Hello readers!
In this article, I am going to tell you how to use anchor text so that you can maximize your SEO results. We will start with the basic understandings first.
What is Anchor Text?
Anchor text is the visible, clickable text in a hyperlink. Anchor text is also known as Link text, Link label or Link title. For example, see the link mentioned below-
In the above link, ‘anchor text guide seo’ is the anchor text.
Also ReadIn the present-day browsers, anchor text is often blue and underlined but the website’s link color and style can be changed by HTML or CSS.
Why is Anchor Text important?
It is a well-known fact that Anchor text distribution can make a profile or break it in the SERP’s.
As long as backlinks matter for the SEO ranking factors, the anchor text will always play a significant role. Before the 2012 Penguin update, anchor text was one of the easiest ways for Google to understand whether a particular website is pertinent or not. But now, it is one of the best ways for Google to penalize websites for spam and over-optimization.
Google Penguin, a codename for Google algorithm update, targets any website that was flagrantly doing artificial, spammy, or shoddy link building technique in an effort to “play-off’ the search.
Anchor Text before Penguin Update
When there was no Penguin update in Google Algorithm, all of us used Anchor Text like crazy. We all have used it almost to its extent because there was no defined rule for the usage of Anchor Text. We could use anchors that completely matched all our backlinks and we would rank. Using anchors that matched all backlinks made the task easier for all of us. Then a major Google algorithm rolled out that affected the search in many ways (Google want us to face challenges all the time).
That update was Google Penguin.
Anchor Text after Penguin Update
Using Anchor Text changed a lot after the first Penguin update was launched on April 24, 2012. This update turned link building topsy-turvy. If any website made use of artificial, spammy or low-quality link building techniques thinking that they could ‘deceive’ the search engine, that website was targeted by Google Penguin.
I feel lucky sometimes that I have never been a victim Google algorithm.
Now, this must be coming in your mind that how can you determine whether a website is using artificial backlinks or not?
It’s simple to determine that by your use of anchor text. A normal website should not have 100% of its backlinks with the anchor text.
I will tell you how Penguin works. Understanding Penguin is not complicated but it is damn important to save your site from getting penalized.
Here’s exactly how Penguin works:
- You build a backlink
- Google indexes the backlink
- Google places this new backlink into its database for your specific website, also known as your “link profile”
- Steps 1-3 are repeated over-and-over, and now you have a “link profile” that the algorithm can analyze
Now, this is when the actual thing starts:
Google algorithm examines and checks the link profile and sets it side by side with your on-site keyword optimization. Suppose your on-page content is optimized for “IPL Schedule” and 100% of your anchors are “IPL Schedule”, then you will acquire a penalty. So, don’t ever use 100% text even haphazardly because you will have to pay a penalty if Google algorithm spots that you are doing the following things:
- A) Working to rank “IPL Schedule”
- B) Building links artificially
Exact match anchor text along with keyword-rich optimization will lead to a Penguin penalty for you. And who wants that? So, to avoid receiving a penalty, you need to understand how and when to use keyword-rich anchors.
Do you want to learn the efficient use of keyword-rich anchors? I will guide you on that.
In the below-given topics, I will tell you about different types of anchor texts that are necessary to understand if you want to learn the efficient use of keyword-rich anchors and how to create a natural anchor text profile.
Understand different types of anchor texts below:
10 Different Types of Anchor Text
- Branded Anchors
Links that have your brand name in it are called Branded anchors. These are the riskless type of anchor text if your domain is branded but having an exact match domain is also not safe.
For example: Here at Digi Hub Post, you can learn Anchor text simply.
2. Latent Semantic Indexing (LSI) Anchors
LSI Anchors are just the variation of main keywords. Anybody can find these keywords easily. We can use Google’s suggestions or Search related to “(your keyword here)” at the bottom of the page.
For example:
Our targeted keyword is “Anchor Text”
LSI keywords could be-
- What is Anchor Text
- Anchor Text Guide
- Anchor Text Types
- Anchor Text Usage
- Anchor Text Optimization
3. Partial-Match Anchors
Partial-Match Anchors and LSI Anchors are much alike. The major difference between them is that instead of using tools we have to create partial-match anchors ourselves.
For example:
- Learn about Anchor Text
- Professional Anchor Text guide
- The best Anchor Text article
4. Long Anchors
Long Anchors are a little longer than Partial-match anchors.
For examples:
- I am learning the use of Anchor Text for the better rankings of my business
Anchor Text is the key to get your business ranked
5. Generic Anchors
Anchors that Call-to-action (CTAs) are called Generic Anchors.
- read this
- read more
- read here
- find here
- find this
- find more
- Click Here
- Clicking Here
- Go Here
- Going Here
- Read This
- Read More
- Find Out More
- Discover More
- Learn More
- Read More Here
- Discover More Here
- Learn More Here
- Click This Link
- Visit This Link
- Homepage
For example: Click here to read more. “Click here” and “read more” are generic anchors
6. Naked Link Anchors
Anchors that use raw URL are called Naked Link Anchors.
For example:
- https://www.digihubpost.com/
- https://www. digihubpost.com
- digihubpost.com/
- digihubpost.com
- www.digihubpost.com/
- www.digihubpost.com
7. Brand and Keyword Anchor
Using Brand and Keyword Anchors together is a skilled way to build a distinctive and natural profile.
For example:
- Learn all SEO techniques on Digi Hub Post.
- Digi Hub Post SEO techniques.
In the above examples, “Digi Hub Post” is brand and “SEO techniques” is the targeted keyword.
8. No Anchor Trick
Big brands are playing strategically these days. These brands have “noText” anchors.
For Example:
- Digi Hub Post
- www.digihubpost.com
- https://www.digihubpost.com
- digihubpost.com
- digihubpost
- https://www.digihubpost.com/
- <a>no text</a>
9. Image Anchors
To modify our profile, we use image links.
10. Exact Match Anchors
An exact match anchor is the exact match of the target keyword you have set for the targeted page.
For example: If “Anchor text” is your target keyword, then exact match anchor would be “Anchor text”.
Build relevant content without Exact match Anchors
Building relevant content holds supreme importance in link building; therefore it is ideal to place your targeted keywords very close to anchors.
I will recommend you that instead of being termed as ‘spammy’ or ‘manipulative’, always value creating a natural profile.
For example:
- Branded Anchors
Target Keyword: Anchor Text
Anchor Text: Digi Hub Post
“Digi Hub Post provides the best Anchor Text guide.”
2. Naked Link
Target Keyword: Anchor Text
Anchor Text: https://www.digihubpost.com/anchor-text-guide-seo/
For in-depth knowledge of Anchor Text, visit https://www.digihubpost.com/anchor-text-guide-seo/
3. Generic Anchors
Target Keyword: Anchor Text
Anchor Text: click here
“Click here to read about Anchor text.”
Anchor Text Optimization
Optimizing anchor text can be a devious move. Some people do the mistake of over-optimizing their anchor text which results in unnecessary penalties.
Here are some tips to optimize your anchor text without being penalized by Google.
- Relevant anchor text– To make anchor texts work best for you, keep them relevant to the content you have put them in. The more your article is relevant to the targeted keywords, the better your rank will be in the SERPs. For example, if your keyword is resorts for couple, writing an article about the resorts for couple in your article will be the best move for you.
- Allocate your anchor text wisely- Anchor text distribution can make or break the rank of your website in search, so focus your energy here. As per my experience and observation, what makes a profile natural is as follows:
- Branded Anchor text: 30%
This is the safest anchor to use. Branded anchors are anchors that use brand name or domain name in it. (I.e. travelbagpost)
- Naked link anchor: 45%
You should include these anchors in your website URL (i.e. www.travelbagpost.com or travelbagpost.com)
- Miscellaneous anchors-14%
Like click here, go to website, etc.
- Record your anchor texts– It is important to track the anchor texts that you have used when you are constructing backlinks. Be organized and make sure that you are not over-optimizing your page with keyword-rich anchors. I will recommend you tools like SEMrush, Monitor Backlinks and Ahrefs to monitor your keywords.
- Refrain from internal linking with keyword-rich anchors- Don’t internal link with keyword-rich anchor text because too many keyword-rich anchors can have a negative effect on your profile. So, create a long anchor and spread the keywords within.
Conclusion:
In this post-penguin update, be careful when using anchors since they can penalize your site. Naked link anchors and branded anchors are the safest and effective types of anchors. Focus on building links using quality content and a diverse range of anchor texts. Also, you know the anchor text ratio that Google is looking for so begin your link building campaign whose anchors are related to your niche and perform better than them.