All courses SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

On-page SEO · Lesson 5 of 10

Anchor Text

Anchor text is the clickable text in a link.

1 Learn the concept

Anchor text is the clickable text in a link. Using the right anchor text throughout your content helps search engines understand what the linked page is about and helps readers know where a link will take them. This lesson explains how to write descriptive anchor text and how to plan your internal links.

A vague link text next to a descriptive oneDESCRIPTIVE ANCHOR TEXTVAGUETo read our guide, click here.DESCRIPTIVERead our guide to choosing beginnerrunning shoes.Vary phrasing naturally and avoid repeating the same keyword in every link.
Anchor text tells readers and search engines what the linked page offers.

2 See it in action

  • Be descriptive: avoid vague text like click here.
  • Vary phrasing naturally and avoid stuffing keywords.
  • Link related pages together to help people and search engines.
  • Make sure every important page has links pointing to it.

Worked example

Planning internal links

New post: "How to prepare for your first 5K".

Links to add: "beginner running shoes" to the shoe guide, "training plan" to the plan page, "warm-up routine" to an older warm-up post.

Also: link the older posts to the new one.

Result to look for: readers move deeper into the site and related pages support each other.

3 Study an example

Example scenario

A blog links the phrase beginner running shoes to its guide, instead of the words click here. Readers know what they will find and the guide gains relevance.

4 Apply it and download

  1. Find five vague links on a site.
  2. Rewrite them.
  3. Plan three new internal links.

Worksheet Keyword research and on-page SEO checklistOpen, print or save as PDF

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