What is anchor text?
Anchor text is the visible, clickable text of a hyperlink. It tells readers and search engines what to expect on the page being linked to, so descriptive anchor text helps both understand the destination.
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Why anchor text matters
Search engines use anchor text as a clue about the topic of the page it points to. Readers use it to decide whether a link is worth clicking.
This applies to links from other sites and to links between your own pages.
Types of anchor text
Common types include exact match (the target keyword), partial match (a phrase containing it), branded (a company name), and generic ("click here"). A natural mix looks the most believable.
Descriptive text is better than generic text for most links, because it explains the destination without extra context.
What to avoid
Stuffing the same keyword-rich phrase into many links can look manipulative, and search engines may treat it as a spam signal. Write anchor text the way a person would describe the page.
Common questions
What is an example of anchor text?
In the sentence "Read our guide to keyword research," the words "guide to keyword research" are the anchor text if they carry the link.
Does anchor text affect SEO?
Yes. Search engines use it to understand what the linked page covers. Descriptive, natural anchor text is more helpful than vague text or repeated exact-match phrases.
What is exact match anchor text?
It's anchor text that matches the target page's main keyword exactly. A few are normal, but a profile made up mostly of them can look unnatural.
Should internal links use keyword-rich anchor text?
Descriptive anchor text is a good idea for internal links, since it helps search engines and readers understand the linked page. Vary the wording naturally instead of repeating one phrase.
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