Why use a Anchor Text Backlink?
Do we need anchor text backlink for improve rankings? We have talked a lot about the importance of backlinks. And we have covered a lot of topics on how to get backlinks to your website. But today I would like to talk about anchor text.
When you submit a web page to a directory, blog or social media profile, you are allowed to specify what anchor text you want that link to have. This is also known as “anchor text backlinks” and it is an important factor when it comes to search engine optimization and ranking in Google.
There are some people who believe that the anchor text backlink doesn’t matter at all, but that is completely wrong. The anchor text backlink is just as important as any other type of link. It is worth noting that the importance of the anchor text differs from one industry to another.
This is a key factor for search engine optimization (SEO). Search engines want to find out what your website is about and use anchor text as an indicator of what your site content is about.
In fact, links are so important that Google’s PageRank algorithm is still the standard for all major search engines established today.
The anchor text you choose for your backlinks is very important and should be given some thought before implementation. An improperly chosen or “spammy” link can lead to a ban on your website and/or blacklisting by Google.
Refined Anchor Text: Refined anchor text refers to the words you choose to include as part of a link. This is one of the most effective types of link building because it elevates your content above others in search engine results pages (SERPs) by using the specific keyword or phrase that a user seeks when looking for information on a particular topic.
Anchor Text Types
There are 5 different types of anchor texts or links that link back to your website, and you want to make sure that you’re using the ones that will help you rank for the keywords you want. The different types of links are:
Branded – Links containing your brand name.
Exact Match – Links with the exact keyword you want to rank for.
Partial Match – Links with a variation of the keyword you’re trying to rank for.
Phrase Match – Links with the keyword phrase you want to rank for.
Generic – Links with non-specific information like “Click here,” or “Info”
Naked URL – Links with the full URL serving as the anchor text.
Links are still the single most important factor in determining rank, more so than title tags and content. There are two types of links that help you rank: Links from other sites, and links within your own site.
The most valuable type of link is one that contains your brand name as the anchor text. An example would be a link to your homepage with the anchor text being “SEO Services.” When you enter a search query for “SEO Services” and see a link to your site on the results page without clicking it, this is called an “implied link” because Google’s algorithm assumes that you clicked that link based on the keyword phrase you typed into the search bar.
Consistently linking to your pages with keywords in the anchor text will increase their authority over time. This means they will rank higher in the SERPs (search engine results pages) for those keywords. For example, if you want to rank for the keyword phrase “SEO services,” then you should use this exact phrase as anchor text.
Avoid too many Keywords
In the early stages of your website’s growth, it seems logical to strive to earn backlinks that have anchor text with the keywords you want to rank for. But too many keyword-dense anchor texts can taint your link profile in the long run, as it may start to look as if your backlinks were not acquired naturally.
However, too many keyword-dense anchor texts can taint your link profile in the long run, as it may start to look as if your backlinks were not acquired naturally.
In an August 2013 article by Jon Cooper on The SEM Post, he explains that Google’s Penguin update was designed to target so-called “link spam” and sites that used spammy or artificial links to manipulate search engine rankings.
Over time, Google has done a good job of filtering out spam links, but the fact remains that too many keywords in your anchor text is still a red flag for Google. This is why it’s important to use a variety of different anchor texts when creating backlinks.
If you use an excessive number of keywords in your anchor text, it looks suspicious and can drive up the cost of your SEO campaign because you will have to pay for more links than you might need otherwise.
When you do get backlinks with keyword-rich anchor text, include as many variations of your keywords as possible without being overbearing. The best way to do this is to make sure that your content is optimized so that it has more than one way to rank organically for different keywords.
Anchor Text Diversity
Anchor text diversity has been a hot topic of conversation in the SEO world. Over the past few years, and it’s easy to understand why. When it comes to link building, you can never be too safe. No matter how natural your links appear on the surface, Google will always be looking for ways to interpret them. Google are checking to identify if they are unnatural or manipulative.
The problem is that many SEOs have taken anchor text diversity much too far. They’re obsessed with having a variety of anchor text. Even if it doesn’t make sense for the page or the website as a whole. This can get very confusing for visitors because it’s tough to tell what these links are supposed to mean.
Anchor text diversity is important, but you shouldn’t use it as an excuse to link to unrelated topics. If you do that, you could end up hurting yourself more than helping. The key is striking a balance between diversity and relevance. You should make sure that every single one of your links makes sense and supports the topic.
Conclusion
Anchor text diversity should be part of, if not the foundation of, your SEO strategy. Whether you’re trying to game Google’s algorithm or not, building links are requires. Diversify your anchor text profile and anchor your links to relevant keywords. If you don’t, you may risk having all your backlinks discredited by Google.
The goal of anchor text diversity is to have a variety of anchor text link types. Including exact match, partial match, and branded anchor text. The higher the percentage of your anchor text links that are exact matches to the target keyword, the better.
Be as diverse as possible while still allowing the optimization process. Diversity itself has value in online marketing. It naturally communicates to Google that you aren’t trying to manipulate search results.