Anchor text simplified to its base form (e.g., “running shoes” vs. “Running Shoes”) for analysis.
Why Normalized Anchor Text Matters
Normalized anchor text is a critical metric for understanding a website’s backlink profile. When you analyze your backlinks, you might be looking at dozens of different anchor text variations when they should all be treated as the same. Normalization allows you to:
- Get a Clearer Picture: You can see the true frequency and relevance of a given anchor text, which helps you make more informed decisions about your link-building strategy.
- Identify Spam: A backlink profile with a high number of unnatural anchor text variations, such as “buy shoes here” from a variety of unrelated websites, can be a sign of a black hat SEO tactic.
- Assess Topical Authority: By normalizing anchor text, you can see how other websites are linking to your content, which is a strong signal of your website’s topical authority.
Across Different CMS Platforms
The management of normalized anchor text is a technical and content strategy that can be applied to any CMS.
WordPress
WordPress users can easily manage their anchor text by using a good SEO plugin like Yoast SEO or Rank Math. These plugins can help you analyze your content and ensure you are using a variety of keywords that are relevant to your content.
Shopify
On Shopify, normalized anchor text is essential for your product descriptions and blog posts. You can use a variety of tools to find a backlink from a relevant website. A link from a high-quality blog or a news site can significantly boost your rankings.
Wix
Wix has a streamlined, user-friendly system, but you can still optimize for normalized anchor text. The platform’s built-in SEO tools make it easy to manage your titles, meta descriptions, and on-page content.
Webflow
Webflow gives you granular control over your website’s design and code, which is perfect for a sophisticated link-building strategy. You can use it to create a perfectly structured page that is optimized for a specific keyword or set of keywords.
Custom CMS
With a custom CMS, you have the most control but also the most responsibility. You can build a system that automatically tracks and analyzes your link profile and provides your content creators with data-driven insights.
Across Different Industries
The way you use normalized anchor text will depend on your industry and your goals.
E-commerce
E-commerce sites can use normalized anchor text to build a stronger brand reputation. A site that sells running shoes could get a backlink from a blog that reviews running shoes.
Local Businesses
Local businesses can use normalized anchor text to build a stronger community. A local restaurant could get a backlink from a local newspaper or a local blog.
SaaS Companies
SaaS companies can use normalized anchor text to build a stronger brand reputation. A company that sells project management software could get a backlink from a blog that reviews project management tools.
Blogs
Blogs are a great way to capitalize on normalized anchor text. A blog that writes about cooking can get a backlink from a blog that writes about baking.
Do’s and Don’ts of Normalized Anchor Text
Do’s
- Do use a variety of anchor text. A natural backlink profile has a mix of branded, naked URL, and keyword-rich anchor text.
- Do use a link-building tool. A tool like SEMrush or Ahrefs is a must.
- Do use a clear, compelling pitch. Your pitch should be personalized and should clearly explain why a website should link to your content.
Don’ts
- Don’t use a black hat link-building tactic. This can lead to a severe penalty.
- Don’t buy backlinks. This is a clear violation of Google’s guidelines and can lead to a severe penalty.
- Don’t use a link exchange with a low-quality website. This can harm your SEO.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Failing to track your backlinks: This is a basic but critical step. You cannot improve what you do not measure.
- Ignoring a user’s intent: A backlink should be used with a user’s intent in mind.
- Focusing on a single link building tactic: This is a risky and outdated approach.
FAQs
How is normalized anchor text different from keyword stemming?
Keyword stemming is a process that reduces a word to its root. Normalized anchor text is a process that converts an anchor’s text into a standard, uniform format. They are both parts of a search engine’s information retrieval process.
What is the difference between a keyword and a keyphrase?
A keyword is a single word, while a keyphrase is a phrase of two or more words. In SEO, the terms are often used interchangeably.
Does normalized anchor text affect my SEO?
Yes, normalized anchor text affects your SEO. It helps you get a clearer picture of your backlink profile, which can help you make more informed decisions about your link-building strategy.
What tools can I use to find a backlink from a relevant website?
You can use a variety of tools to find a backlink from a relevant website, including SEMrush, Ahrefs, and Moz. These tools provide a comprehensive report on all the backlinks pointing to your website.
What is a “link profile”?
A link profile is the complete collection of all the backlinks pointing to a website. It is a key indicator of a website’s authority, trustworthiness, and relevance in the eyes of search engines.
