What is Anchor Text?

Anchor text is the visible, clickable text within a hyperlink. It serves as a signal to search engines about the topic of the linked page. Well-optimized anchor text helps both users understand what to expect and search engines understand content relationships.

Common anchor text types: Exact match (uses target keyword exactly), Partial match (includes keyword with other words), Branded (uses brand or company name), Naked URL (displays the full URL), Generic (like "click here" or "learn more"), and Image anchors (alt text serves as anchor for linked images).

Anchor text affects SEO through: Relevance signals to search engines, Context for linked page topics, Link equity distribution, User experience and click expectations, and Over-optimization penalties if manipulated. Natural diversity in anchor text is key.

Optimize anchor text by: Using descriptive, relevant text, Maintaining natural variety, Avoiding over-optimization with exact match, Keeping anchors concise but meaningful, Ensuring context makes sense to readers, and Varying internal link anchors across pages.

Avoid these errors: Over-using exact match anchors (looks manipulative), Generic anchors that waste opportunity, Irrelevant anchor text that confuses users, Too-long anchor text that loses impact, and Ignoring anchor text for internal links. Balance optimization with natural language.