What is Anchor Text?
Anchor text is the clickable text in a hyperlink that tells users and search engines what the linked page is about. It serves as a crucial ranking factor because it provides context about the destination page’s content and relevance.
Ecommerce SEO Glossary > On-Page SEO > Anchor Text
What You Need to Know about Anchor Text
Descriptive Text Improves Rankings
Search engines use anchor text to understand what your linked pages are about. Pages with relevant, descriptive anchor text typically rank better for related keywords.
Avoid Generic Phrases
Click here and “read more” provide no SEO value. Specific, keyword-rich anchor text helps both users and search engines understand link destinations better.
Internal Linking Strategy Matters
Strategic internal anchor text distributes page authority throughout your site. Use keyword-focused anchor text when linking to important pages you want to rank.
Over-Optimization Penalties
Excessive exact-match anchor text can trigger Google penalties. Natural variation in anchor text patterns protects against algorithmic penalties while maintaining relevance.
Brand and URL Anchors Are Safe
Using branded terms or naked URLs as anchor text appears natural to search engines. These anchor types provide balance in healthy link profiles.
Context Affects Link Value
Anchor text surrounded by relevant content carries more weight. Links placed within contextually related paragraphs provide stronger ranking signals than isolated links.
Frequently Asked Questions about Anchor Text
1. What makes anchor text effective for SEO?
Descriptive, relevant text that accurately describes the destination page content while appearing natural within the surrounding text context.
2. How much anchor text should match target keywords?
Aim for 15-30% exact match anchors, with the majority using branded terms, partial matches, and natural variations to avoid penalties.
3. Does anchor text matter for internal links?
Yes, internal anchor text helps search engines understand page topics and distributes authority. Use descriptive text when linking to pages you want to rank.
4. Can poor anchor text hurt rankings?
Over-optimized anchor text with too many exact matches can trigger penalties. Generic phrases like “click here” waste opportunities but don’t typically cause harm.
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