Anchor Text

Technical Definition

Anchor text is the clickable text in a hyperlink. Types: exact match (target keyword), partial match (keyword variation), branded (company name), generic ('click here'), naked URL. Signals relevance of linked page. Over-optimized anchor text (too many exact matches) appears manipulative. Natural anchor text profile is diverse.

Simple Explanation (ELI13)

Anchor text is the words you click on in a link. When you link to a page about 'dog training,' using 'dog training' as the clickable text tells Google what that page is about. But using the exact same anchor text too often looks suspicious. A natural site has varied anchor text, including brand names and generic phrases.

Related Terms

Internal Linking, Link Building, Natural Links, Relevance Signals

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