Anchor Text

What is Anchor Text?

Anchor text is the visible, clickable text in a hyperlink that appears on a webpage. It serves two key purposes:

1. It tells users what to expect when they click the link.

2. It helps search engines understand the context and relevance of the linked page.

In SEO, anchor text plays a vital role in signaling the topic of the destination page. Well-optimized anchor text can improve search engine rankings, distribute link equity, and enhance user experience.

Anchor Text Example (HTML Format)

• Anchor Text: “Learn more about SEO techniques”
• Destination URL: https://example.com/seo-guide

This example clearly tells both users and search engines what the linked page is about.

Types of Anchor Text (With Examples)

Understanding the different types of anchor text helps you craft smarter, more SEO-friendly links.

1. Exact Match Anchor

Includes the exact keyword or phrase you’re targeting.

Example:

<a href=”yourblog.com/seo-tips”>SEO tips</a>

2. Partial Match Anchor

Contains a variation or part of the target keyword.

Example:

<a href=”yourblog.com/seo-tips”>best practices for SEO</a>

3. Branded Anchor

Uses your brand name as the anchor.

Example:

<a href=”https://moz.com”>Moz</a&gt;

4. Naked URL Anchor

Displays the URL itself as anchor text.

Example:

<a href=”https://ahrefs.com”>https://ahrefs.com</a&gt;

5. Generic Anchor

Uses common phrases that don’t include keywords.

Example:

<a href=”yourblog.com/seo-guide”>Click here</a>
<a href=”yourblog.com/seo-guide”>Learn more</a>

6. Image Anchor

When you link an image, Google uses the image’s alt text as the anchor.

Example:

Why Anchor Text Matters in SEO!

1. Keyword Relevance

Google uses anchor text to understand what the linked page is about, influencing how it ranks in search results for specific keywords.

2. User Experience

Anchor text provides users with context and clarity, helping them decide whether to click the link or not.

3. Link Equity Distribution

Search engines use anchor text to pass relevance and authority (link juice) to the destination page, which impacts its SEO value.

4. Avoiding Penalties

Over-optimization—such as using exact match keywords in every link—can trigger Google penalties for unnatural link-building. A diverse anchor text profile is essential.

Anchor Text Mistakes to Avoid

• Using too many exact match anchors (looks manipulative)

• Overusing generic anchors like “click here”

• Linking with irrelevant text

• Using broken or misleading links

Anchor Text SEO Strategy Example

Let’s say you’re publishing a blog post about “Top 10 Email Marketing Tools” and want to link to your product review page.

Bad Anchor:

Click here

Good Anchor:

Check out our in-depth review of email marketing tools.

The optimized version helps search engines understand the topic and provides users with a reason to click.

Final Thoughts on Anchor Text

Anchor text is more than just clickable text—it’s a ranking signal, a user experience enhancer, and a trust-building tool. Whether you’re building backlinks, creating internal links, or auditing your SEO, crafting the right anchor text can significantly improve your visibility, engagement, and search rankings.

Want to audit your anchor text distribution? Tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, and Google Search Console make it easy to monitor and optimize your link strategy.