Anchor Text

What is anchor text?

Anchor text is the clickable text in a hyperlink that users see on a webpage. It’s typically blue and underlined by default, though these styles can be customized. When you create a link, the anchor text is the words that are highlighted and clickable.

For example, in the HTML code <a href=”https://www.example.com”>This is anchor text</a>, the phrase “This is anchor text” is the anchor text.

Anchor text serves two main purposes:

1. It tells users what to expect when they click on the link
2. It provides search engines with context about the linked page’s content

Why is anchor text important for SEO?

Anchor text helps search engines understand what a linked page is about. It provides context for both users and search engines, improving user experience and helping with rankings. Search engines use anchor text as a relevance signal to determine what topics a page covers.

What are the different types of anchor text?

There are several types of anchor text, each serving different purposes:

1. Exact match: Uses the exact keyword you’re targeting (e.g., “SEO strategies”)
2. Partial match: Contains a variation of your target keyword (e.g., “effective SEO techniques”)
3. Branded: Uses a brand name (e.g., “Google”)
4. Naked URL: The full URL as anchor text (e.g., “https://www.example.com”)
5. Generic: General phrases like “click here” or “read more”
6. Image anchor: When an image is linked, the alt text serves as anchor text

How do you optimize anchor text for SEO?

Follow these best practices to optimize your anchor text:

1. Be descriptive and relevant to the linked content
2. Use a natural mix of anchor text types
3. Include keywords when it makes sense naturally
4. Keep anchor text relatively short and concise
5. Ensure the text matches user expectations of what they’ll find

What are common mistakes with anchor text?

Avoid these common pitfalls:

1. Overusing exact match anchors, which can appear manipulative
2. Using too many generic anchors like “click here”
3. Keyword stuffing in anchor text
4. Using misleading text that doesn’t represent the linked content
5. Creating inconsistent internal linking patterns

How has Google’s view on anchor text changed?

Google once heavily weighted anchor text in rankings, but this led to manipulation. After the Penguin update in 2012, Google began penalizing unnatural anchor text patterns. Today, Google values diverse, natural anchor text profiles that prioritize user experience over keyword optimization.

What are the best anchor text practices for 2025?

Current best practices include:

1. Using a natural variety of anchor text types
2. Focusing on context and relevance
3. Prioritizing user experience over keyword placement
4. Creating descriptive anchors that clearly indicate what users will find
5. Avoiding over-optimization and manipulation tactics

By implementing these strategic approaches to anchor text, you’ll improve both your SEO performance and user experience. Remember that anchor text is just one element of a comprehensive SEO strategy, but when used correctly, it can significantly impact your search visibility and click-through rates.