What Is Anchor Text in SEO? Types, Examples and Best Practices
The clickable words of a link tell readers and search engines what to expect. Here is how to write them well.
Anchor text is the visible, clickable text of a link. In "read our guide to fixing redirect chains", the underlined words are the anchor text. It tells readers where the link goes, and it gives search engines context about the linked page.
Types of anchor text
- Descriptive โ describes the target page: "how to fix broken images".
- Exact match โ the exact keyword the target page wants to rank for.
- Partial match โ includes part of the keyword or a variation.
- Branded โ your brand name: "SeoSpidie".
- Naked URL โ the address itself: "seospidie.com".
- Generic โ "click here", "read more", "this page".
- Image links โ the image's alt text acts as the anchor text.
Anchor text for internal links
On your own site you control the anchors, so make them useful:
- Describe the target page in natural words that fit the sentence.
- Vary the wording across pages rather than repeating one exact phrase everywhere.
- Avoid "click here" โ it tells readers and search engines nothing.
- Do not link the same anchor text to two different pages; it confuses which page is about what.
Read internal linking strategy for small websites, and find good places to add links with the internal link suggestions tool.
Anchor text for backlinks
You do not control how other sites link to you, and you should not try to force it. A natural link profile has mostly branded, URL and descriptive anchors, with only a small share of exact keywords. Many backlinks using the same exact-match keyword look manipulated and are a classic sign of link schemes.
Good and bad examples
- Bad: "For more SEO tips, click here."
Good: "See our technical SEO audit checklist." - Bad: "Buy best cheap shoes online cheap shoes."
Good: "Browse our running shoes for flat feet."
Check your anchors
The free site audit report lists the links on a page with their text, so you can spot generic and empty anchors. For backlinks, the backlink checker shows the anchor text each referring page uses. If you are building your first links, read how to get backlinks for a new website.
A quick internal anchor text audit
- Pick your five most important pages.
- Find the pages that link to them, using your site search or the internal link suggestions tool.
- Note the anchor text each link uses.
- Replace "click here", "read more" and URLs with short descriptions of the target page.
- Check that no two different pages share the same anchor text.
This small cleanup helps both readers and search engines understand what each important page is about.
A note on image links and buttons
Buttons such as "Learn more" or "Get started" are common in site designs. They are fine for visitors, but if they are the only link to an important page, add a descriptive text link somewhere too, for example in the paragraph above the button.
Related guides
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Frequently asked questions
Does anchor text affect rankings?
Yes, it is one of the signals that help search engines understand a linked page's topic.
Is exact-match anchor text bad?
Not on its own. It becomes a problem when it is overused, especially in backlinks.
What about image links?
For linked images, the alt text works like anchor text. Describe the destination.
How long should anchor text be?
Usually two to six words that describe the target page naturally.