In this article, we are going to break down how anchor text works and why you should use it. In particular, we will be going over the definition of what anchor text is and highlighting some ways that you can use it in your own marketing strategies.
What Is Anchor Text, and Why Is It Important?
Anchor text is the text that links a website to the article or blog post it is displayed within. Anchor text can be important for two reasons:
1. It can help users find your content more easily on the web;
2. It can help you rank higher in search engine results pages (SERP).
When creating your anchor text, make sure to think about what keywords your readers might use to find your content. Try to include these keywords in the anchor text of your article or blog post, and make sure that they are relevant to the topic of the article or blog post. Additionally, try to include hyperlinks to other relevant resources on your website in your anchor text as well. This will help users learn more about the topics you are discussing and allow them to explore further if they are interested.
Overall, anchor text is an important consideration when creating content for the web. By optimizing your anchor text and including relevant keywords, you can help readers find and access your content more easily.
Anchor Text and Backlinks
Anchor text is the text that appears in the hyperlink at the bottom of your blog post or web page. When someone clicks on the link, your anchor text will be used as the destination website. The more relevant and interesting your anchor text is, the more likely people are to click on it.
If you want to improve your blog’s SEO, make sure to include good anchor text in all of your posts. Not only will this help you rank higher in search engine results pages, but it will also increase website traffic.
Some tips for improving your anchor text:
1. Make sure your anchor text is relevant to your post.
2. Use keywords throughout your post.
3. Use phrases rather than single words as your anchor text.
4. Include a link to a related post or article if possible.
5. Use a mix of both internal and external links when creating your anchor text.
10 Types of Anchor Text and How They Work
There are many different types of anchor text out there, but what exactly are they, and how do they work? Is one type better than another? The answer is a resounding yes! Let’s take a look at the ten most common types of anchor text, and their pros and cons.
Generic Anchor Words
With no text on the other side of the link, a reader must rely on context to make sense of what they’ve clicked. In most cases, a generic anchor will be used so that your links become more clickable.
Generic anchor text actually has some value in a link; it will typically use language that is actionable, calls to action, or stands out.
Generic Anchor Examples:
- Click here
- This blog
- Read more
- Download this
- Over here
- About the author
- More info
- This page
Branded Anchor Text
Anchors are a great way to build in recognition and avoid getting your posts flagged for spam. Branded anchors also happen if you have public figures associated with your brand, such as a CEO, journalist, influencer, or prominent author. Be careful not to over optimize for this keyword phrase by using it in addition to the rest of the title or using additional terms after “anchor” that might be related to information publications typically try to rank higher with these days (for example, cities).
Branded Anchor Examples:
- Digital Aura of thedigitalaura.com
- According to Reuters News Agency
- Semrush
- Julia McCoy says in The Write Blog
- As CT News Junkie reports
Exact Match Link Text
If someone links to this blog post, they might choose the word “anchor text.” If they did, they’d get an exact match anchor text because that is the keyword we are targeting in this blog post.
Exact Match Anchor Examples:
- Link building
- Running shoes
- B2B conversion rate optimization
- Used books
Partial Match Anchor Words
Partial match content includes words related to your niche or keywords, with other random and generic words inserted to fill out the paragraph.
Partial-Match Anchor Examples:
- Useful SEO tools if you’re linking to a page targeting “SEO tools”
- Buy running shoes here targeting “running shoes”
- Informative keyword strategy guide targeting “keyword strategy”
Related Anchor Text
Related anchor words help Google’s crawlers understand the context of your links and profiles. Plus, they keep your link diverse so Google is less likely to detect them as spammy.
Related Anchor Examples:
- Yemen’s water crisis if you are linking to a page targeting “Yemen cholera epidemic”
- Adidas Yeezy Boost targeting “buy running shoes”
- Social media marketing targeting “Facebook content strategy”
Random Anchor Text
Some link analysis tools automatically use random and generic anchor words, and phrases that are a little less general than “click here.” Because this type of anchor might include words not related to the target keyword either, it’s not as valuable as your keywords would lead you to believe.
Random Anchor Examples:
- In-depth article
- New style
- The rules have changed
Naked Link Text
A naked anchor text links to a URL and is likely to rank as Google doesn’t think you’re trying to use spammy practices to rank for that keyword.
Naked Anchor Examples:
- https://thedigitalaura.com/local-seo/
- thedigitalaura.com/how-to-find-out-what-backlinks-your-website-already-has/
- www.thedigitalaura.com/white-label-seo-services/
Brand + Keyword Anchor Words
These input fields consist of your brand name and a keyword. They are useful for optimizing your blog when it comes to search engine optimization, as well as promoting your blog at the same time.
Brand + Keyword Anchor Examples:
- Semrush for keyword research
- Running shoes at Adidas
- Perfume at Ulta
Image Anchor Links
Image anchor links are a type of anchor text that are especially useful for websites with images.
When you create image anchor links, you will need to include the URL of the image in your anchor text. This URL will be used as the destination for the visitor when they click on the link. You can also include a title tag for the image if you want to give it some extra attention.
Image Anchor Examples:
- Affordable cat trees for apartments
- Semrush link building strategy guide
- LifeStraw travel accessories
Long-Tail Anchors
Long-tail anchors are the best choice for your website. They are keyword rich, meaning they include keywords in the anchor text that help search engines find your content. This is because search engines will rank your content higher if they can associate it with the target keyword.
Short-tail anchors are not as good as long-tail anchors. They are not as keyword rich, and they don’t include the target keyword in the anchor text. This is because search engines will not rank your content as high if they can’t find the target keyword.
It is important to use both types of anchors to increase your website’s ranking in search engines. Try using a mix of long- and short-tail anchors to get the best results.
Long-Tail Anchor Examples:
- Read more about keyword research on the Semrush blog
- Why duplicate content is bad for SEO
- Remember when Amazon was a used bookstore?
Conclusion
Anchor text is key when it comes to SEO, and it’s something that you should be paying attention to if you want your website to rank higher in search engine results. By using high-quality anchor text, you can help users find your site more easily and increase the likelihood of them clicking through to your pages. Make sure that the anchor text that you choose is relevant to your website topic and target audience, and don’t forget to add it to all of the important elements on your website.
