What is an anchor text?

The anchor text, also known as anchor text or link text, is the visible and clickable text of a link within a document or a website. It is an important factor for search engines such as Google to evaluate the content of the linked page and determine its relevance for certain search terms.

Types of Anchor Texts

There are different types of anchor texts that are valued differently in the context of SEO (search engine optimization) and online marketing:

• Keyword-Rich Anchor Text: The link contains an important keyword or keyword combination for which the linked page should rank. Example: “Women’s Shoes”
• Generic Anchor Text: The anchor text consists of general terms such as “here” or “more information”. Example: “There is a large selection of shoes here.”
• Branded Anchor Text: The brand name or the name of the website is used for the link. Example: “Schuhshop24 offers a large selection of women’s shoes.”
• Naked URL: The link consists only of the URL, without any linked text. Example: “https://www.example.com/shoes”

Relevance of Anchor Texts for SEO

Choosing the right anchor text plays a significant role in the SEO process and improving rankings for selected keywords. A well-chosen anchor text can show potential users and search engines what content they can expect on the linked page. To avoid link profiles that appear unnatural or manipulative, it is advisable to use a balanced mix of different anchor text types.

Best practices for anchor texts

Some tips for using anchor texts in SEO and web development are:

• Choose anchor texts that match the content of the linked page and are relevant to users.
• Vary the type of anchor text to build a natural link profile.
• Make sure that the link is in a natural context and does not seem forced or manipulative.
• Avoid using excessive keyword-rich anchor texts to avoid possible Google penalties.