Have you ever clicked on a link inside an article? If so, you’ll know what we mean by anchor text. That is the clickable text that directs you to another page. But did you know it can affect your website’s success? Search engines are smarter now, so optimizing your anchor text has become necessary.
Anchor text helps search engines understand your content. However, if you use too many keywords or depend too heavily on generic phrases such as “click here,” you could harm your website’s ranking.
The good news? You don’t need to be an SEO expert to get this right. I’ll take you through the best ways to optimize anchor text. So we’ll get the basics down, how to avoid common mistakes, and what tools you can use to make things easier. No matter your level of experience with SEO, you’ll learn how to make your links more successful.
What is an Anchor Text?
Let’s start with the basics. The clickable part of a hyperlink, i.e. the part that takes you to another page when you click it, is called anchor text and is usually underlined and colored. It’s like a bridge: it connects content and gives you a sense (and search engines also) of what’s further down the line.
Anchor text is like a guide to search engines. They help to understand the topic, and relevance, of the linked content. It’s a helpful hint to readers about what they’re getting before they click. When written well, anchor text can increase the user experience of your website and your rankings in search engines.
Types of Anchor Text
Not all links and anchor text are the same. In truth, there are several kinds and, as they say, each is for its purpose. Let’s break them down:
1. Exact Match

Exact Match Anchor Text is when the clickable text is the same as the keyword you are targeting. For instance, when the target keyword is ‘backlink profile’, the anchor text becomes that very text. This type can certainly lift the relevance but if overused, it can set off red flags with search engines.
2. Partial Match

Partial match anchor text means your target keyword, only with a slight change to the word. So, for example, instead of ‘backlink profile’ you can say ‘your complete backlink profile’’ or ‘helpful SEO strategies’ and so on. This type feels more natural and is less risky with exact matches.
3. Branded

Branded anchor text uses your business, product, or website name as a link. For instance, if your brand is ‘TechSavvy Solutions’, your anchor text may be as simple as TechSavvy Solutions. A type like this is perfect for establishing a brand and establishing trust.
4. Generic
Common words like “click here,” “learn more” or “read this” make up generic anchor text. It’s easy to use, but it doesn’t say a whole lot to search engines about the content that is being linked to. It does have its place if used sparingly.
5. Naked URLs
When the link that you’re linking to is the anchor text itself. For example, instead of the first being a link, you might see the word www.example.com as the link. It’s not very pretty, but it’s easy to link to a page.
Best Practices for Anchor Text Optimization
Using anchor text is not just about choosing the right words to put into a link. It’s about ensuring that your text reads naturally but at the same time, communicates your link purpose to both readers and search engines. Here’s a quick look at how to make your anchor text both relevant and safe in 2025.
Maintain naturalness and relevance
First, your anchor text should look like it naturally fits into your content. Consider how you would put the link into words to a friend – it should be coherent with the text. Overusing keywords may look like a smart approach to take, but search engines consider it as spamming and can harm your site. So, aim for balance.
Diversify anchor text
Having the same or similar type of anchor text in your links will make your link profile look unnatural. Instead, mix it up! It is possible to alter exact matches, partial matches, branded text, and generic phrases as well as plain URLs. This variety helps the search engines to see your site as more organic and it also makes your content more interesting to readers.
For your homepage, 80%-95% of your links must be branded anchors, URLs, and natural anchor text for SEO-friendliness and a healthy ratio.
Keep anchor text concise
The short and simple approach is the best. Excessively long anchor text can be misleading and, therefore, not as efficient as it should be. Use no more than five words to describe the purpose of the link so that the reason for it is evident.
Observe contextual relevance
All anchor texts should be associated with content that is most relevant to them. For instance, if you are linking with the text “easy baking tips,” it should not lead people to a landing page with information on exercise.
Monitor and adjust anchor text distribution
Optimization is not a one-time process, it’s a perpetual process. It’s always important to check on your anchor text ratios to see that you are not using one type too much. You can use Google Search Console or any SEO tool to monitor your progress and see where you are going wrong.
Following these practices will keep your anchor text natural, relevant, and therefore more effective. It is all about building a link profile that will be relevant to people and search engines. It is not very difficult to enhance the SEO strategy by paying some attention and effort to it!
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Though anchor text can greatly improve the SEO of your site, there are a few pitfalls you may stumble into. I have you covered – here are the answers!
Mistake # 1: Overuse of exact match anchors
One theory for landing those top rankings is the use of exact match anchor text (i.e., the clickable words match your target keyword exactly). However, too much of a great thing can be a turn-off to search engines. It could also be viewed as an attempt to game the system, with penalties to follow.
Instead, mix things up. Partial matches, branded anchors, or even generic phrases can help to keep your link profile natural looking. Balance is key.
Expert opinion
SEO in a nutshell, is the art and science of pleasing search engines. – Neil Patel

Neil Patel
Co-Founder at Neil Patel Digital
Mistake # 2: Linking to irrelevant content
Just imagine when you click on a link that says ‘quick dessert recipes’ but what you get is a page full of home workouts. Frustrating, right? Linking to irrelevant content not only dazes the reader but also makes your site appear unprofessional.
Search engines also catch on with this. It is always important that the anchor text and the linked content should be similar. Relevant links help to establish credibility and to prove to your readers (and Google) that you are an expert in your field.
Mistake #3: Ignoring anchor text variations
Using the same type of link anchor text for all your links can look suspicious to search engines. Not only is diversity good for life, but it’s also the key to anchor text optimization. A lack of variation in our link profile can make it look unnatural to the search engines, that’s another factor that may hurt your rankings.
So, shake things up! Use a healthy mix of exact match, partial match, branded, generic, and naked URL anchors on each group. This type not only helps with SEO but also improves the reader’s experience.
Conclusion
Anchor text optimization is a small modification that can significantly improve the SEO plan. Keeping it natural, relevant, and diverse will not only help your audience trust you but also improve your website’s performance with search engines. Remember that everything revolves around having your content connect with people—your readers and search engines.
Now it’s your turn! Start to review your anchor text today and see your rankings change. Share this guide and follow us for more SEO tips!
Frequently Asked Questions
