In this article, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about using anchor text effectively to improve your website’s visibility and search engine ranking. This guide will assist you in comprehending and putting into practice practical anchor text best practices, regardless of your level of experience with SEO.
By the end of this article, you’ll know exactly what anchor text is, why it matters for SEO, and how to optimize it without risking penalties from search engines. I’ll share simple strategies you can use immediately to boost your site’s performance.
No fancy jargon or complicated theories here—just practical tips and real-world advice that you can put into action today!
What Is Anchor Text?
Anchor text is simply the clickable words in a hyperlink. It’s the text you see instead of the actual URL.
When I first learned HTML, I discovered that anchor text sits between the <a> and </a> tags. Here’s what it looks like:
<a href=”https://example.com”>This is the anchor text</a>
Let me show you visually.
When you see a sentence like “Check out my favorite recipes for dinner ideas,” the underlined blue words “favorite recipes” are the anchor text. It’s what you click on, not the URL itself.
I’ve found that anchor text comes in two main categories: internal and external.
Internal link anchor text links to other pages on your own website. For example, when I link from my home page to my contact page, that’s internal. External link anchor text points to other websites entirely. When I link to a source or reference outside my site, that’s external.
What surprised me when I started building websites was that both types matter, just in different ways. I realized that good anchor text isn’t just about having clickable words—it’s about choosing the right words that help both visitors and search engines understand what they’ll find when they click. This simple concept became one of the most powerful tools in my SEO toolkit.
Why Anchor Text Matters for SEO
I used to think search engines were mysterious black boxes, but then I learned something important: they rely heavily on anchor text to understand content.
When Google sees my link that says “best chocolate cake recipe,” it uses those words as clues about the linked page. It’s like telling search engines, “Hey, this is what the page is about!”
In my experience, anchor text works as a powerful ranking signal. When lots of quality websites link to my baking blog using keywords like “amazing dessert ideas,” search engines start to recognize my site as an authority on desserts. I’ve watched my rankings climb when I got relevant anchor text pointing to my pages.
But here’s something I wish someone had told me earlier: it’s not just about search engines. Good anchor text makes a huge difference for actual humans visiting my site. When I write “click here” as anchor text, it tells visitors nothing. But when I use “download my free meal planner,” people immediately know what they’ll get when they click.
I’ve learned that search engines track how people interact with my links. If visitors click and stay on the page, that sends positive signals. If they bounce right back, that hurts my rankings. Finding that balance between SEO-friendly anchor text and text that real people want to click on has been a game-changing strategy for my website.
One way to see this in action is by checking how SEO link building agencies like TheBlueprints structure their anchor text strategies. They focus on link relevance, diversity, and user intent to drive meaningful SEO results.
Types of Anchor Text (With Examples)
Over the years, I’ve experimented with different types of anchor text. Each has its place in a smart linking strategy. Let me show you what I’ve learned:
Exact Match
Exact match anchor text uses, as the name implies, the same or exact keyword you’re targeting. When I wrote about coffee makers, I used anchor text like “best coffee makers,” linking to my review page.
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Example: “I recently tested several of the best coffee makers for my kitchen.”
Partial Match
Partial match anchor text includes your keyword plus the addition of other words. I’ve found this more natural and safer for SEO.
Example: “Check out my guide on choosing the right coffee maker for your needs.”
Branded
Branded anchor text uses your company or website name. I always use this when linking to my homepage.
Example: “Coffee Corner (my brand) is my go-to source for brewing tips.”
Naked URL Anchor
In some cases, I just use the raw URL as the clickable text. This type of anchor text is more straightforward and gives natural variation.
Example: “For more information, visit https://coffeecorner.com“.
Generic
Generic anchor texts don’t contain keywords but give action cues. I use these sparingly since they least likely help with the rankings.
Example: “If you want to learn more, click here.“
Latent Semantic Indexing (LSI)/Semantic
LSI are phrases related to my main keyword. I love using these for a natural mix.
Example: “Learn about brewing techniques that bring out the best flavors.”
Image Alt-Text Anchors
When I use clickable images, the alt text becomes anchor text for search engines.
Example: <a href=”https://example.com”><img src=”coffee.jpg” alt=”freshly brewed coffee techniques”></a>
Ultimately, I’ve learned not to stick to just one type. When I varied my anchor text profile, my rankings improved, and I avoided penalties. The key is to make your links helpful for real readers first and then think about search engines second.
Quick Overview of Anchor Text Types
Here’s a quick overview of the different types of anchor texts and their use cases.
| Type | Example | When to Use |
| Exact Match | SEO tips | When the keyword matches your target |
| Partial Match | best SEO practices | Keyword is in the phrase |
| Branded | HubSpot | Using a brand name |
| Naked URL | www.example.com | Shows the full URL |
| Generic | Click here, Learn more | Avoid overusing these |
| Image Alt-Text | Alt text acts as anchor | Used when image links to a page |
Internal vs. External Anchor Text
I made a big mistake when I started with SEO—I focused only on getting external links and completely ignored internal linking. Don’t be like me! Internal anchor text (links between pages on your own site) deserves just as much attention.
When I link from my popular coffee brewing guide to my newer article about espresso machines, I’m passing value or “link juice” between my own pages. I’ve started creating content clusters where related content links to each other with relevant anchor text. This helps search engines see the connections between my content and understand the structure of my site.
The most significant difference I’ve noticed is the level of control. With internal links, I have 100% control over the anchor text. I can change it anytime I want. With external links, I’m at the mercy of whoever is linking to me. That’s why I focus on creating link-worthy content that naturally encourages people to use good anchor text when they reference my work.
There’s also a difference in the risk factor. Going overboard with exact-match anchor text in internal links might look suspicious, but it won’t penalize you as aggressively as external anchor text might. I still aim for natural-sounding internal links. However, I can be more strategic with keyword placement without setting off alarm bells with search engines.
My site’s overall authority and ranking improved dramatically when I balanced my focus between internal and external anchor text. Don’t make the mistake of ignoring what’s in your control!
Best Practices for Anchor Text Optimization
After years of trial and error, I’ve nailed down some anchor text practices that actually work. The biggest lesson I’ve learned? Keep it NATURAL.
When I first started, I stuffed every link with keywords. Big mistake! Now, I write anchor text that flows naturally within my sentences. For example, instead of awkwardly inserting “best coffee maker reviews,” I’ll write something like “Check out what I discovered when testing these coffee makers.”
- Diversity
Diversity has been key to my success. I mix up my anchor text types like this:
| Anchor Type | My Usage |
| Exact Match | 10-15% |
| Partial Match | 20-30% |
| Branded | 20-30% |
| Generic | 15-20% |
| Naked URL | 5-10% |
| LSI/Semantic | 15-25% |
I’m not rigid with these percentages, but they give me a healthy mix that works well.
- Relevance
Relevance matters more than I initially thought. I ensure my anchor text relates to the page I’m linking to. When I link to my French press tutorial, I use anchor text like “brewing with a French press” rather than generic terms like “coffee brewing” or unrelated terms like “coffee beans.” This relevance helps both search engines and my readers.
- Balance
I also keep an eye on my anchor text ratios across my entire site. Too many exact match anchors can trigger spam filters, while too many generic ones waste SEO potential. I aim for balance.
- Clarity
Most importantly, I think about the humans reading my content. Is my anchor text clear? Does it help them decide whether to click?
- Helpfulness
Search engines also reward me when I focus on making my anchor text helpful for real people. After all, Google wants to provide the best user experience possible.
Anchor Text Strategy by Website Type
I’ve worked with different types of websites, and I’ve learned that anchor text strategy isn’t one-size-fits-all. Here’s what I’ve found works best for different website types:
Local SEO Sites
For my local business site, location-based anchor text has been crucial. Instead of just using “plumbing services,” I use “plumbing services in Portland” or “Portland emergency plumber.”
I include:
- City names in about 20% of anchors
- Service + location combinations
- Local landmarks or neighborhoods, when relevant
This helps me rank for those location-specific searches that bring in actual customers.
Affiliate Websites
With my affiliate sites, I’ve had to be extra careful. Search engines watch these closely! I avoid overusing review-based or “buy now” anchor text. Instead of “best running shoes review,” I might use “What I discovered about these running shoes” or “My experience with Brooks Ghost 14.”
I focus on:
- Problem-solving anchors (“how I fixed my knee pain”)
- Experience-based text (“after testing 12 models”)
- Question-format anchors (“Are Hoka shoes worth the price?”)
SaaS Businesses
I emphasize benefit-focused anchor text over feature lists for my software clients. Instead of “cloud storage software,” I use “how we saved 30 hours per week with better file management.”
I’ve found success with:
- Problem/solution pairings
- Results-oriented phrasing
- Industry-specific terminology (but not jargon)
eCommerce Stores
With online stores, I’ve learned to balance category and product-specific anchor text.
I use a mix of:
- Category anchors (“summer dresses”)
- Specific product anchors (“floral maxi dress with pockets”)
- Need-based anchors (“comfortable wedding guest outfits”)
I’ve seen the best results when I match anchor text to the stage of the buying journey. Top-funnel content gets broader anchor text, while bottom-funnel gets more specific.
No matter what type of site I’m working with, I always adapt my approach to the specific niche and audience. What works for a financial site often bombs for a food blog.
Tools to Analyze & Monitor Anchor Text
I didn’t realize how unbalanced my anchor text profile was until I started using the proper tools. These days, I rely on a few key platforms to keep track of who’s linking to me and how.
Ahrefs has been my go-to for years. Their Site Explorer shows me a complete breakdown of my anchor text profile. I can quickly spot if I have too many exact match anchors that might trigger penalties. The “Anchors” report gives me percentages of each anchor text type, which helps me maintain a natural anchor text distribution.
SEMrush offers a different angle with its Backlink Audit tool. I use it to identify toxic links with suspicious anchor text patterns. Their toxic score system had saved me from several potential penalties by flagging unnatural anchor text profiles before they became problems.
For quick checks, I sometimes use Moz’s Link Explorer. Their anchor text cloud visualization gives me an instant visual of which anchors are most common in my profile. If one anchor jumps out as oversized in the cloud, I know I need to diversify.
My typical workflow looks like this:
- Monthly check of new contextual backlinks and their anchor text
- Quarterly deep-dive into my overall anchor text distribution
- Immediate alert review if I see ranking drops
I’ve set up custom dashboards that track my anchor text health over time. I look for sudden increases in exact match anchors (often a red flag) or changes in brand mention ratios.
The key metrics I track include:
- Branded vs. non-branded anchor ratio
- Exact match percentage
- Toxic anchor alert count
These tools have helped me maintain a healthy, diverse anchor profile that ranks me well without triggering penalties.
Common Anchor Text Mistakes to Avoid
- Over-optimized anchor text.
I’ve made plenty of anchor text mistakes and seen clients make even more. The biggest blunder? Over-optimization.
When I started, I thought more exact match anchors meant better rankings. Wrong! I once had a client with 65% exact match anchors, and they got hit hard by a Google update. Now, I keep exact match anchors under 15% of my total profile.
- Irrelevant anchor text.
Another mistake I kept making was using irrelevant or misleading anchor text. I’d link words like “click here” to important pages, wasting valuable SEO juice.
Or worse, I’d use anchor text promising one thing when the linked page delivered something completely different. This confused search engines and frustrated my visitors, increasing my bounce rate.
- Overuse of anchor texts.
I also used to repeat the same anchor text over and over, linking to different pages each time. Talk about confusing! Search engines couldn’t figure out which page should rank for that term. Now, I make sure each page I want to rank has unique anchor text pointing to it.
- Thoughtless linking.
The “link for the sake of linking” approach burned me, too. I’d add links just to hit some arbitrary number without considering whether they added value. These days, I only add a link if it helps my reader learn more or take relevant action.
The pattern I’ve noticed in all these mistakes is prioritizing search engines over real people. When I stopped trying to “trick” Google and started focusing on creating helpful, intuitive links for my readers, my rankings actually improved. Funny how that works!
Final Thoughts
Let me be straight with you: mastering anchor text isn’t about perfection; it’s about progress. After years of experimenting, I’ve learned that the most successful SEO strategy is surprisingly simple: focus on helping your readers first.
When I first started, I thought anchor text was some complicated technical trick. Now, I know it’s just about creating clear, helpful links that actually guide people where they want to go. Think of your anchor text like road signs—they should be clear, informative, and point people in the right direction.
Remember, search engines are getting way smarter each day. They’re not looking for keyword-rich anchor text links anymore. They want what your readers want: genuine, useful content that solves problems. Keeping your anchor text natural, relevant, and user-friendly will put you ahead of most websites.
Don’t get overwhelmed by all the different strategies. Start small. Mix up your anchor text types, keep them relevant, and always ask yourself, “Would this link make sense to my reader?” If the answer is YES, you’re on the right track.
