Understanding anchor text - what it is, how it works, the different types, and how to use it effectively - is essential for search engine optimization (SEO). This presentation takes you through the fundamentals of anchor text, offering everything from a basic definition to examples of actual use, to three best practice pointers.

1. understanding
ANCHOR TEXTwww.DOZ.com

2. One of the strongest signals
search engines use in rankings
is anchor text.
ACCORDING TO
MOZ.COM:
http://moz.com/beginners-guide-to-seo/growing-popularity-and-links

3. SOUNDS IMPORTANT...

4. ...BUT WHAT IS
ANCHOR TEXT?

5. Anchor Text is the clickable,
visible text ino a hyperlink.
DEFINITION
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anchor_text

6. These three blue words
are anchor text
EXAMPLE

7. All the blue text is anchor text
EXAMPLE

8. Why is anchor text important?
SO...

9. BECAUSE

10. AND

11. AND
every
other
search
engine ...

12. ...analyze anchor text in their
site ranking algorithms.

13. If I search on Google for the
keyword video games I can see
that IGN.com is near the
bottom of the front page.
EXAMPLE

14. Searching for
video games?
You'll find
IGN.com near
the bottom of
the front page.

15. However, if more websites
begin to use the term video
games as the anchor text for
their link to IGN.com, IGN will
move higher in the search
rankings for this keyword.
EXAMPLE

16. ARE THERE DIFFERENT
TYPES OF ANCHOR TEXT?

17. YES, AND HERE ARE 5 OF
THE MOST COMMON.

18. The anchor text exactly
matches the title, subject, or
theme of the linked site.
1. EXACT MATCH

19. If a site links to
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romania
using the anchor text
Romania
EXAMPLE

20. When the anchor text is a
brand name and links to
that brand.
2. BRANDED

21. If a site links to
http://ikea.com
using the anchor text
IKEA
EXAMPLE

22. Don't panic: a naked link is SFW.
It simply means that the anchor
text IS the link.
3. NAKED LINK

23. If a site links to
http://doz.com
using the anchor text
doz.com
EXAMPLE

24. When the anchor text is
similar to 'click here', 'visit
now', or 'go to website'.
4. GENERIC

25. If a site links to
http://cnn.com
using the anchor text
Read more here
EXAMPLE

26. When search engines crawl an
image they take the alt-text
attached to the image as the
anchor text.
5. IMAGES
Psst: Need to know how alt-text works?
Click to check out our 5 Minute SEO Guide.

27. The alt-text for this image is
hat-smile-canada
and this counts as the anchor text
EXAMPLE

28. WHAT SHOULD I
REMEMBER WHEN
LINKING ANCHOR TEXT?

29. THESE THREE THINGS.

30. Use relevant keywords. This is
esepcially important when
linking within your own site.
FIRST:

31. Avoid generic anchor text. Do
the right thing and add a little
SEO value to the site that you
trust with your link.
SECOND:

32. Keep it short. Using the anchor
text 'IKEA' is better than
linking the entire sentence
'Buy this table at your local
IKEA today'.
THIRD:

33. Try these links:
WANT TO READ MORE?
DOZ's 10 Minute SEO Guide
The Epic Guide to Anchor Text
A Basic Guide for Anchor Text

34. DOZ’s innovative platform helps brands to
connect with a network of marketing experts
around the world and draw on the local knowledge
of professionals to run effective and profitable
campaigns.
More than 300 brands around the world have
connected with experts through the DOZ platform
and worked with the DOZ team to manage their
campaigns.
WWW.DOZ.COM