SmartCodeIT
What types of anchors are there?
Types of anchor texts can be divided into several main categories that have different applications and impact on SEO:
Exact Match: The anchor text exactly matches the keywords for which the page wants to be found. For example, if a page wants to be found under the phrase "best cake recipes", this is exactly what the link text will be.
Partial Match: The anchor text contains the keywords the page wants to be found for, but they are part of a longer text. For example "cake recipes" for the best recipes page.
Branded: Use your brand or domain name as anchor text. This is a safe way to build links that is not aggressively received by search engine algorithms.
URL (Naked Link): The URL itself used as the link text, for example "https://www.examplewebsite.com".
Generic: These are general phrases such as "click here" or "read more." These links do not provide search engines with much contextual value about the target content.
Images: When an image is used as a link, the image's alternative text (alt) acts as anchor text, giving search engines context about the linked page.
Long Tail: Anchor text containing long phrases that are more specific than regular keywords. They can better respond to specific user queries.
No Text: Less common, but sometimes links may have no visible text and be hidden in scripts or as navigation elements.
Diversity in the use of anchor texts is important in an SEO strategy because too many exact match links may be interpreted by search engines as search engine manipulation, which may result in a lower page ranking.
Does anchor affect positioning?
Yes, anchor text has a significant impact on the positioning of a website in search results. Anchor texts help search engines like Google understand the context and topic of a linked page, which is important for the process of indexing and ranking websites. Properly selected anchor texts containing relevant keywords can increase the visibility of a website in search results for specific queries.
However, it is important to use diverse and natural-sounding anchor texts, because excessive use of exact match anchors may be perceived by search engines as an attempt to manipulate search results, which in turn may negatively affect positioning.
Search engines prefer link profiles to look natural, which includes a mix of different types of anchor text, including brand names, partial match keywords, generic phrases, and direct URLs. A balanced and strategic approach to anchors can therefore contribute to improving the website's position in search engines.