Optimize Anchor Text for Links
Suitable anchor text makes it easy to convey the contents linked
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Anchor text is the clickable text that users will see as a result of a link, and is placed within the HTML anchor tag <a href=”…”></a>.
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This text tells users and Google something about the page you’re linking to. Links on your page maybe internal—pointing to other pages on your site—or external—leading to content on other sites. In either of these cases, the better your anchor text is, the easier it is for users to navigate and for Google to understand what the page you’re linking to is about.
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Best Practices
[toggle title=”Choose descriptive text” variation=””]
The anchor text used for link should provide information on what the page linked to is about. Avoid using generic text like “page”, “article”, “click here”, or “more”. Do not use text link that is off-topic or unrelated to the page linked to. Avoid using the page URL as the anchor text, unless you are promoting specifically the address, such as for a new website.
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[toggle title=”Write concise text” variation=””]
Use short but descriptive text, just a few words or a short phrase.
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[toggle title=”Format links so they’re easy to spot” variation=””]
Format links so users can readily distinguish them; the content is less useful is users miss them or accidentally click them. Do not use [tippy title=”CSS” reference=”” header=”on”]Abbreviation for Cascading Style Sheets; a language for defining the design and layout of a web page.[/tippy] or [tippy title=”text styling” reference=”” header=”on”]Formatting, such as the font, size and color of the text.[/tippy] that make links look like regular text or deliberately mislead users on what is a link and what is not.
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[toggle title=”Think about anchor text for internal links too” variation=””]
Apply link text best practice not only to external links but to links pointing to other pages on your own site; this helps users and Google navigate your site better. Do not excessively fill keywords into the anchor text just for search engines. Do not create extraneous links that do not help a user with the navigation of the sire.
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