Using proper anchor text can improve your SEO performance and boost the user experience (UX). Effective anchor text tells users what to expect if they click the link and helps search engines understand what the linked-to page is about.

For example, using the anchor text “Best SEO Company Australia” to link to a website’s SEO service page makes it clear what users will find if they click the link.

Here’s where you place that anchor text in HTML:

[<a href=”https://technothinksupau.com/search-engine-optimization/”>Best SEO Company Australia</a>]

In this blog, we’ll cover different types of anchor text, explain best practices, and show how to find anchor text-related issues.

9 Types of Anchor Text
Understanding and effectively using different types of anchor text is crucial for optimizing your SEO strategy. Here’s a detailed look at each type:

Branded

Definition: Uses a brand name as the link’s anchor text.
Example: Linking to a company’s homepage with the text “Technothinksup.”
Usage: Useful for citing sources or linking directly to a brand’s primary site.

Compound

Definition: Contains a brand’s name along with additional descriptive words.
Example: “Technothinksup’s SEO Services” linking to a specific service page on Technothinksup’s site.
Usage: Helps provide more context about the brand and the linked content.

Exact Match

Definition: Uses the exact keyword the linked page is targeting.
Example: “Best SEO Company Australia” linking directly to an SEO service page.
Usage: Can help improve the linked page’s ranking for that specific keyword.

Partial Match

Definition: Uses a variation of the target keyword, incorporating other words for context.
Example: “Affordable SEO services in Australia” linking to an SEO company’s service page.
Usage: Offers additional context while still targeting relevant keywords.

Related

Definition: Uses related terms or synonyms instead of the exact target keyword.
Example: “Search engine marketing” linking to a page about SEO strategies.
Usage: Provides context and relevance without using the exact keyword.

Naked

Definition: Uses the exact URL of the link as the anchor text.
Example: Linking to a website with “https://example.com.”
Usage: Ensures transparency about the link’s destination, often used in citations.

Generic

Definition: Uses non-descriptive text that doesn’t provide specific details about the link.
Example: “Click here” or “Read more.”
Usage: Low SEO value but can guide users if surrounded by clear and informative text.

Image

Definition: Uses an image as the link, with the image’s alt text serving as the anchor text.
Example: An image of a service linking to its details page, with alt text “Best Digital Marketing Company.”
Usage: Helps visually impaired users and search engines understand the image’s context.

Article or Page Title

Definition: Uses the exact title of the linked page or article.
Example: Linking to an article with the text “Top 10 SEO Tips for 2024.”
Usage: Clearly informs users and search engines about the linked content.
Using these different types of anchor text strategically can enhance your SEO efforts by providing clarity to users and search engines, improving navigation, and boosting the relevance and ranking of your web pages.

4 Anchor Text Best Practices
1. Make Sure Your Links Are Natural
2. Be Succinct
3. Be Descriptive
4. Make Sure Readers Can See the Link