Anchor text is the hyperlinked words on a web page – the words you click on when you click a link.
Here’s an example, back links, in which “back links” is the anchor text.
Anchor text usually gives your visitors useful information about the content of the page you’re linking to.
Anchor text is important because it boosts your search engine ranking.
It tells search engines what the page you’re linking to is about. Used wisely, it boosts your rankings in search engines, especially in Google.
If you use “click here” as the words people are going to click on, you’re telling people the page is about the subject “click here”. If you use “Part 2″ as the anchor text, you’re telling the search engines the page is discussing “part 2″.
You wouldn’t want to rank highly for “click here” or “Part 2″.
Anchor text is so important that it’s possible for a page to appear in the top 10 in Google’s search results for a phrase which isn’t mentioned anywhere on the page.
Some blog publishers have fun using “Google bombing” to get pages ranked highly for humorous phrases. If the phrase is obscure, only a handful of links will win the phrase a No.1 ranking. If it’s highly competitive, hundreds or thousands of links might be needed.
[UPDATE: In January, 2007, Google created a new algorithm (I had to look that one up~ algorithm is a set of rules for solving a problem in a finite number of steps, as for finding the greatest common divisor) which reduced the impact of many prank Google bombs, but anchor text is still very important.]
When asking other sites to link to your site, it’s a good idea to provide them with the HTML code ready to cut and paste into their page. That way, you choose the anchor text.
You can use anchor text in:
-External links – links from other sites
-Internal links – links on your pages
-Navigation maps
-Links on your main page. A very important spot.
It’s important to remember that people will read your links as well as search engines, so the words in your anchor text need to make sense!
Does this help you understand what Anchor Text is and how to use it? What are some examples and how have you used Anchor Text on your blog?
June 23rd, 2010 at 8:59 pm
Hey Linda
I have never really understood this before. I have heard the jargon and sort of “got it” but now I do. Thank you.
Sue
Sue Price recently posted..Traditional Business vs Network Marketing
June 23rd, 2010 at 9:45 pm
Sue~
Thank you for saying so! I thought I was the only one!
~Linda
June 23rd, 2010 at 9:58 pm
Hey Linda You are going great guns on your 30 day challenge. This was a great topic for a post, I didn’t understand this originally either but it is very handy to know. Thanks for teaching us all this great info.
Belinda
Belinda Cunningham recently posted..How Do I Get Started With Affiliate Marketing
June 23rd, 2010 at 11:38 pm
Hi Linda
You’re going along great guns, aren’t you?
Good stuff!
Another way of explaining what the anchor text is, is that it’s the description of what the hyperlink is about (a bit like a label or title).
As such, where relevant, take the opportunity to use your keyword or keyword phrase in the anchor text which not only helps with rankings and search engine optimization etc, but it makes more sense to the reader. Plus, I don’t know about you, but “click here” just doesn’t do it for me anymore! lol I’m more likely to click on a link that gives me more information.
Keep up the great work.
I can’t wait to see what you’ve got for us next!
~ Kylie ~
Kylie Doak recently posted..How to Migrate (Export and Import) Posts and Comments Files From One WordPress Blog to Another
June 24th, 2010 at 5:57 am
Thank you Kylie! You are so right! Use key words for the anchor text is a great idea!
June 24th, 2010 at 5:21 am
Great post, Linda – very simply explained and very useful information. Anchor text links are a must to know!
Best,
Ana Hoffman
Ana | Traffic Generation Cafe recently posted..Art of Retweets: Top 10 Ways To Improve Your ReTweetability
June 24th, 2010 at 5:46 pm
Hello Linda, informative post
Many look at backlinks and anchor text strictly from their seo value, which is important, however “Click here” is an action step that many people will actually do, because you told them to.
It may not have much seo value but it will get them to your site
Peter Fuller MBA recently posted..Why I started my own Home Business
June 24th, 2010 at 6:45 pm
Peter~ I never thought of that~ I recognize the need for giving instruction – we all like to be told what to do, it will be interesting to watch what happens!
June 25th, 2010 at 9:43 am
Im a novice when it comes the code, so anchor text was easily understood but difficult to practice at first. Took me some time but I’m good now. It’s wise to be selective with where you place anchor text, as it may look like mindless spam to Google spiders.
June 25th, 2010 at 12:39 pm
Thank you Dewane! Placement of backlinks looking like mindless spam – I never thought of that! I appreciate the information!
June 26th, 2010 at 11:19 pm
Great post Linda and well explained. I knew how to use anchor text, but didn’t really understand the significance of it for the search engines, so that is really useful to know. Louise
June 27th, 2010 at 7:36 am
Thank you Louise!
June 27th, 2010 at 7:52 am
Thanks Linda,
This is something that was a bit muddy for me and you’ve cleared it up. There is always something to learn online. It seems endless at times. Thanks for taking a minute to explain the importance of this process. It saved me from doing the research myself.
I appreciate it!
Don Enck recently posted..Are You Being Of Service
June 27th, 2010 at 8:16 am
Thanks Don! It’s just as Kimberly and Jodie suggest – Learn, Do, Teach! I’m glad my sharing helped you!
~Linda
January 24th, 2011 at 6:10 am
Some look at backlinks and anchor text strictly from their seo value, which is good, however “Click here” is an action step that most people will actually do, because you told them to.
sidder@How to Make Money on Facebook recently posted..How To Make Money On Facebook updated Sat Jan 22 2011 10-11 pm CST
January 24th, 2011 at 3:23 pm
That’s a good point! I know people like direction! Thanks for visiting my blog! Why don’t you get a picture connected to your comments? I made a post to help you take advantage of this free and easy service! http://lindagraceonline.com/get-the-focus-on-you/ I’ll send you an email in case you don’t see this.
Linda
February 12th, 2011 at 5:23 am
This is your secret “set-it-and-forget-it” advantage… as it generates traffic hands free, without any costs or wasted efforts on your part.
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April 22nd, 2011 at 5:14 am
Im a novice when it comes the code, so anchor text was easily understood but difficult to practice at first. Took me some time but I’m good now.
Mitchell Dawson
Webmaster, supportsockshop.com
compression stockings
April 23rd, 2011 at 8:03 am
Hey Mitchell,
Why don’t you get a gravatar? I’ll show you how here http://lindagraceonline.com/get-the-focus-on-you/ then leave another comment and let me see!
Linda
May 3rd, 2011 at 4:50 am
Thanks Linda. I did take a look at gravatar link. It looks cool and fairly easy to replicate.
sa pits
Webmaster, ritani.com
engagement rings
May 17th, 2011 at 4:46 pm
Hey Linda – you are definitely right that anchor text is essential. In fact, it is the number one factor when it comes to ranking high in the search results. For years SEOs were debating whether or not using as anchor text a variation of a particular keyword was a better way to rank for that term, but recent studies have suggested otherwise. If you want to rank for something, use exactly that term as your anchor text!
Take care,
Andrew
A. Hagan@Anchor text links recently posted..Anchor Text Links and SERPs Rankings
May 17th, 2011 at 4:56 pm
Andrew,
Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving a valuable comment!
Linda
ps. why don’t you connect a Gravatar or image to your comment (actually to your email address) is very important! It’s simple and free! Check out this post and I’ll walk you through it! http://lindagraceonline.com/get-the-focus-on-you/
May 23rd, 2011 at 2:44 pm
It is one of the best way to condone things
June 28th, 2011 at 11:57 pm
Being in the SEO business, I often forget that my clients and prospective clients generally don’y know anchor text from a title tag. Thanks for the “plain English” explanation. I think I can adopt parts of it to help explain this simple but important concept to local business owners.
Charles@SEO Companies CT recently posted..Interviewing An SEO Firm
June 29th, 2011 at 2:13 pm
Charles,
Thank you for visiting! I’m glad that I shared something that helped!
Linda
ps. you don’t have a Gravatar! I created a post to show you how to get this simple and free account! Check this out here: http://lindagraceonline.com/get-the-focus-on-you/ When people can see your face they have a tendency to trust you more and turn into customers more quickly!
August 16th, 2011 at 11:01 pm
Hmmm so it is called anchor text. Yes I find it really useful Linda both for the site owner and for the reader. Thank you so much for the simple explanation! Good job on this Linda
Best Regards,
Jeff