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The Complete Guide to Anchor Text Optimisation in 2021

Peter Jones • Sep 14, 2021

The Complete Guide to Anchor Text Optimisation in 2021

A black and white drawing of an anchor with sharks swimming around it.

Different kinds of anchor-type texts are used for different contents. The user should know when to use these anchor texts and when not to use them. Continue reading if you want to optimise your anchor text strategies for your page.


What is Anchor Text?


Anchor Text is a clickable link to connect two pages on an HTML hyperlink. A different color helps in differentiating the anchor from other non-clickable text of web pages. After Google's inception, this anchor text has become a core part of the Google algorithms.


Search engines use these anchors to know the linked page. According to Google, anchor text pointing is more beneficial to rank your page than the target page's content. 


What is the role of Anchor Text in SEO?


Anchor links all the web pages together and allows the searchers to click from one URL link to another. They are also available in formats like images, documents, programs, or files. They are used for multiple purposes, but most importantly, they are used to associate external and internal links between the pages.


Google's algorithms use anchor text for linked-to page's topic


When a number of links are all linked to a single page, and the anchor text within the links describe a common theme, this enhances the page rankings for the keywords that are related to the main content. 


External and Internal anchor link optimisation


There are two types of linking optimisation Internal and external linking, here are some quick do’s and don’ts you need to know.


Internal anchor text

  1. Transfer the link value from one link to another, improving usability, navigation, searches, index, etc.
  2. Avoid matching keywords.
  3. The selected word for keyword should define the content that you are linking with, naturally.
  4. Link 3 to 4 internal links with your new content.


External Anchor text

  1. The majority of links arrive from third-party websites.
  2. Name your content well and make a catchy headline.
  3. Use Keywords for better SEO ranking.
  4. Influence your external link through a self-managed link.


What are the different types of Anchor Text? 


Branded Anchors

In this type of anchor, the brand name is used as anchor text. The brand owners generally link up the brand name with the website. As per studies, more than half of websites link their brand name with the anchor. It should cover a huge portion of the anchor text profile. 


For example:

  • Brian Dean's Backlinko
  • SEO Sherpa
  • AS Lifehacker reports


Exact Match Anchors 

In this anchor, common keywords are used to target the anchor link. It is useful to get links for the same keywords that you are looking for.    Although these anchors can reduce the overall click-through rate.


It has some following examples:

  • Buy Football boots
  • SEO company
  • Best restaurants in Leicester


Related Anchors

Related anchors use different variations of Keyword phrases, but they use synonyms of keywords instead of keywords. The most used anchors are:


  • Optimising images for search rank high on Google images 
  • Top tips for ranking videos


These are beneficial to create a more diverse link profile and reduce the chances of over-optimisation.


Generic Anchors 

These anchors use more call-to-actions than any specific keywords. These are best to attract a robust audience because they use action verbs. For example:

  • Click here
  • Read more
  • More info
  • Buy now
  • Sign up

  Anchor texts are a great way to increase SEO and in the prevention of over-optimisation. Looking for a better SEO strategy to boost your rankings? Then call Kangaroo UK today, your local SEO experts.

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