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Using anchor text is the best method to create a hyperlink. It describes the link and maximizes the SEO of either inbound or outbound links. It is a valuable to understand especially if you are creating or managing your own website.
What is a Link?
A link, or hyperlink, allows the reader to “click” and initiate an action. Usually a hyperlink can take you to another web page, web site, downloadable document, etc. Images can also serve as a link.
A hyperlink, or link, is often highlighted or colored and maybe underlined. It is created automatically using your web page/blog software.
Creating Different Types of Hyperlinks
“Http://typeyourwebsitehere.com”
There are several ways to set up a hyperlink. The most common, and basic, structure is to simply highlight the entire URL (URL = “www.typeyourwebsitehere.com”) as the actual link.
This works and is fine, but it is ugly and has almost no SEO value. Clicking on this link will take you to your desired page.
“Click Here”
This is probably the most common hyperlink using anchor text. By clicking on “here,” you are taken to your destination. Looks better because it is readable text, but little SEO value. Technically, “here” is describing your target URL.
Anchor Text is Best Hyperlink for Optimizing SEO
Just as you would create a link using the word “here” and link it to your URL, this style of linking allows you to use keywords to describe the content of the target. This is the value of using keywords to describe target URL’s.
The words, or phrase, you use as the actual text to construct the link let’s Google rank our page higher with this added information. Anchor text, as back links, from an external source, when contained in rich, relevant content are the best endorsements of your web page and will garner the highest rankings.
Examples;
- My web site on retinal disease.
(The link is to http://retinaeyedoctor.com. The anchor text “retinal disease” now tells Google that the URL is about “retinal disease.”)
- We teach you how to improve your medical web site rankings.
(The link is to http://medicalmarketingenterprises.com. The anchor text “improve your web site rankings” tells Google that the URL is a web page about improving medical web site rankings.)
- Signature Box
Randall V. Wong, M.D.
Retina Specialist
Fairfax, Virginia
(This is a copy of my signature box used on my blog. I use Retina Specialist and Fairfax, Virginia as the anchor text linking back to my retina site. By choosing this text, it informs Google that I am a retinal specialist and work in Virginia.)
When to Best Use Anchor Text
Any opportunity where you can improve your SEO by using anchor text, do it. Most importantly;
- Guest Blogging: You may set up a link back to your own site. Use carefully chosen words to maximize the power of these “back links.”
- External Links: These are links away from your site. I prefer to use anchor text almost exclusively because it looks and reads smoother. Links away from your site have the least SEO value.
- Internal Links: If you notice, almost every article we produce as at least 3 hyperlinks per article. Most times, we prefer to link to pages or posts internal to this site. This internal linking as SEO value, so we try to use anchor text as much as possible.
- Images: This is probably overlooked by most designers and SEO specialists. Choose an image to serve as the link and then choose your target URL. NOTE: place keywords, text in the “alt text” window of the image to maximize the SEO.