SEO Guide: Anchor Text

What is Anchor Text?

Anchor text refers to a piece of text on a webpage that, through the form of a hyperlink, guides users from the current page to another related page. In HTML code, anchor text is usually located within the tag, as shown below:

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

In the world of Search Engine Optimization (SEO), anchor text is an element that cannot be ignored. It is the clickable text in a hyperlink, which not only affects user experience but also has a significant impact on the search engine ranking of a website.

Example

Page A is a product list page presenting shoes. You should deploy the correct keyword "shoes" on Page A, rather than "clothes, hats," etc. When other page content mentions the keyword "shoes", you need to link the text to the URL of Page A. This practice will improve the ranking of Page A for the keyword "shoes" in search engines.

For example, on this site, the following code

<a href="https://www.pageface.com/en/3-website">Create a website</a>

It will generate a link like this: Create a Website. Our ultimate goal is to optimize the keyword "Create a Website" for the page (https://www.pageface.com/zh/3-website), to achieve a higher ranking in the search results page.

In short: Anchor Text = The Keyword to Optimize for the Target Page

Types of Anchor Text

Anchor text can be divided into several types, each with its specific use and optimization strategy:

• Exact Match Anchor Text: Contains keywords that are exactly the same as those on the linked page.
• Partial Match Anchor Text: Contains variations or parts of the keywords on the linked page.
• Branded Anchor Text: Uses the brand name as the anchor text.
• Naked Link Anchor Text: Directly uses the URL as the anchor text.
• Generic Anchor Text: Uses non-descriptive words, such as "click here" or "learn more."
• Image Anchor Text: When the link is an image, the image's alt attribute is used as the anchor text.

The Importance of Anchor Text

In the process of Search Engine Optimization (SEO), anchor text links play a crucial role. Each anchor text link can be seen as a "vote" for a webpage, and these "votes" help to improve the webpage's ranking on the Search Engine Results Page (SERP). This voting mechanism is based not only on links between pages within a website but also includes links from other websites. Internal links indicate the interrelation and importance of content within a website, while external links provide recognition of authority from external sources.

More specifically, when a webpage receives anchor text links from other high-quality, relevant webpages, search engines view it as a positive signal. This indicates that the linked webpage may be valuable to users, and therefore, the search engine may increase the ranking of that webpage, making it easier for users to find. Thus, to achieve better visibility in search engines, website administrators and content creators should strive to obtain more high-quality anchor text links.

In summary, the number and quality of anchor text links are crucial for the SEO ranking of a webpage. They not only reflect the relevance and quality of the webpage's content but also enhance the overall SEO performance of the website. Therefore, carefully planning and optimizing anchor text link strategies is a key step in improving a website's ranking in search engines.

How to Optimize Anchor Text?

To optimize anchor text, consider the following aspects:

• Conciseness: Anchor text should be short and clear, avoiding lengthy and complex expressions.
• Relevance: Anchor text should be closely related to the content of the linked page.
• Keyword Density: Avoid overusing keywords to prevent search engines from considering it keyword stuffing.
• Diversity: Use different types of anchor text in both internal and external links to create a natural link graph.

Conclusion

Anchor text is a core component of SEO, and correctly using and optimizing anchor text can significantly improve a website's search engine ranking. By following the best practices mentioned above, you can ensure that your anchor text not only enhances user experience but also meets the needs of search engines.