Understanding the Importance of Anchor Text in SEO

Do you know the importance of anchor text in SEO? We have made this article to aware you of the anchor text. SEO is the abbreviation for Search Engine Optimization and it is the process through which website operators drive traffic to their sites from results from online search engines.  This helps increase the quality and quantity of a site.

Anchor texts are those clickable texts that you see in a write-up/article on a web page. These texts are usually highlighted in blue and become underlined when you pass a mouse over them. An anchor text takes one from the present site, where the text is, to another site.

An anchor text is an important component that makes for successful SEO. In this article, therefore, we will tell you what you need to know about anchor text and its importance as an SEO tool. Additionally, we will explore how it can affect the growth of your website.

Anchor Text Explained

The primary thing that an anchor text does is to nudge users and search engines in the direction of the page that is being linked to. The hyperlink that you add to the site can either lead to an internal link or an external link. The internal link is for other pages on your site while the external link is for pages on other people’s websites.

Whether your link is for an internal or external page, you need to provide an anchor text that will help users and search engines understand the subject of the target page.

Different Types of Anchor Text

There are different types of anchor texts that can be used to make a hyperlink. People who are new to SEO need to understand the terminology used so that they can correctly follow the guidelines. Below we explain some of the terminologies and how they are used:

Domain Name – A domain name is a web address unique to your brand/business. It is used to identify your brand and an appropriate and strong domain name contributes greatly to the success of your business. So you can use the domain name of your brand as an anchor text on your web page.

Generic – This means that the anchor text is not specific to any brand, subject, or site. It is a popularly used type of text. Generic anchor texts include phrases such as “click here”, “read more” or “this article”.

URL- The full meaning of URL is Uniform Resource Locator and it is used to locate resources on the internet. This is what is popularly referred to as the address of a website which tells search engines on a web browser what the user is looking for and where to get it.  So you can create a hyperlink with a URL without a text. For example, visit https://www.techtarget.com/ for more information.

Branded – This is when you use the business name or brand identity as the anchor text.

Importance of Anchor Texts in SEO

Now that we have explained what an anchor text is and also briefly touched on the importance of SEO. Let us go on to enumerate the importance of using anchor or link texts for successful search engine optimization.

Enhances Search Visibility

When you use a link text, you provide valuable information to search engines about the contents of the page linked and its relevance to the subject addressed. These link texts enable search engines to decipher the subject matter of the page(s) hyperlinked by the link word or phrase. This, in turn, influences the ranking of the page on the search engine.

This therefore goes to show that using link words/phrases that are well-optimized can increase the visibility of a page on search engine results. This visibility invariably leads to greater organic traffic.

Creates Relevance and Context

These words or phrases that help hyperlink pages provide context for both users and search engines. When used appropriately to describe the content that they link to, they provide a logical and seamless flow for the user which enhances their experience on the site. The overall effect is that the page(s) begin to move higher and higher on SEO rankings. Click here for more information on this subject.

Optimization of Keywords

When you use the right keywords for your link texts, it can significantly improve your Search Engine Optimization drive. It is important to note that using appropriate keywords that are relevant to the content of the linked page(s) will enable search engines to determine the importance of the page; overusing a keyword which is also known as “keyword stuffing” may attract penalties from the search engines. This therefore means that you should maintain the right balance when using keywords.

Influences User Engagement

A link text can influence user behavior on your page. Link words or phrases that are clear and relevant to a user can be compelling enough for them to click on them. This increases the CTR (click-through rate), which in turn improves the SEO ranking of the page. Additionally, user experience is enhanced because they find information that they seek more seamlessly from your page.

Enhances Internal Linking

Anchor texts are very important components of strategies for internal linking. These words help to connect relevant pages on a website which provides users with additional information that is relevant to their search. This also helps search engines to discover and signal contents on the site/pages more efficiently. Using or having effective internal links helps to spread page authority which in turn enhances the SEO rankings of a website.

Helps to Build Backlink Profiles

If you want to build backlinks from other websites, using the right link words/phrases is quite essential.  You need to use naturally occurring texts and also diversify them in order to avoid penalties from search engines.  When you receive backlinks with applicable anchor texts from reputable and well-known sites or sources they go a long way in boosting the trustworthiness and authority of a site.

Conclusion

So far in this article, we have briefly explained what search engine optimization (SEO) is and have also implied its importance to the successful online presence of any brand. Furthermore, we explained what anchor texts are and discussed the importance of using them appropriately for the success of any SEO drive.

Now that you have seen the importance of these link words/phrases/texts, you need to intentionally employ them for your SEO campaigns. You can either DIY this or employ the services of experts to help you enjoy the benefits of successful search engine optimization.