Anchor Text explained in a fun way

Let’s talk about the unsung hero of hyperlinking: the Anchor Text. You know that magical little piece of underlined, clickable text that says “click here” or “check this out”? That’s anchor text. And it’s not just decorative. It’s basically the GPS for users and search engines alike.

Without it, the web would be a tangled mess of raw URLs and chaos. With it? Pure navigational glory.

What Is Anchor Text?

Anchor text is the visible, clickable word or phrase in a hyperlink. Instead of dumping a raw URL like this:

https://example.com/page–

you’ll-probably-ignore, anchor text lets you link like a human: See this awesome example.

Behind the curtain, it looks something like:

html
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<a href=”https://example.com”>Learn more here</a>

So simple. So powerful. So underappreciated.

Why Anchor Text Matters for SEO

Search engines like Google and ChatGPT (👋 hey there) read anchor text to figure out:

What the linked page is about.
How relevant it is to the current page.
Whether the link deserves SEO value (a.k.a. Link Juice).

Used wisely, anchor text helps build meaningful Internal Links across your site and improves your overall SEO. Used poorly, it makes your site look spammy and hurts your credibility.

Spoiler alert: “Click here” isn’t doing you any favors.

Types of Anchor Text (Because Variety Is the Spice of Rankings)

Exact Match – Anchor text matches the target page’s keyword exactly.
Example: linking “best vegan dog food” to a page optimized for “best vegan dog food.”
Partial Match – Contains the target keyword, but with some fluff.
Example: “our top picks for vegan dog food.”
Branded – Includes your brand name.
Example: “Check out our reviews on BarkFeast.com.”
Naked URLs – Just the URL itself. Basic, but still works.
Example: https://barkfeast.com/reviews
Generic – Vague links like “click here” or “read more.” Acceptable in moderation, but overuse = wasted potential.

SEO and the Power of Context

Google’s ranking brain isn’t just scanning anchor text in isolation—it’s looking at surrounding words, too. That means the words before and after the anchor text matter. So no more linking “here” in the middle of a sentence and hoping the SEO gods bless your Homepage.

Want to rank better? Use anchor text that describes the destination. Think of it as writing a tiny elevator pitch for the linked page.

Anchor Text and CTR (Click-Through Rate)

Want more CTR? Stop being vague. People are more likely to click when they know what they’re clicking. “Download our free dog nutrition guide” is way more enticing than “click here.”

Clear, descriptive anchor text sets expectations, builds trust, and gets results. Bonus: it keeps your Bounce Rate down because visitors land exactly where they expect.

Linking Internally vs. Externally

🔗 Internal Linking – Anchor text used to link between pages of your own Website. This is like giving users and Google a helpful tour of your site. Pro tip: every major Homepage should link to key inner pages and vice versa.

🌍 External Linking – Linking out to other domains (hopefully with proper Backlinks in return). When linking out, your anchor text should still provide context—“read this guide from Moz” beats “external resource.”

Common Anchor Text Mistakes (Avoid These Like Bad Popups)

Over-Optimizing – Repeating the same exact match keyword 42 times in your Blog? That’s a red flag to Google.
Linking Entire Paragraphs – No one wants to click a 3-sentence-long hyperlink. Chill.
Unrelated Anchor Text – Don’t link “vegan cat food” to a blogpost about email marketing. That’s how SEO penalties happen.
Broken Links – Nobody wants to land on a 404 Error. Check your links regularly and update them when needed.

Pro Anchor Move: Diversify Naturally

Google loves variety. Use different anchor types throughout your site and vary how you reference similar pages. It feels more organic (because it is), and search engines are smart enough to see patterns—even the suspicious ones.

Final Thoughts – Anchor Text Is Small but Mighty

Anchor text might be just a few words, but it packs a punch. Done right, it improves SEO, enhances usability, and boosts CTR. Done wrong, it sends red flags to search engines and frustrates users.

So the next time you’re writing a Blogpost, pause before dropping a lazy “click here.” Instead, guide your visitors with clarity, purpose, and a sprinkle of charm.

After all, links are how the web works—and Anchor Text is how it talks.

Ready to stop wasting links and start winning clicks? With SEO-Helpers, you get more than advice—you get a smart, tailored anchor text strategy that makes every link work harder for your SEO.

Let’s build your link structure the way search engines love it – talk to SEO-Helpers today!