When thinking about search engine optimization, focusing on a link building campaign is crucial. Before jumping in, let’s take a look at the value of a link. Because each link has a different value, we need to consider what the search engines are looking for.When you build links, one of the things you must pay attention to is the anchor text of the link. The anchor text what the reader sees and will click on to visit whatever link you have built.
When you create links, you have the pieces of text inside the brackets, which tells the computer where to visit. The part that you actually see outside of the brackets is called anchor text. Sometimes you will see a link that simple reads “click here.” This is an example of wasted anchor text. Anchor text needs to be relevant to the site to which the link is pointing. Anchor text should have keywords or key phrases that describe the page or site.
Using a made up site called “Puppy Paradise,” a site we will pretend is all about puppies and topics relevant to puppies, here is how your anchor text link should NOT look when used in an article:
Though there are many places that specialize in the best products for puppy pets, Puppy Paradise widest variety of accessories for dogs and puppies. Click here to see their hot new line of puppy accessories.
In this example, the search engines aren’t going to read the text as anything relevant to puppies and dogs. There is no value gained from this type of linking. The following example is how anchor text should be used to get the most value from the link:
Though there are many places that specialize in the best products for puppy pets, Puppy Paradise widest variety and a hot new line of accessories for dogs and puppies.
By using the site in the anchor text, we have created a link with value for Puppy Paradise. The text is relevant, and because the surrounding language talks about what a great place our pretend Puppy Paradise is, it entices visitors to go to the site without a demand such as “click here.”
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Tags: Anchor text, Keyword, Promotion, Search Engine Optimization, SEO
Cindy,
You want to make sure you are creating a backlink, because of the value. Most people who use the internet, especially for shopping or exploring web pages know that underlined text will take them to a source, so don’t underestimate the people who read your content. Also, if it is a product that you believe in and truly want to sell, don’t forget to “pre-sell” the item a little bit in the content.
In the example of this article, Puppy Paradise, I tell the reader, before they even get to the link, that Puppy Paradise as the best variety and a hot new selection of dog items around. If you wanted to entice them more, you could say something like, “I would highly encourage anyone who has a dog to check out Puppy Paradise by clicking here: Puppy Paradise.” The italics would be the link. That sort of style is all up to you!
I would worry that some readers would not know that the text was actually a link, so they wouldn’t click on it. Or is it more about creating a backlink?