What is Anchor Text?
Anchor text is one of the basic concepts of SEO and has amazing effects on search engine optimization and improving the user experience. For this reason, we have decided to address the subject of Anchor Texts in more detail in the following article. At the end of this article, in addition to fully understanding the types of inline texts, we will learn together the best professional methods for optimizing them and four excellent exercises for choosing the best inline text.
What is Anchor Text?
An inline text is a visible and clickable word or phrase usually highlighted in a different color, bold or underlined, and linked to a specific URL. We usually choose inline text to provide the user with basic information about the landing page, such as using the phrase “types of handmade chocolates” or “buy handmade chocolates” for the handmade chocolate sales page of an online store.
Choosing the right and principled inline text increases the chances of clicking on our link and helps search engines crawl our other pages better. The better the anchor text can describe the landing page’s content, the better. In the following section, we will examine Google’s view on anchor texts to better understand this issue.
Google’s view on inline text
John Müller tweeted in November 2017:
“Links provide background information to users with the help of inline texts. “At least it should be, right?”
It seems that John Müller intends to point out the wider role of inline texts in this tweet, and possibly Google will also examine inline texts to evaluate and rank sites. In May 2017, another tweet from Müller was published that raised many user questions. He wrote:
“Using anchor text and image tools helps us to understand the content idea to some extent. If you can ignore them, I can not leave them out.”
After the publication of these tweets and the importance of inline texts for Google, users were asked what kind of inline texts to use. What kind of inline text should we focus on if we want to get a better ranking in Google? These are probably your questions too! Stay tuned for answers.
The effect of inline texts on search engine rankings and SEO
When we link from one content to another, Google uses the inline text as the index of the landing page keyword. Suppose the inline text does not match our keyword. In that case, Google will not be able to identify the link between the keyword and the target page, or which article is more relevant to that keyword, to use it to rank the keyword; As a result, the ranking process of that page is disrupted.
In the next step, inline texts help search engines understand our site’s internal links and find our new pages. So you see that Anchor Text can be an important factor in Google rankings and SEO.
In addition to Google, inline text is important to our users. Inktext tells the user which page this link is going to. Choosing Anchor Text correctly and relevantly will attract users’ trust and increase their retention time on the site. For this reason, we must be careful when selecting and optimizing the page text. To do this, we need to know the impact of the type of inline texts in the field of internal and external SEO:
The effect of the type of inline texts on internal linking
Internal linking is important for SEO. We specify the structure of our site for search engines with internal links. However, the tools that help optimize this process, without which we can not imagine a topic called link building, are anchor texts.
According to John Müller’s tweet about the type and length of inline text of internal links, it does not matter to Google whether they are long or short; the purpose of the landing page must be clear to the user. Therefore, internal page links, transparency, relevance, or correcting “naturalness” are the most important factors in Google’s evaluation. Of course, for a deeper understanding of this issue.
The effect of inline text on backlinks and reporting
The role of inline text in backlinks is as important as its role in internal link building; Even more! Backlinks are part of the gray hat SEO tricks that need to be naturalized.
Regarding Google algorithms, the inline text that a site gives to our site can have different meanings, especially if the link attached to it is followed. The following links are the most powerful type of link in SEO, so when choosing backlinks, we need to be diverse so that Google does not detect them.
Introducing 10 common Anchor Texts in the SEO world and their application
Now that we know the importance and effectiveness of inline text in internal and external SEO, it is time to introduce the large family of inline texts. This family has at least 10 members, all of whom can be identified by Google algorithms.
1. General expressions
Phrases that have nothing to do with the content of the target page, such as “read more,” “click here,” “download,” and similar phrases. These inline texts have previously been used to link to a specific page. However, they have been less used since 2020, when they became ineffective.
2. Anchor brand text
Phrases that contain the brand of our business. Such as: DM Room, DigiCala, MOZ, or Alibaba. This inline text is used to link to the main page of the site in the report backlink.
3. Keyword
Phrases that are exactly the keyword. Such as: SEO training, buying menswear, or buying gift boxes. These terms link directly to the target page (product, service, or content page) in internal link building and report backlinks.
4. Related keyword
A phrase that is a relevant keyword. Like the phrase “Best SEO Tools” for the SEO Tools page or “Keyword Strategy Guide” for the Keyword Strategy page. These phrases are used to strengthen a page’s credibility in internal link building and report backlinks.
5. Alternate keyword
Phrases that do not look like our keyword, but have the same meaning. Such as “UV printing” for badly felt printing pages or “Canvas” for painting canvas pages. We use these phrases to rank a page for a few keywords and get a report of backlinks for that page.
6. Random expressions
These phrases are commonly used to encrypt backlinks and report backlinks for in-depth link building. Like the phrase “the best models of 2022” for the Manto model page.
7. Naked anchors
This modification, called nude URLs, is used when we want to link to the site’s home page with a URL, such as www.dmroom.com.
8. Keyword + brand combination
These are the most common inline texts for simultaneous keyword and brand optimization. Such as: “DM Room SEO Training” for the SEO training page of this site.
9. Anchor images or image tools
Image tools are one of the most important pillars of image SEO. Image encryption increases the chances of our site images being seen in the Google image search section and directs the user directly and easily to our site.
10. Long-Tail Phrases
These anchors are used for internal linking and reporting backlinks. Like the phrase “types of Asus budget laptops” for the Asus laptops’ screens.
What is the difference between normal and abnormal inline texts?
As we reviewed in the previous section, inline texts are structurally different. But these phrases are also divided into another critical aspect: To be normal or abnormal!
Natural anchors are phrases selected and optimized according to Google standards and are not suspicious to Google. Examples include linking with the same keyword on the site’s internal pages or when social network users or administrators of other websites link to our site.
In the case of backlinks that other sites provide to our site, the use of unrelated inline text or nude URLs that may not help identify the subject of our page is unavoidable and perfectly normal. Google does not take these inaccuracies too seriously and considers them natural.
But sometimes, things go awry. For example, we use too many keyword anchors for report backlinks, we do not use anchor-related keyword texts or URL Naked, and we do not take the natural law of anchor text distribution seriously. In such cases, search engines like Google may penalize sites that receive links with abnormal forms of anchor text.
Invisible law of distribution of inline texts!
There is no written rule that tells us how many times to use backlinks to make them look natural. We have to balance the use of different anchors. Where a brand’s inline text is effective, use it. To include other inline text in the program and make it look natural to Google, it is necessary to link with a naked anchor, use nude URLs, and so on.
Get acquainted (gain, obtain) with present-day techniques from experience.
Now that we know the different types of inline texts and their importance, we must introduce some professional techniques for optimizing them. We need to learn how to optimize inline texts to be effective. These seven techniques can help us optimize an Anchor Text.
1. Identify inline texts
Some sites are designed to display inline content as regular content. On the other hand, Anchor text should be distinct from different parts of the content by color separation and highlighting. So, make sure your inline text is recognizable and clickable by users. It is best to have different colors, such as blue or red.
2. Place them in the natural flow of the article
Try to place the inline text in the natural routine of the article and in a part of the content related to that part’s content. For example, when our inline text is “types of foreign coffee”, we should put it in the content about types of coffee or foreign coffees, not in the part entitled “Introduction to types of Iranian coffees”.
3. Be careful how many times they are repeated in the content
Avoid repeating phrases similar to inline text on a page too much. This makes the Penguin algorithm sensitive to our content. The text must be unique and repeated only once in the content, except when the structure and type of content require more use.
4. Observe the variety of inline texts
For this topic, you should learn the introduction of various types of anchors, so that you can use the types of anchors in linking internal and external SEO of the site.
5. Select Anchor Text according to the content of the landing page
Do not mislead your readers. Always make sure the link phrase is consistent with the content to which the user is directed. Such as using the words “buy pastilles” to link to the pastilles’ sales page.
6. Do not use an inline text to link to two separate pages
It may sound a little ridiculous, but there have been cases where a separate text has been linked to two completely separate pages. This is wrong and will not positively affect the site’s SEO. For example, “buy a wedding dress” can link to a European wedding dress and a classic wedding dress page.
7. Use short Anchor Text
Except in exceptional cases where our link-building strategy requires us to use long phrases, in other cases, it is better to use short but meaningful phrases.
Learn four practical exercises to choose the best ink for text
In addition to the methods we have learned for optimizing inline texts, these few exercises can help beginner SEOs choose the right ones.
Do not look for SEO myths about Anchor Text.
You may be told constantly to try to use the keywords of the page you are linking to in your inline text. However, the best way is to write natural and descriptive phrases in your plan and have a strategy for using different types of inline texts.
Use descriptive phrases
Practice using descriptive words that engage the audience with content and inline text, and avoid using general terms, numbers, percentages, or ambiguous terms.
Do not forget to surprise the user.
Do not look for phrases where the user clicks on your inline text with a question mark-like face. Remember that this can fuel a definite click.
Have a list of inline texts.
In a Google Sheet or Excel, list each page and its appropriate inline text, so you know which one to use when needed. This will also help with the natural distribution of inline texts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should we pay more attention to inline texts?
Entext texts help Google understand content, identify new pages, and strengthen internal linking. They also direct users to different pages of our site, so they play an important role in our site’s SEO.
Is there a specific rule for using inline text?
No. As SEO experts, we determine which inboxes to use for internal, external, and backlinks and in what proportion.
