Anchor Text
Quick Definition
Anchor text is the visible, clickable text in a hyperlink. It tells users and search engines what the linked page is about. Descriptive anchor text improves both accessibility and SEO.
What Is Anchor Text?
The visible, clickable text inside a hyperlink. MDN: content "should indicate the link's destination." Google uses it to understand linked pages. Screen readers announce it for navigation.
Types: exact match, partial match, branded, generic (avoid), URL. Best practices: be descriptive, keep natural, vary text, make links visually distinct.
In WordPress: select text, press Ctrl+K, paste URL.
Why It Matters
Core SEO signal since Google's original PageRank. Also key for accessibility. See our SEO tips and SEO checklist.
Related Terms
External LinkAn external link (outbound link) is a hyperlink from your website to a page on a different website. Linking to authoritative sources builds trust with both users and search engines.Internal LinkAn internal link is a hyperlink that points from one page on your website to another page on the same website. Internal links help visitors navigate and tell search engines how your content is organized.
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