Anchor text is the clickable words in a hyperlink (for example: “best running shoes”). Search engines use anchor text to understand the topic of the linked page, so keep it descriptive and relevant — avoid generic phrases like “click here.” Quick tip: use a mix of exact-match and natural phrasing to avoid over-optimization.
Understanding Anchor Text and Why It Matters
When you click on a link that says “SEO beginner’s guide”, that highlighted phrase is the anchor text. It acts like a signpost, telling the reader what to expect and signaling to Google what the linked page is about.
Anchor text helps in two key ways:
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Relevance: It gives search engines context about the linked page.
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Trust & Authority: Natural and descriptive anchors signal quality linking practices.
The wrong anchor text (like spammy “click here” overuse) can dilute SEO efforts. The right anchor text (relevant, natural, and diverse) strengthens both user experience and rankings.
Anchor Text Across Different CMS Platforms
WordPress
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Easy to manage through visual editors or plugins.
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SEO plugins suggest anchor text improvements for internal linking.
Shopify
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Anchor text often lives in product descriptions, menus, and blogs.
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Useful for linking collections and product categories for better visibility.
Wix
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Anchor text is limited to basic editing but works fine for small sites.
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Best for linking pages internally without technical complexity.
Webflow
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Developers can customize anchors within structured content and navigation.
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Useful for detailed projects needing strong internal linking strategies.
Custom CMS
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Offers complete freedom, but requires discipline to avoid over-optimization.
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A good developer-SEO team can maximize anchor relevance.
Why Anchor Text Matters Across Industries
E-commerce
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Linking product pages with descriptive anchors (“buy leather shoes online”) drives conversions and helps products rank for long-tail keywords.
Local Businesses
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Anchors like “plumber in Dubai” or “best bakery near me” help local SEO visibility.
SaaS Companies
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Anchors guide users toward features, case studies, and pricing, supporting both SEO and lead generation.
Blogs & Publishers
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Rich internal linking with descriptive anchors improves topical authority and keeps readers engaged.
News Websites
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Anchors help connect breaking stories to in-depth coverage, improving relevance and engagement.
Best Practices: Do’s and Don’ts
Do’s
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Use descriptive, keyword-relevant anchor text.
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Keep anchors natural and user-focused.
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Diversify anchor types: branded, generic, exact-match, and partial-match.
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Audit internal linking regularly to maintain balance.
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Ensure anchor text fits naturally within the sentence.
Don’ts
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Don’t stuff exact-match keywords into every link.
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Don’t use vague anchors like “click here” excessively.
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Don’t ignore mobile readability; anchors should be easy to tap.
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Don’t link to irrelevant or low-quality pages.
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Don’t overuse the same anchor text sitewide.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
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Over-optimizing with exact-match anchors across backlinks.
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Using hidden or deceptive anchor text, which Google penalizes.
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Neglecting branded anchors brand names are often the safest.
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Linking only externally while ignoring internal linking opportunities.
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Forgetting to check anchor distribution in backlink audits.
FAQs
What does anchor text mean in SEO?
Anchor text (or link text) is the visible, clickable text of a hyperlink that leads to another web page or resource. It usually looks different (e.g. underlined or colored) so users know it’s a link.
Why is anchor text important?
It helps both users and search engines understand what the linked page is about. For SEO, anchor text is a signal of relevance the words used in anchor text give context to what the destination page covers.
What are the major types of anchor text?
Some common types are:
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Exact match: uses the exact keyword or phrase you want the page to rank for.
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Partial match / Phrase match: includes the keyword plus other words.
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Branded: uses a brand name.
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Generic: vague text like “click here,” “read more.”
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Naked URL: the raw URL is used as the link text.
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Image anchor text: when an image is linked, its alt text becomes the anchor text.
What are best practices for using anchor text for SEO?
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Make anchor text descriptive and relevant to what’s being linked.
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Avoid over-using exact match anchors, which may seem unnatural or spammy.
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Use variety: mix branded, generic, partial match, etc.
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Ensure readability and usability: make sure links are clear, make sense in context for users.
How does anchor text affect search engine ranking?
Search engines use anchor text as a signal to understand the topic of the linked page. Well-chosen anchor texts can help pages rank for relevant keywords. However, misuse (like keyword stuffing or unnatural link patterns) can trigger algorithmic penalties.
