What is Anchor Text in SEO? My Simple Explanation
Hello guys, welcome back to my blog. Today somebody asked me a very basic but important question — what is anchor text in SEO? A lot of new bloggers get confused about this, so I thought let me write a proper post about it. In this blog I will tell you what anchor text is, why it matters for your rankings, and how I personally use it on my own sites. So lets get into it.
What is Anchor Text in SEO, Exactly?
If you ask me in simple words, anchor text in SEO is the clickable text of a hyperlink. So when you see blue or underlined text on a page and you click it and it takes you somewhere else, that clickable words is the anchor text. Search engines like Google read this text to understand what the linked page is about, and users also read it to decide if they want to click or not.
For example, if I write “check out this beginner’s guide to SEO“, then “beginner’s guide to SEO” is my anchor text. Google uses this text as one small signal to understand the topic of the page I am linking to. I found a good discussion about this basic definition on r/SEO on Reddit, where someone explained it very simply, calling it “visible, clickable text that is part of a link.”
Technically, anchor text sits inside the HTML anchor tag, something like <a href=”url”>anchor text here</a>. You do not need to know coding to understand this, just remember that anchor text is the words, not the link itself.
Why Anchor Text Matters for SEO
Anchor text is not just decoration, it actually plays a real role in how Google understands and ranks your pages. Here is why I think it matters so much:
- It gives context to search engines about what the linked page is about. Google’s own Search Central documentation on links says that descriptive link text helps both users and search engines understand your content better.
- Good anchor text also help your own readers. If your link just says “click here”, the reader has no idea what they are about to open. But if it says “read my full Ahrefs review”, they know exactly what to expect.
- Anchor text can even help a page rank for a keyword that is not directly on that page, if enough good sites link to it using the same words. As one commenter on Reddit’s SEO community put it, if you get enough backlinks using “blue widgets” as anchor text, you might start ranking for blue widgets too.
- On the other hand, generic anchor text like “click here” or “read more” is doing almost nothing for your SEO, according to a discussion on r/SEO. I agree with this completely, I never use “click here” on my own blog anymore.
Types of Anchor Text (With Examples)
I think it is important you know the different types of anchor text before you start using them on your own site. Here is a simple table I made to explain each type.
| Type | Example | When I Use It |
|---|---|---|
| Exact Match | “ahrefs pricing plans” | Rarely, only when it fits naturally |
| Partial Match | “check ahrefs pricing here” | Often, feels more natural |
| Branded | “Ahrefs”, “Moz”, “Semrush” | Very often, safest option |
| Generic | “click here”, “this page”, “read more” | Almost never, low SEO value |
| Naked URL | “https://ahrefs.com/pricing“ | Sometimes in reference lists |
| Image Anchor | Alt text of a linked image | On product or design heavy pages |
I mostly stick to branded and partial match anchors on my own blog, because it just sounds more natural to a real reader, and also Google seems to like natural stuff more these days according to Google’s own spam policies page.
Internal vs External Anchor Text
There is a difference in how I use anchor text for internal links versus external links, so let me explain both separately.
Internal anchor text is when you link to your own other pages. This helps a lot with site structure. It basically tells Google, and your reader, how your content is connected. I always try to use natural, descriptive text for my internal links, something like “read my full guide on is ahrefs worth the money” instead of just “click here”. Someone on r/SEO explained this well too, saying internal links connect your content and give Google an idea of your website structure.
External anchor text is when other websites link to you, or when you link out to other websites. This is more powerful for SEO, but also more risky if overused with exact match keywords. I try to keep my outbound links pointing to trusted, high authority sources like Google Search Console, Moz, or well known publications, because this also builds trust with readers and search engines both.
Can You Overdo Anchor Text? Yes, Definitely
This is something I really want you guys to understand. Too much exact match anchor text can actually hurt your rankings instead of helping. Google has algorithms specifically built to catch unnatural link patterns, and this goes back to the famous Google Penguin update which targeted exactly this kind of over-optimization.
A discussion on r/SEO_Xpert explains this nicely, saying exact match anchors are not a problem by themselves, the issue starts when they dominate your whole link profile and make it look unnatural. I fully agree with this, if you ask me the safest approach is:
- Mostly branded anchors (your site name or brand)
- A good amount of generic and natural anchors
- Some partial match anchors mixed in
- Only a few exact match anchors, used carefully
This mix, according to the same r/SEO_Xpert discussion, is the most natural looking anchor profile, and I try to follow this same ratio on my own sites.
Anchor Text and Accessibility
This is something a lot of people forget about, but I think it is very important also. Descriptive anchor text is not just good for SEO, it is also good for accessibility. People using screen readers rely on link text to understand what a link actually does. A post on r/SEO explains that generic labels force screen reader users to guess where a link goes, which is a bad experience. WebAIM’s guide on link text also recommends the same thing, that link text should make sense even out of context. So writing good anchor text is actually a win for SEO and for your real human readers both.
My Practical Tips for Using Anchor Text
Based on my own experience running my blog, here are some simple tips I follow:
- Always describe what the reader will find on the other side of the link, not just a generic call to action.
- Do not obsess over exact ratios or percentages, focus more on what sounds natural to a real reader.
- Use your brand name as anchor text often, it is the safest type and Google trusts it.
- Mix in partial match anchors naturally, do not force the exact keyword every single time.
- Link out to real, trustworthy websites, this includes big names like Google, established niche blogs, or official documentation pages.
- Avoid anchor text like “click here” completely, replace it with something descriptive.
Quick Facts Table
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Definition | Clickable text of a hyperlink |
| HTML Tag | Anchor tag <a href=””>text</a> |
| Main Types | Exact, Partial, Branded, Generic, Naked URL |
| Best Practice | Natural mix, mostly branded and generic |
| Risk | Over-optimization can look spammy |
| Related Google Update | Penguin (targets unnatural link/anchor patterns) |
| Bonus Benefit | Helps accessibility for screen reader users |
FAQ
Q: What is anchor text in SEO in simple words? A: It is the clickable text of a link that tells both users and search engines what the linked page is about.
Q: Is exact match anchor text bad for SEO? A: Not by itself, but using too much of it can look unnatural and may hurt your rankings, so I always suggest a natural mix instead.
Q: What is the best type of anchor text to use most often? A: I personally use branded and partial match anchor text the most, because it feels natural and is the safest option.
Q: Does anchor text help with internal links too? A: Yes, internal anchor text helps Google and your readers understand how your pages are connected to each other.
Q: Why should I avoid “click here” as anchor text? A: Because it gives no context to search engines or to users, and it is also bad for accessibility since it does not describe the link.
Final Words
So guys, this was my simple explanation of what anchor text in SEO actually means. I have tried to cover the basic definition, the different types, internal versus external anchor text, and why over-optimizing it can backfire. My honest advice is, keep your anchor text natural and descriptive, do not force exact keywords everywhere. Keep on visiting my blog for more simple SEO tips like this one.
Sources
- Google Search Central – Links Google Can Follow
- Google Search Essentials – Link Spam Policy
- Google Search Central Blog – Penguin Update
- Moz – Beginner’s Guide to SEO
- Moz
- WebAIM – Link Text Techniques
- Google Search Console
- r/SEO – Anchor text discussion
- r/SEO – “click here” discussion
- r/SEO – ranking for anchor keywords
- r/SEO – internal links structure
- r/SEO_Xpert – natural anchor mix
