How Anchor Text is Used in Search Engine Optimization
Posted on Tuesday, Nov 09, 2010 in "SEO / SEM"
Search engine optimization is perhaps one of the most complex ever-changing fields in internet technology, and is primarily responsible for the growth of the most successful web sites online. Although it may not be fun having to learn the extensive knowledge required to become a good SEO expert, the fact remains that good SEO is the best way to receive residual web traffic with as little effort as possible. Unfortunately, a lot of people are in the dark about even the simplest search engine optimization techniques. One of the most overlooked aspects of SEO in regards to keyword optimization and backlink building is the use of anchor text. The following information describes how anchor text is used in search engine optimization, and how it is vital towards any SEO campaign.
What is Anchor Text?
Anchor text is simply the text used to represent a hyperlink. Anchor text is used to make links more attractive and to make it easier for the search engine to index backlinks in relation to specific keywords. A hyperlink that contains an entire lengthy web address would be much less likely to be clicked then a simple word that pertains to a subject that the reader is interested in. Anchor text is created by the page author and is a basic aspect of web design. Studies have shown that readers are far more likely to click on a link that contains anchor text because the link is more aesthetically pleasing and appears to be less ‘spammy’. By using anchor text you’re not only making it convenient for your site visitors to find the information they need, you’re also making it easier for the search engines to index the pages that you’re linking to.
Effective Backlink Indexing
When a search engine spider, crawler or bot (whichever you prefer) indexes a web page it combs through all of the outgoing links on that page. Depending on the structure of the link, the search engine bot will then index the pages that the links lead to. Before following a link to a specific page the search engine bot will read the anchor text to see if it pertains to the content on the target web page. For example, a link that reads “ boat anchors” would indicate to the search engine that the following page is going to pertain to boat anchors. If the page does not pertain to the anchor text then it is likely that the page will receive a lower search engine ranking. The proper use of anchor text ensures that search engines are indexing your pages and ranking them highly for your targeted keywords.
Anchor Text Tips
Because of the aforementioned reasons it is best to use anchor text to lead visitors to pages that are relevant to the chosen text. Every link that points back to your site is backlink, and if it contains relevant anchor text then it is much more likely to have a positive effect on your search engine ranking. If you want a specific page to rank highly for a particular keyword then you need to build as many backlinks as you can that contain anchor text with the chosen keywords included.
