text and its significance to SEO.
What Is Anchor Text?
The text in a hyperlink that appears and that is clickable is referred to as anchor text. It assists the users as well as search engines to know the content of the linked page.
For example:
In case you have a sentence such as learn more about digital marketing strategies, the text of digital marketing strategies is the anchor text which opens up to another page containing digital marketing strategies.
When using search engines like Google, the anchor text is used to find out the context and relevance of the page that you are linking to. This is why the appropriate anchor text may make your pages rank higher on certain keywords.
Why Anchor Text Matters in SEO
Anchor text is not only used in navigation. It is also a major indicator to the search engines of what is in a page.
Here’s why it matters:
Improves Search Engine Understanding
Google algorithm relies on anchor text to know the meaning of the linked page. There are cases when several websites have similar anchor texts to refer to your page, this informs Google that your page is pertinent on that keyword or the topic.
Enhances User Experience
Anchor text helps the reader to access information. Good anchor text facilitates easy access by users to further information without necessarily searching and finding.
Boosts SEO Rankings
By using relevant and rich anchor texts with keywords, they are useful in enhancing the visibility of your page in the search results. But excessively precise keywords might backfire and we shall discuss this later.
Builds Trust and Authority
Relevant anchor text is more natural and professional. This creates credibility to the readers and informs search engines of authority.
Types of Anchor Text
SEO has a number of anchor text types. Having this knowledge makes you keep a healthy mix, and you do not over-optimize.
Exact Match Anchor Text
This type consists of the exact keyword that you want to rank.
Example: When you use your keyword as SEO tools the anchor text is SEO tools.
Work carefully, however, as it is very strong, but too many exact-match anchors may appear spam to Google.
Partial Match Anchor Text
This contains a variation or a portion of the target keywords.
Example: “Most effective SEO tools” or “easy to use SEO software.
Partial match anchors are more natural and have more protection to long-term SEO.
Branded Anchor Text
This one utilizes your brand name as the link to be clicked on.
Example: “Read the recent SEO guide on BrightEdge.
Branded anchors are useful in creating brand awareness and can be regarded as safe in terms of SEO.
Naked URLs
A naked URL is a web address that is presented as the link.
Example: www.example.com
They would be helpful in certain situations but do not give a background of the content of the page where it is linked.
Generic Anchor Text
This involves non-descriptive text like click here, read more and visit this site.
Example: To read further, please, go here.
Although generic anchors are okay at times, they do not give the search engines the idea of what the page entails.
Image Anchor Text
In linking an image, Google takes the alt text of the image as the anchor text. That is why descriptive alt text is important to write regarding SEO.
Best Practices for Using Anchor Text in SEO
Balancing and relevance is all it is about using anchor text well; the following are the best practices:
Keep It Relevant
Never forget to ensure that your anchor text is the same as the information on the page where you are linking to. False anchors are detrimental to the user experience and SEO.
Use Natural Language
Write anchor text which flows well in your sentence. Do not make keywords where they are not. Google does not like the use of keywords stuffing but natural and readable texts.
Diversify Your Anchor Texts
Do not have the same anchor text with all the links. Combine perfect match, fuzzy match, branded and generic anchors. This forms a natural appearing link profile.
Avoid Over-Optimization
Excessive use of key word-rich anchor texts may attract the spam filters of Google. Rather, emphasize on quality and relevancy rather than quantity.
Internal Linking Strategically
Internal links Internal links are links that exist between pages on your own site; this is a great means of assisting a user in navigating and also helping Google to get an idea of what your site is like. Use descriptive anchor text to indicate the relationship of each page to the rest.
Don’t Link Just for SEO
All links ought to be purposeful. Connect to pages that are really of value to the reader. Google embraces intent and real usefulness rather than manipulation by the user.
Common Mistakes to Avoid with Anchor Text
The slightest errors may damage your search engine performance.
The following are just some of the pitfalls:
Excessive use of exact-match anchors – It may be spammy and lead to punishments.
Connection with poor quality sites – If you have outbound links to sites that are not reputable, it can damage your reputation.
Losing context – Anchor text must be able to fit in the sentence, not appear contrived.
Disregard of mobile users – Long or bulky anchor texts can appear clumsy on small screens.
Failing to provide alt text to image links – This may undermine your SEO signals.
Bill Yeager, Co-Owner of High Point SEO & Marketing in CT, is a leading SEO specialist, Amazon international best-selling author of the book Unleash Your Internal Drive, Facebook public figure, a marketing genius, and an authority in the digital space. He has been personally coached by Tony Robbins, a fire walker and a student of Dan Kennedy, Founder of Magnetic Marketing. Bill has been on several popular podcasts and the news including Sharkpreneur with Kevin Harrington, FOX, NBC, and ABC by way of his Secret Sauce marketing strategies. Bill enjoys fitness, cars, and spending time with his family when not at work.
