What is Anchor Text?
Anchor text is clickable portion of a link. Anchor text is important because search engines use it to determine what your link is about, and therefore, help your SEO performance. It also can help guide your readers' expectations of what to expect before they click a link.
TYPE | DEFINITION | EXAMPLES | IN COPY |
|---|---|---|---|
BRANDED | any anchor that uses your brand name | AmpliPhi | You can learn social media strategy from AmpliPhi. |
EXACT MATCH | includes a keyword that mirrors that page to which it's linked | anchor text social media strategy | AmpliPhi specializes in Social Media Strategy. |
GENERIC | no text referencing a keyword, often to a call-to-action | Click here Read more More info | Click here to read more about social media strategy. |
NAKED LINK | exact URL pasted into copy from the web browser, in clickable form | www.ampliphibiz.com |
Which Link is the "Best" Kind?
When other websites link to yours (often called a 'backlink'), it's best to request a branded and exact match, and avoid generic or naked.
For example, if a reputable website linked to AmpliPhiBiz.com with "AmpliPhi specializes in social media strategy," this would help the search engine understand context and how to associate the meaning of the link.
Other examples could include "ABC company provides managed IT services to HVAC companies" or"XYZ bank provides business loans in Madison, Wisconsin."
