Anchor Text: Descriptive Links and Common Mistakes
Anchor text is the clickable wording of a link. It should help a reader decide whether the destination answers their next question. The right wording depends on the sentence and destination, rather than a prescribed mix of keywords and brand names.
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Anchor text is the clickable wording of a link. It should help a reader decide whether the destination answers their next question. The right wording depends on the sentence and destination, rather than a prescribed mix of keywords and brand names.
Choose wording that describes the destination
For a link to a backlink audit tutorial, “check your backlinks” is more useful than “click here”. A company name is appropriate when introducing that company. An exact topic phrase is not inherently a problem when it accurately describes the linked page.
| Situation | Useful anchor | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Explain a technical term | dofollow and nofollow links | Identifies the subject |
| Recommend a workflow | backlink audit guide | Describes the task |
| Identify an organization | Its actual name | Makes the destination clear |
Avoid forcing unrelated keywords into a sentence, hiding links, or repeating commercial anchors across paid placements to manipulate rankings. Surrounding text matters too: explain why a source is useful instead of stacking unrelated links together.
There is no safe anchor-text percentage
Google does not publish an ideal branded/exact-match ratio. Rules such as 80/20 or “under 5% exact match” are not compliance tests. Changing words to make a purchased link look natural does not change the paid relationship. Use appropriate link qualification for paid placements; see the link attribute guide.
Review links in context
Export anchor data to spot mistakes such as misleading labels or links pointing to the wrong page. Open the source page before drawing conclusions. Repeated brand anchors can be normal, and a tool's percentage alone is not evidence of a penalty. External publishers retain editorial control over their wording.
For your own site, use crawlable links and clear text. Describe an image used as a link through suitable alt text. Do not add generic anchors merely to hit a ratio, and do not disavow links simply because an anchor looks unusual. The disavow guide explains the narrower circumstances where that tool may be appropriate.
Recognize anchor types without turning them into quotas
| Type | Example | When it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Exact topic | “backlink audit” | The destination actually explains that task |
| Phrase or partial match | “a checklist for auditing links” | The wording fits the sentence |
| Branded | “Tanjen” | Identifying the organization |
| Generic | “read more” | The surrounding text already identifies the subject clearly |
| Naked URL | a displayed website address | Showing an address is useful to the reader |
| Linked image | descriptive image alt text | The image acts as the link and needs an accessible name |
These are descriptive categories, not an ideal distribution. For an image used as a link, describe the destination or function where appropriate; do not insert a list of unrelated keywords into its alt text.
Service information
At Tanjen.net, we help businesses build high-quality guest posts on authoritative sites, allowing you to control your anchor text and integrate it contextually. Our Guest Post service ensures your links appear natural and valuable, with anchors that match your strategy.
The service descriptions above do not establish Google approval or guarantee rankings. Assess any paid placement under the link rules explained in this article; a DR figure is a third-party metric.
Sources and further reading
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View packages and pricingFrequently asked questions
What is anchor text in SEO?
Anchor text is the visible wording of a link. Describe the destination in language that fits the surrounding sentence: “backlink audit checklist” is more useful than an unexplained “click here”.
What is the best anchor text ratio?
Google publishes no ideal anchor-text ratio. Check whether links are descriptive and earned or appropriately qualified; a percentage cannot make a paid link compliant.
Is exact match anchor text bad for SEO?
An exact topic phrase is acceptable when it accurately describes the destination. Repeating commercial anchors through a link scheme is a different issue; inspect the placement and relationship rather than enforcing a keyword quota.
How can I check my anchor text distribution?
Export anchor reports from a backlink tool or use Search Console's top linking text. Group similar labels, inspect representative source pages and check that destinations match their anchors; these reports are incomplete samples, not penalty diagnoses.
