The Anchor Text Strategy optimization emerged after the launch of Google's SERP Algorithm. The goal of this algorithm was to reduce the black hat SEO practices that many website owners were using at the time. Google deemed it unethical to allow illegit SEO practices that give unfair opportunities to websites to rank on the first page of Google's SERPs.
Nowadays, we have more than 200 experimental Google ranking factors for SEO. All of these SEO ranking factors are subject to Google's intelligent and complex algorithms. For example, among the SEO factors included after Google's SERP Algorithm is the anchor text. Therefore, it would be best to consider optimizing your anchor text strategy for SEO as a top priority in 2022.
In this post, seobase covers what the anchor text is, why it is an essential factor for SEO, and how to optimize your anchor texts strategy to improve your SEO with the best practices.
What Is Anchor Text SEO?
Anchor text SEO refers to words that link back to a specific page on your site. For example, this link to the home page of “seobase.” The most important thing to remember when creating anchor text is to use relevant keywords. Search engine crawlers use anchor text to determine what pages are linked to other pages. This helps them understand how your site works and where it fits into the larger web ecosystem. The anchor text links send signals of trust to search engines and your website as these hyperlinks help users navigate your site and give Google's algorithm a good idea of who your content is relevant to. In addition, they explain to them that there is reliable information from another site that they can obtain. 
Why is Anchor Text Important for SEO?
In 2012, Google published the penguin algorithm and then an update, and updates are ongoing. With each update or launch of a new algorithm, the traffic on your website is negatively affected. Therefore, you should be careful and watch for algorithm updates carefully. Also, since Google penalizes over-optimization, the role of the anchor text was only overstated. If your website appears high in search results, you must ensure that your links are optimized. Google has said that “anchor text” is one of the most important ranking signals. Here are some reasons why a suitable anchor text strategy is essential for SEO:
- Anchor text indicates what a page is about to Google.
- Using anchor text as a ranking signal is included in several Google patents.
- You need to avoid using generic anchor text, like "click here," which is generally considered a poor SEO practice.
Types of Anchor Text
There are many types of anchor texts, and you can include some or all of them in your strategic anchors:
Exact-match anchor text
The exact match anchor text is one that includes a keyword that reflects the page to which it is linked. For example, if you link the seobase SERP checker tool to the SERP checker tool page of seobase.
Partial-match anchor text
The partial match anchor text contains a keyword variation on the linked page. For example, if you link the best online SEO tools to your seobase page.
Branded anchor text
You can use your brand name as an anchor text type. This type of anchor text establishes authority for websites and search engines. For example, linking a seobase blog article to seobase.
Naked link anchor text
Naked text, of course, is a somewhat interesting name, but it expresses the content and type of anchor. So, for example, "https://seobase.com/rank-tracker/” is what is called naked text.
Generic anchor text
A generic anchor text is a word or phrase like "Click Here." It isn't Google's favorite, so try to avoid it.
Images anchor text
When you link an image, Google uses the text in the image's alt text as an anchor text type. 
Anchor Text SEO: Best Practises for Using Anchor Text in Your SEO Strategy
The best-practice anchor text strategy for SEO tips guides you to develop a more nuanced strategy with time.
Stay On Topic
The highest priority in your anchor text strategy is to make the jump links SEO relevant to the topic. Relevancy is at the top of the anchor text best practices for SEO. Your anchor text should contain keywords that match the topic or phrase you are linking to. Otherwise, Google considers this jump links SEO as manipulative and potentially penalizes your website.
Always Incorporate Variation
If you always want an exact match to the content of the hypertext or the header of the text, the Google spam filter will be turned off, and you will be punished immediately. Don't always try to associate only with brand names because you will get a penalty too. Creating your suitable anchor text strategy for SEO requires different and creative thinking to get the best results.
Test and Track
Tracking and testing your anchor text on the website takes time and effort, but it is the only way to know how effective your anchor text strategy is and its impact on SEO. You can use an anchor text testing tool like small SEO tools to check your anchor texts and their distribution. You can use the seobase backlink checker tool to see other websites' anchor text when they link to your site. To do this, log in to seobase, navigate to the Backlink checker tool, and then check your links.
Keyword density
Don't overdo it with keyword-heavy internal links. If too many of a site's inbound links contain the exact anchor text, it can seem questionable, and maybe Google considers it a sign that you didn't acquire the links naturally. In addition, using the same link to link many words to one page is also considered suspicious behavior by Google. 
Using Anchor Text In Your Blog Posts
There are two main types of anchor text: internal and external.
- Internal anchor text refers to the words within the link itself.
- External anchor text refers to the words used when linking to another site.
For anchor text optimization, you can use both internal and external anchor text in blog posts. However, there are some things to keep in mind when doing so.
- First, ensure that your chosen anchor text will help readers understand the post.
- Second, avoid using too much of one type of anchor text. If you do, it might confuse readers unfamiliar with the term.
- Third, try not to use the exact anchor text throughout your entire blog. This makes it difficult for Google to determine how relevant each piece of content is.
Conclusion
Although anchor texts cannot improve search engines on their own, they still represent an integral factor in your best practice SEO strategy. Implementing a successful SEO anchor texts strategy is a step towards high ranking on the first pages of search engines. Additionally, a good SEO anchor texts strategy or an excellent anchor text optimization can positively impact reader trust and search engines as well. Leverage the seobase best practices for anchor text SEO; staying on topic, keeping a consistent structure, containing variation, and testing and tracking your anchor text. When possible. Also, you can use some keywords–but don’t over-optimize them.
