A Complete Guide to Anchor Text Optimization for SEO

A large chunk of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) experts and webmasters are geeks with exceptional know-how of the multiple elements or things about SEO that make them the super knowers in the field. Interestingly, many of them are hardly aware of the unique term “Anchor Text Optimization” in the current context. Before we move further, let’s understand Anchor Text cursorily, especially how to optimize it so that you can maximize your SEO results. Now learn how to optimize your anchor text strategy for SEO in 2024.

Remember that anchor text selection plays a pivotal role for SEO purposes. It is a proven fact that with the correct anchor text selection, you can make your web pages find a reputable place in the SERPs. On the contrary, if such factors are ignored, you might lose your ranking if you fail to optimize your anchors. So, try to do that appropriately and in the right manner to ensure that you find yourself on the first page of Google. Consequently, you will avail of the desired benefits if you know the A to Z of anchor text optimization for SEO.

What is anchor text?

An anchor text can be defined as the clickable word used to link one web page to another under a specific arrangement. To get a guaranteed ranking, you must know the best practices for optimizing link text.

Anchor Text Optimization: The Ultimate SEO Guide for 2024

There are numerous types of anchor texts but we have enlisted here the eight most popular types for our readers. Go through them to understand how to use them so that you get a proper SEO boost and also save your website from getting penalized at any point in time.

1. Exact-match

As the name suggests, exact match anchors are those anchors that are the exact matches of your targeted keywords. As and when they are used carefully & with proper thought, you come to know how they play a crucial role in improving your ranking and therefore imply them for such need fulfillment. For instance, if a certain target keyword is “keyword density”, your anchor should be “keyword density“.

2. Partial-match

The partial match anchor texts include a variation of the keywords on the linked-to page. For example: if your target keyword is “URL Optimization,” your possible partial-match anchor would be “a guide to URL Optimization in SEO” and et al.

3. Branded

A branded anchor is any anchor that uses the brand name as a text. If your website is an exact match domain, then you should avoid using branded anchors.

You May Also Like: Google’s EMD (Exact Match Domain) Penalty 

4. Naked Link

Naked link anchors are the anchors that link back to a site by simply using the URL. For example: “www.seocontentindia.in”.

5. Generic

As the name suggests, a generic anchor is a word or a phrase that is used as the anchor such as Click here, Get in Touch, etc., among others.

6. Images

Whenever an image is linked, search engine giants, including Google, will use the text contained in the image’s alt attribute as the anchor text.

You May Also Like: A Basic Guide to Image Optimization for SEO

7. Brand + Keyword Anchor

Using brand names and keywords in an anchor text is also another Google-friendly and effective method for making a strong anchor profile. An example of this anchor text optimization process can be “SEO services by SCI” et al.

8. LSI Anchors

LSI (Latent Semantic Indexing) anchor refers to the variations of your main keyword. For instance, if you’re targeting “Leather Shoes,” LSI keywords could include “Leather Shoes online,” “Leather Shoe Sellers,” “Leathers Online,” and so on. People can see the related searches at the end of the SERPs for each query.

Tips on Optimizing the Anchor Texts for SEO in 2024

With Google’s algorithms getting smarter day by day, you must try prudent steps to provide real value to your users thus ensuring maximum benefits. Below Anchor Text Optimization for SEO will help you get organic rankings thus traffic and which can easily be converted into paying customers.

1. Keep it natural and versatile

The main goal of Google is to provide exact information to users. Every part of any website, including the links and their anchor texts, needs to ensure value to the users. Links should be inserted only where the users expect to see them.

Apart from the links from sites with high Domain Authority, Page Authority, and Trust Flow, you should equally keep the anchor texts natural and versatile.

2. Avoid Over-Optimization

Google does not appreciate overly rich keywords or anchor texts. A spammy or keyword-based anchor text creates a big red flag for you thus resulting in penalties. Instead, try to keep your anchor texts natural.

For instance, if you are targeting an SEO Company, then use anchors such as “organic SEO service provider”, or “the most reliable SEO service firms,” etc.

You May Also Like: 5 Signs You’re Over-Optimizing Your Website

3. Distribute different types of anchors wisely

Your anchor text distribution decides your search positions. If done correctly, it will improve your SERPs. Otherwise, you might rather harm your website in the long run. Although it is hard to say what an ideal anchor text distribution procedure is, try to make the link profile as natural as possible.

• Branded Anchor texts: 40%
• Unique/Other anchor texts: 25%
• Naked link anchors: 15%
• Brand + keyword anchors: 5%
• Partial match anchor texts: 5%
• Generic anchor texts: 1-5%
• Long-tail anchor texts: 2-4%
• Exact Match Anchors: Less Than 1%

It would be a great idea to research to understand the anchor text distribution of the top-performing websites in your industry. This will give you a clear idea to help you outline a plan of action on how you should distribute the various types of anchors on your website.

4. Avoid backlinks from toxic sites

Avoid backlinks from toxic sites because they will only penalize your website. Check the backlink profile of your website and the Disavow backlinks, which are taken from toxic sites. A fact remains the same over the years: having authority sites link to you is highly beneficial for SEO purposes.

Instead of wasting your time and energy getting many backlinks from toxic sites, focus on a single link that is from a healthy, authoritative site and that is comparatively most relevant to your niche.

5. Avoid internal linking with the keyword-rich anchors

Internal linking boosts SEO and so does engagement with the readers. While internal linking is highly recommended, you must avoid doing it with keyword-rich anchor texts. Keyword-rich anchor text anchors can harm your link profile. So, you should learn how to tweak the keywords.

6. Write relevant guest posts

What do you think about the guest posts’ relevance today? Is guest blogging dead or still alive for an SEO boost? Some webmasters and SEO experts believe that guest posts aren’t useful anymore, but industry leaders confirm that they’re still very effective for building a strong link profile. That is why they can’t be underestimated even today.

Get your guest’s posts updated on popular websites that are in their niches and have strong audiences.

7. Track your anchor texts

When you are building the backlinks for your site, you must track the anchor texts you’ve used. Ensure that anchor text optimization for SEO is in proper order. You should also ensure that you’re not over-optimizing your pages with keyword-rich anchors. Out of the many authentic keyword monitoring tools such as SEMrush, Monitor Backlinks and Ahrefs et al, you may avail of any.

8. Acquire links from the right sites

Backlinks from the authority sites will be helpful for you to improve your link profile. Having authoritative sites linking to you can be great for your link profile. You must focus on getting links from websites with high authority and traffic. The website should not be penalized.

Final Words

In the post-penguin, webmasters and SEO experts have confirmed that the exact match anchors should be minimized to 1% or less. If you are not updated with anchor text optimization for SEO in 2021, you might find your website penalized. Try avoiding such scenarios.

The above-mentioned anchor text optimization strategies will be helpful for you to achieve a genuine place in the rankings while keeping your site safe from any future Penguin updates.

Whether you are seeking content writing for newsletters or designing services for brochures, get in touch with us to avail expert guidelines on SEO services. To know more about how to optimize your anchor text strategy for SEO, read the post again.