Anchor Text

Anchor text is the part of a link people actually read. It sets expectations before anyone clicks. Google reads it too, as a clue about the page you are linking to. Getting it right is simple, but overdoing it can backfire.

Anchor text vs URL

The URL is the address. The anchor text is the label on the door. In this code, the URL is /local-seo/ and the anchor text is “free local SEO course”:

<a href="/local-seo/">free local SEO course</a>

A bare URL as anchor text, like “freecourses.digital/local-seo,” works but tells readers little. Descriptive link text is easier to scan and helps screen reader users too.

Types of anchor text

• Exact-match anchor: the exact keyword, like “aircon cleaning service.”
• Branded anchor: your business name, like “CoolPro.”
• Generic anchor: vague text like “click here” or “read more.”
• Descriptive anchor: natural words that explain the destination, like “our guide to aircon cleaning prices.”

Google’s advice is to keep anchor text descriptive, reasonably concise, and relevant. It suggests a quick test. Read only the anchor text, out of context. If it does not make sense alone, rewrite it.

For image links, Google uses the image’s alt text as the anchor text. An empty alt on a linked image leaves the link with no label.

Over-optimization and link spam

Exact-match anchors are fine in moderation on your own site. Problems start when you force the same keyword into every link. Google lists keyword stuffing as a spam policy violation.

Off-site, the risk is bigger. Google’s link spam policy names optimized anchor text in paid articles. It also covers guest posts and press releases spread across other sites. If a link exists only to push one keyword, it can count against you.

Example

A Pampanga catering business writes 20 guest posts. Each one links home with “best catering Pampanga.” That pattern looks manufactured. A safer mix uses the brand name, the owner’s name, and natural phrases like “their ₱350-per-head buffet package.” Internally, the team swaps every “click here” for descriptive text.

For hands-on practice writing links that read naturally, use the linked lesson.

<a href="/local-seo/">free local SEO course</a> instead of "click here".