Anchor text – how to place it in the text?
In the process of website optimization, linking plays an important role – both external (incoming links from other sites) and internal (within the same site). Directly related to linking are anchor texts, or anchors. What are they and how should they look?
What is anchor text?
Anchor text is a hyperlink leading to another page or subpage, embedded in a piece of text.
They are included in the HTML code between <a> tags, e.g. <a href=”https://website-address.us/”>anchor text</a>.
Anchor text is usually distinguished by a different color and underlining. When a user clicks on such a link, they will be taken to an external site (external linking) or another page within the same site (internal linking).
To illustrate this, we will now place an anchor text linking to our article on internal linking.
Anchor text – types
Below, we will present various types of anchors using examples from our site. We distinguish them based on the text in which the link is embedded.
- Branded anchor – the name of the site, e.g., Content Writer;
- URL – directly placing the entire URL code in the text, e.g., https://contentwriter.us/;
- Exact match – a precisely matched keyword, e.g., copywriting agency;
- Partial match – a modified or expanded keyword phrase, e.g., copywriting agency in New York;
- Zero match – a navigational link that does not contain keywords, e.g., here, see;
- Graphic anchor – a link to a website can also include an image, logo, or photo. In this case, the link with the URL is placed.
Anchor text – how to use it?
As shown above, there are many types of anchor texts. However, their number in a single text should be approached with caution. It’s essential to ensure the natural flow of the content and maintain stylistic consistency.
For internal linking, it is best to direct links to places related to the topic of the given article or subpage. If you are writing about a particular topic, it is worthwhile to use anchors to refer readers to pages that explain the terms used or expand on the subject matter.
In summary, a good anchor text should be naturally integrated into the text, unobtrusive, and justified. If it meets these three simple criteria, you can include it confidently. Remember that frequently bending stylistic and grammatical rules to insert an anchor “by force” will not go unnoticed by Google’s algorithms and may result in a lower rating for your site.
Summary
- Anchor text is a hyperlink embedded in a piece of text, usually distinguished by a different color and underlining.
- We identify several types of anchors, including branded anchors, URL anchors, partial match anchors, and zero match anchors.
- Anchor text must be justified, unobtrusive, and naturally integrated into the content.
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