What is Anchor Text?
Anchor text—also known as link text or link label—is the clickable, visible portion of a hyperlink, typically distinguished by a blue color and an underline. It’s designed to stand out from surrounding text to indicate interactivity.
This clickable text provides users with context about the destination page. When used effectively, anchor text can improve engagement, encourage clicks, and increase the time users spend exploring a website by guiding them to relevant information.
What does an anchor text look like?
Anchor text appears within a web page’s content as colored and often underlined text that links to another page or resource. It signals both users and search engines that a connection is being made to more content.
While it looks like regular text with distinct styling on a webpage, the HTML version of anchor text looks like this:
<a href="https://seodebate.com/what-is-anchor-text/">What is anchor text?</a>
Search engines scan anchor text to determine the relevance between the linking and linked pages, using it as a contextual clue for ranking and indexing.
How to add anchor text?
In HTML:
To manually add anchor text in HTML, use the following structure:
<a href="https://your-target-url.com">Your Anchor Text</a>To implement this:
Locate the place in your content where you want to insert the link.
Access the HTML editor of your CMS (e.g., “Edit Content” > “HTML Editor”).
Paste the anchor text code and click “Save.”
In WordPress:
Open the page or post where you want to add the link.
Highlight the desired text.
Click the link icon that appears.
Insert the destination URL and confirm.
This process is almost identical in platforms like Shopify and Wix.
Why is anchor text important?
Anchor text plays a crucial role in SEO and user experience. It tells both users and search engines what kind of content to expect on the linked page.
For search engines like Google, anchor text helps map the structure of a site and establish the relevance between different pages. For users, it offers a preview of the content they’re about to access, improving site navigation and engagement.
Well-structured, relevant anchor text:
Improves readability.
Aids in website navigation.
Enhances content discoverability.
Supports Google’s understanding of linked content.
Avoid using vague labels like “Click here” or “Read more.” Instead, opt for descriptive, relevant text that clearly reflects the linked content.
Google has explicitly stated that anchor text is a ranking factor, and irrelevant or spammy usage may hurt your SEO efforts.
Types of anchor text
Here are seven commonly used types of anchor text:
Branded
Uses the brand’s name as the anchor.
For example
Seodebate
Exact match
The anchor matches the exact target keyword.
For example
If a page is about “what is anchor text”, its anchor text will look like this:
What is anchor text?
Partial match
Includes the main keyword along with additional text.
For example
SEO services in Dubai
Partial match of the keyword "SEO services"
Naked
Displays the full URL as the clickable link.
For example
https://www.seodebate.com/
This format is not visually appealing and lacks descriptive context.
Images
When images are linked, the alt attribute of the image serves as the anchor text.
For example
Even if the image doesn’t load, the alt text provides context and a clickable link.
<a href="https://seodebate.com/what-is-anchor-text">
<img src="/anchor-text.png" alt="Anchor Text"></a>Random or Generic
Uses vague phrases without meaningful context.
For example
Click here, Read more, Learn more
These should be avoided as they offer no value to users or search engines.
Related
For content about “Best SEO practices,” suitable related anchors could be:
For example
anchor text optimisation strategies
link building methods
quality content writing guidelines
These are topically aligned and signal relevance naturally.
How to optimise anchor text for SEO?
Here are a few ways to optimise your anchor text for SEO purposes.
Anchor text should be relevant
Anchor text should be contextually aligned with both the source and destination content. Google uses this relevance to interpret the relationship between pages and improve ranking accuracy.
Example:
If your content is about the flower “snowdrops,” an anchor leading to a page on “early spring flowers” is contextually appropriate.
Do not over-optimise
Repeated use of exact match keywords can trigger spam signals. Google may penalise over-optimised anchor text, so keep it natural and user-focused.
Instead of keyword stuffing, craft anchor text that is:
Clear and descriptive
Informative to the reader
Used in moderation
Image tip: If you’re using image anchors, ensure the alt text clearly describes the link’s topic.
Avoid generic anchor text
Generic anchor text like “Click here” provides no contextual clue and should be avoided for both usability and SEO reasons.
A well-optimised anchor text is specific, clear, and directly related to the linked content.
How to Identify & Fix Anchor Text Issues?
While anchor text rarely causes major SEO issues, generic or naked anchors may confuse users and limit search engine understanding.
To find anchor text issues:
Use the SEMrush Site Audit Tool.
Enter your website URL and run a full audit.
Go to the "Issues" tab and search for the term “Anchor.”
SEMrush will highlight all instances of:
Naked URLs
Generic anchor text
Overused anchor phrases
Fix each issue by updating the anchor to something descriptive and contextually relevant.
Is anchor text a Google ranking factor?
Yes—anchor text is confirmed by Google as a ranking signal.
It helps Google understand what the linked page is about and improves the accuracy of search results. That’s why the use of descriptive, relevant link text is encouraged.
According to Google’s own SEO Starter Guide:
"With appropriate anchor text, users and search engines can easily understand what the linked pages contain."
In a Webmaster Hangout, Google’s John Mueller reinforced this by saying:
"If you’re updating anchor text internally to make it more understandable for users, it usually also helps search engines better understand the context. So I would definitely go for that."
The bottom line
Anchor text is a powerful SEO element that communicates link intent to both users and search engines. When used correctly, it boosts user engagement, strengthens site structure, and improves ranking potential.
Over-optimising, keyword stuffing, or using generic phrases can do more harm than good. Search engines today are smart enough to detect manipulation and reward naturally placed, helpful links.
In summary, anchor text should always be:
Descriptive
Relevant
Natural
User-focused
When done right, it’s not just a ranking factor—it’s a user experience enhancer.