What is Anchor Text?

If you have read the previous blog regarding keywords, you will have learned that the ranking of a website is determined differently by the search term. But how do you go about ranking for a keyword? In this blog we will quickly go over what anchor texts are and how it would affect your website, along with some creative methods to do this even on your own. 

An anchor text put simply, is the term used on a clickable term to take the user to another page. For example, the word SEO is hyperlinked to the SEO article. An anchor text not only helps the writer navigate the user to another source, it also helps google identify the page it is linking to. In this example, google will expect the hyperlinked word SEO to take the user to a page about this topic. Now this will affect the authority of the page’s rank, because now google will see that the page has been given a shoutout and will promote the page to others who are searching the same terms. 

So the more common the anchor text is used to cite a page, in general it increases the authority of the page for that keyword. However, there are other variables in play, one major factor would be if the hyperlink has the authority to give credit to the page it is linking to. This is called a Follow or NoFollow link. When a link is a “Follow” link, it gives credibility to the page it links to, sharing some of its own credibility from the page (Internal linking to other pages within the same domain has limited credibility). This credibility variable is closely monitored by companies because the more credit you give, the less your page will have and also risk being flagged by google as an referral farming site. However, the more credibility you have, the higher your site will rank for that anchor. 

When it comes to creating valuable anchor text for your site, SEO agencies generally use one of two methods. The links are created either by citing from other domains they own or pay other sites to create the references. But fear not, there are still other creative DIY methods! Below are two methods of making cost free reference texts, but first it would be wise to first get a tool to help you differentiate a Follow from a NoFollow link:

Method 1: Page commenting.

A creative method of referencing from other sites is to comment on posts or papers and hyperlinking your site within the comment. Most comment sections are defaulted to NoFollow links but they are still a reference to your site. 

Method 2: Trade links. 

Another method is to contact other sites that are interested in trading hyperlinks and negotiations can be made on if the links are to be Follow or NoFollow links!

For more detailed information on anchor text and the different types of link references that can be made, you can find it here at a major SEO service tool provider Semrush. 

Alexander Li

Every Lead with Spear Precision