How to Write Anchor Text for SEO
Anchor text is the visible, clickable text of a hyperlink. It tells users and search engines what the linked page is about. Well-written anchor text improves both user experience and SEO by providing clear context for every link.
Types of Anchor Text
| Type | Example | SEO Value |
|---|---|---|
| Exact match | keyword density checker | High, but overuse looks spammy |
| Partial match | check your keyword density | High — natural and descriptive |
| Branded | RankNibbler | Good for brand signals |
| Generic | click here | Low — provides no context |
| Naked URL | www.example.com | Low — not descriptive |
| Image | (linked image with alt text) | Alt text serves as anchor text |
Best Practices
- Be descriptive — "read our internal linking guide" tells users and Google exactly what to expect
- Keep it natural — anchor text should fit naturally in the sentence
- Vary your anchors — do not use the same exact-match text for every link to the same page
- Avoid "click here" — the most wasted anchor text on the web
- Keep it concise — 2-5 words is ideal for most links
- Check for empty links — links with no text at all are worse than "click here"
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Last updated: March 2026