Anchor text

Definition

Link text, also known as anchor text, is the visible, clickable text in a hyperlink. It is the text that users see and click on when they are navigating from one webpage to another.[1]

Example

To assign a link to the text, use the following HTML syntax.

<a href="http://example.com">anchor text</a>

Best practices

Here are a few best practices for using anchor text in search engine optimization (SEO):

Use relevant and targeted keywords

Anchor text should be relevant and targeted to the content of the webpage it is linking to. This can help to signal the relevance of the webpage to particular keywords or phrases and improve the chances of ranking well in the search results.

Use a variety of anchor texts

It is important to avoid using the same anchor text repeatedly, as this can be seen as spammy by search engines. Instead, aim to use a variety of anchor text that is relevant and valuable to users.

Use natural language

Anchor text should be written in natural language and should be easy for users to understand. Avoid using jargon or technical terms that may be unfamiliar to users.

Avoid over-optimizing

It is important to avoid over-optimizing anchor text, as this can be seen as spammy by search engines. Instead, aim for a balance between using relevant keywords and creating anchor text that is useful and valuable to users.

By following these best practices, businesses can use anchor text effectively in their SEO efforts and improve the ranking of their websites in the search results.

Anchor text in SEO

In search engine optimization (SEO), link text is important because it can help to signal the relevance of a webpage to a particular keyword or phrase. By using relevant and targeted link text, businesses can improve the chances that their pages will rank well in the search results for those keywords.

For example, if a business has a webpage about women's running shoes, and another website links to that webpage using the anchor text best women's running shoes, that link may be seen as more relevant to the keyword women's running shoes than a link using the anchor text click here. As a result, the webpage may be more likely to rank well in the search results for the keyword women's running shoes.

Related links

Anchor Text: Types, SEO Implications, and Best Practices

Google developer documentation style guide - Link text