Anchor Text in SEO: What It Is & Why It Matters

Published: 26 Sep 2025

Have you ever clicked a link that said “click here” and felt lost about where it would take you? That small piece of text is more powerful than it looks. In SEO, this is called anchor text. It tells both users and Google what the linked page is about.

In this guide, we will explain what is anchor text, why it matters for SEO, the different types, and the best practices shared by Google.

Table of Content

By the end, you’ll know how to use anchor text in a way that helps your readers and improves your site’s visibility.

What is Anchor Text in SEO?

Anchor text is the visible, clickable text inside a link. It usually appears in a different color (often blue) and is often underlined. When you click it, it takes you to another page or website.

For example:

Anchor Text: Advantages and Disadvantages of Internet
Targeted URL: https://www.dgaps.com/advantages-disadvantages-internet

Here, Advantages and Disadvantages of Internet is the anchor text.

Google reads this text to understand what the linked page is about. At the same time, it tells readers clearly what they can expect before clicking. This is why using meaningful and descriptive anchor text is important for SEO.

Why is Anchor Text Important for SEO?

Anchor text is not just a clickable word. It carries meaning for both readers and Google. Good anchor text improves user experience and helps search engines understand your site better.

Here’s why it matters:

Gives context to Google: tells search engines what the linked page is about.
Improves user trust: readers know what to expect before clicking.
Boosts site navigation: makes it easier for users to move across related pages.
Supports internal linking: helps connect pages within your own website.
Builds authority: descriptive external links can show trust.

Different Types of Anchor Text

Do you know there are different types of anchor texts? Each type has its own use in SEO. Some give clear meaning, while others can confuse both users and Google. Let’s see what these include.

Types of Anchor Text:

Exact Match
Partial Match
Branded
Naked Link
Generic
Image Anchor

Let us now cover all in detail.

We will use one sample link for all cases:

Anchor Text: Advantages and Disadvantages of Internet
Target Page: https://www.dgaps.com/advantages-disadvantages-internet
Format Style: Blue color and underlined (normal link look)

1. Exact Match Anchor Text

In this case, the clickable text is exactly the same as the main keyword or page title. For example, the words Advantages and Disadvantages of Internet link directly to the page with that same topic.

This type is very clear for both users and Google. It leaves no confusion about the topic of the linked page. When readers see it, they already know what they will get. When Google crawls it, the anchor text gives a strong signal about the subject of the target page.

Why it helps:

Very descriptive and direct.
Improves understanding for search engines.
Builds trust with users since the link is transparent.

What to avoid:

Google warns against overusing exact match anchors across too many links. If every link uses the same phrase word-for-word, it can look forced or manipulative. Instead, mix exact match with other types to keep it natural.

2. Partial Match Anchor Text

This type uses the main keyword but adds other words to make it sound natural in the sentence. For example: Learn more about the Advantages and Disadvantages of Internet.

Partial match anchor text is helpful because it balances SEO and readability. The keyword is still present, so Google understands the topic, but it also feels natural to human readers.

Why it helps:

Gives extra context beyond the main keyword.
Fits smoothly into a full sentence.
Avoids the risk of looking repetitive.

What to avoid:

Don’t add too many extra words that make the anchor very long. Anchor text should stay short, clear, and easy to click.

3. Branded Anchor Text

This type uses the brand name as the clickable link. For example: DgAps links to the page about advantages and disadvantages of internet.

Branded anchors are safe and very natural. People trust brand names, and Google also sees them as a normal way to link. You can also combine the brand with the keyword for more clarity, such as DgAps– Advantages and Disadvantages of Internet.

Why it helps:

Builds brand recognition.
Looks professional and trustworthy.
Works well for both internal and external links.

What to avoid:

If you only use brand names without any topic words, it might be unclear what the page is about. In such cases, add context in the surrounding text to explain the purpose of the link.

4. Naked Link Anchor Text

This type shows the raw URL as the anchor. For example: https://www.dgaps.com/advantages-disadvantages-internet appears directly in the text as a clickable link.

Naked anchors are simple and direct. They are crawlable by Google because they use a proper link format. However, they are not very user-friendly. A long URL looks messy inside a sentence and does not explain what the page contains.

Why it helps:

Clear for search engines because the link is crawlable.
Sometimes useful in references, citations, or footnotes.

What to avoid:

Don’t rely on naked links as your main anchor text style. Readers often prefer descriptive words rather than raw URLs.

5. Generic Anchor Text

Generic anchors use very common phrases like Click here, Read more, or Learn more. For example, a sentence says Click here and that phrase links to the page on advantages and disadvantages of internet.

Generic text is weak because it tells nothing about the linked page. Google cannot understand the topic just from words like Click here. Readers also don’t know where they will go.

Why it helps:

Only useful when the surrounding text already makes the topic 100% clear.

What to avoid:

Google recommends avoiding empty or generic anchors. Always try to make the clickable text descriptive. Instead of saying Click here, say Advantages and Disadvantages of Internet. That way, both readers and Google know what to expect.

6. Image Anchor Text

Sometimes, an image is used as a link. In this case, Google cannot read the image itself, so it uses the description (alt text) as the anchor. For example, a picture of a computer is linked, and the image description is Advantages and Disadvantages of Internet.

If the alt text is descriptive, Google understands what the linked page is about. For users, the image also makes sense when they hover or when screen readers are used.

Why it helps:

Adds variety to linking.
Works for both visual users and accessibility tools.
Provides context if the alt text is written well.

What to avoid:

Never leave alt text empty for a linked image. An image with no description is an empty link, and both Google and users lose important context.

Extra Google Guidelines for All Types

Always place anchor text inside a real link with an address that works.
Keep anchors short, descriptive, and relevant.
Avoid stuffing too many keywords.
Put links inside meaningful sentences so context is clear.
Don’t place too many links back-to-back without text around them.
Use nofollow, sponsored, or ugc only when required (paid links, user content, or untrusted sources).

Google’s Best Practices for Anchor Text

Google has shared some clear rules about how to use anchor text. These are not suggestions but direct guidelines. Following them will help your links look natural and useful for both readers and search engines.

Best practices in simple one-liners:

Use clear and descriptive words in the anchor text.
Keep it short and easy to read.
Make sure the text is relevant to the linked page.
Place links inside meaningful sentences.
Avoid stuffing keywords in every link.
Don’t use too many links close together.
Write natural anchors that fit the flow of content.
Use nofollow, sponsored, or ugc when linking to untrusted or paid content.
Never leave image anchors without alt text.
Don’t overuse generic text like “Click here” or “Read more.”

Internal Linking and Anchor Text

Internal linking means connecting one page of your website to another page on the same site. Anchor text plays a key role in this process.

When you use descriptive anchor text for internal links, you help both users and Google. Users understand where the link will take them, and Google understands the structure of your website better.

Why it matters:

Helps readers move easily between related pages.
Gives Google clear signals about page topics.
Distributes ranking power across your site.
Improves user time on site by guiding them to useful content.

Example:

If you write an article about online education, you can add an internal link with the anchor text Advantages and Disadvantages of Internet pointing to that page. This way, readers get more context, and Google sees the relation between both topics.

Tip: Always use natural anchor text in internal links. Don’t repeat the same keyword too much. Keep it varied, clear, and useful.

External Links and Anchor Text

External links are links that take users from your website to another website. The anchor text you use for these links is very important because it tells both readers and Google what kind of page you are sending people to.

Why it matters:

Shows trust when you link to reliable websites.
Helps readers find more useful information.
Gives Google context about your content through the linked page.
Builds connections between your site and other quality sources.

Example:

In an article about internet usage, you can write: According to a study on the Advantages and Disadvantages of Internet and link it to a trusted external website. The anchor text clearly shows what the linked page is about.

Tip: Always link to trusted, high-quality sites. Use clear and relevant anchor text instead of vague phrases like click here.

How to Add Anchor Text

Adding anchor text is simple. You just need to select the text and link it to a page. Here’s the basic process:

Choose the text you want as the anchor (example: Advantages and Disadvantages of Internet).
Highlight the text in your editor.
Insert the link to the page you want (example: https://www.dgaps.com/advantages-disadvantages-internet).
Make sure it looks like a link — usually blue and underlined.
Check the link to confirm it works.

That’s it. The text you chose is now clickable and becomes anchor text.

Important Terms to Understand About Anchor Text

There are some terms related to anchor text that you should know. These are often used in SEO and link building.

Anchor Spam: When anchor text is overused with the same keywords again and again, making it look unnatural.
Over-Optimization: Using exact match keywords in every anchor text. Google sees this as manipulative.
Anchor Diversity: Using different types of anchor text (exact match, partial match, branded, etc.) to keep links natural.
Generic Anchors: Common words like click here or read more that give no detail about the linked page.
Broken Anchors: Links with anchor text that lead to non-working or missing pages.
Nofollow Anchors: Anchor text links marked with “nofollow” to tell Google not to pass ranking power.

Final Note

In this guide, we have covered what is anchor text in SEO in great detail. We looked at its types, Google’s best practices, internal and external linking, and even the important terms you should know. By now, you should have a clear idea of how anchor text works and why it matters for both users and search engines.

As someone who has been guiding people in SEO, I always remind learners that anchor text is not just about links — it’s about context, clarity, and trust. When you use it the right way, your content becomes easier to understand, and your site grows stronger in search.

I also run an SEO course and a YouTube channel where I show these things in a practical way — from adding anchor text to checking link health step by step. If you want to see these strategies in action, you’ll find real examples and hands-on guidance there.

Learning SEO is a mix of theory and practice. Now that you know the theory, I encourage you to test it in real projects. That’s how you’ll master it.

FAQs

Here are some of the most commonly asked questions related to anchor text in SEO:

Are there any anchor text generators available?

Yes, there are some online anchor text generators. These tools create different variations of anchor text for your keywords. They can help with diversity so that your links look natural. But remember, don’t just rely on tools. Always choose anchor text that makes sense for your readers.

How to check the anchor text?

You can check anchor text using SEO tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Moz. These tools show you what text other sites are using to link to your pages. You can also check your own site by inspecting links in your content. Regular checks help you avoid spammy or over-optimized anchors.

What is anchor text in HTML?

In HTML, anchor text is the clickable part of a hyperlink. It is written between the <a> and </a> tags. For example: <a href=”https://example.com”>Learn SEO</a>. Here, “Learn SEO” is the anchor text. This is what users see and click.

What is the difference between a keyword and anchor text?

A keyword is a search term that people type into Google. Anchor text is the clickable text that links to another page. Sometimes a keyword can be used as anchor text, but not always. Anchor text gives context to the link, while keywords target search intent.

Why is anchor text important for SEO?

Anchor text helps Google understand the topic of the page you are linking to. It also guides users so they know what to expect when clicking. Good anchor text improves site navigation and user trust. Poor or spammy anchors can harm SEO.

What are the best practices for writing anchor text?

Anchor text should be short, clear, and descriptive. Avoid using words like “click here” or “read more.” Use natural language that fits the sentence. Make sure it matches the content of the page you are linking to.