The power of links in SEO is enormous. Thanks to them, Google can identify which sites are most
relevant to users’ searches and, thus, give them a better position in search results.
The logic is this: if a page receives many references from other authoritative websites in that niche, it
means that it is relevant within its market. That is why link building is so important for website optimization.
Within this logic, there is another relevant factor that the search engine also evaluates, in addition to
the quantity and quality of links for a page: its anchor text .
So, if you are committed to SEO work for your website, you should know the power of this factor. But
you should also know the care you need to take when using it, so as not to be penalized by Google.
In this post, we’re going to clarify everything related to anchor text, show you its importance, and give
you the best tips for using it correctly. Shall we begin?
What is an anchor text?
Anchor text is the visible text that is america phone number list clicked to access a link that takes you to another page. For example, in the phrase “investing in SEO is important”, the word “SEO” is the anchor text of the link. In HTML , you’ll see the code like this:
Therefore, anchor text accurately describes the content of the landing page and contextualizes both the user and the search engine about what they will find on it.
What is its importance in SEO?
The anchor text is one of the main natural values and their measurement factors evaluated by Google to identify what the page that received the link is about and, thus, index it for this matter .
In the example we mentioned above, the page receives a link with the anchor text “SEO”. This way, the search engine understands that the content is about that topic.
Let’s imagine that other websites also create links to that page, but using other terms in the anchor text, such as “website optimization” or “search engine optimization.” These pages are also helping Google understand the topic addressed, since the search engine is already able to understand the semantics of the words and, in this case, they all refer to the same topic.
Therefore, if several websites use “SEO” or other related terms as anchor text, Google indexes that page for these keywords giving it a good position in the search results that are related to these terms.
This logic applies both to backlinks received externally and to links created internally, since both strategies help to position a page.
Of course, there are many other factors that influence indexing and positioning, but anchor text is an important element that should always be considered.
Algorithm Updates
When Google started considering anchor uae phone number texts as a ranking factor, it was very easy to get a good position for a certain keyword.
All that was needed was to create links massively, internally and externally, using exactly the desired term in the anchor text to be well positioned in searches.
However, this created a poor user experience and Google had to revise its criteria regarding this factor.
It was then, in 2012, that the Penguin update transformed the link building scene. Websites that built links artificially and without quality started to be penalized.
After that update, the algorithm began analyzing the profile of links created for a page as a way to track manipulation attempts.
Today, if there is an excess of links with exact anchor text (i.e. all with the same keyword for which they want to rank), it can be considered a sign of spam.
The idea is that sites are linked naturally, thanks to their content and not through black hat practices .
And if you receive links naturally, it is also natural that the anchor texts vary. Therefore, you must understand how to use keywords, avoiding excessive repetition so that Google does not penalize you.
Continue reading to better understand how to use them correctly!
Types of anchor text
In order to avoid always using the same keyword in the anchor text, it is interesting to use different variations. This way, you not only avoid the algorithm interpreting that you are spamming, but also offer more resources for Google to understand your page.
There are several different types of anchor text that can be used. We’ll discuss a few of them below!
Exact correspondence
Eg: Discover everything about SEO
It is the exact use of the keyword you want to rank well for, which tells Google exactly what the target page is about. In the example above, we want to rank for the SEO term, so only that term is used as anchor text.
The only caveat is that we cannot overuse the term exact. When a page receives many exact match links, that can trigger an alert in the search engine about a possible manipulation attempt .
Partial correspondence
E.g.: Learn all about SEO techniques
To avoid using only exact match, you can use partial match. In this case, the anchor text includes the keyword along with other terms that also inform the subject of the page for Google. This way, the link turns out to be more natural.
Long tail
E.g.: Learn all about search engine optimization techniques (SEO)
This is also a type of partial match. The difference is that the anchor text becomes longer when other terms are used.
In this way, the landing page is strengthened in positioning for more specific searches .
Imagine someone searching on Google for the terms in this example. They are much more specific than just “SEO” and therefore there is also less competition.
However, it’s important not to overdo the size. To get it right, think about the words people naturally use to perform a search.
Semantic
Eg: Find out all about website optimizations
Another way to get away from exact matching is by using synonyms of the keyword .
In this way, the anchor text adds semantic value and helps the search engine to have greater precision about the subject of the page.
This is especially useful when the anchor text uses ambiguous terms. For example, the word “memory” can refer to different topics. But if the intention is to talk about computers, using the synonym “RAM” helps Google better understand its semantic field.
Generic
E.g.: Discover everything about SEO: click here
Expressions like “click here”, “find out more”, “learn more”, etc. are classified as generic anchor text. After all, they can be used with any type of link.
The problem is that these terms do not add any semantic value to the anchor text and should therefore be avoided.
Imagine, for example, if someone types “click here” into Google. Surely, that example page would not appear in the results.
Brand
Eg: Discover everything about SEO on Rock Content
This is the use of the brand name (of the website or blog) as anchor text. This type is often used in natural external references, so it is hardly considered spam.
However, it doesn’t give Google much information about what the content is about.
Brand with keyword
Eg: Discover everything about SEO on Rock Content
On the other hand, the use of the brand, blog or website in the anchor text, together with the keyword, is more relevant information for the search engine and helps the brand to position itself as a reference for that term.
This type of anchor text uses the target page’s own URL. If you use that option, make sure you’re using a friendly URL , so Google can easily understand it.
Image
Links do not need to be created only in text, images can also reference other pages.
In this case, Google reads the “alt” tag as anchor text. That’s why we emphasize the importance of completing this tag to optimize your images .
