How to Optimize Anchor Text Usage post Google Penguin

If your rankings have been downgraded due to the latest Google Penguin Algorithm update, there are chances you are not adhering to a correct anchor text usage strategy. It is becoming increasingly important to use your anchor texts wisely in your content.

Tame the Penguin with Proper Anchor Text Usage

The impact of the Penguin update on your website wouldn’t be alarming if you were employing the right Anchor text usage techniques. You just need to follow the basics of Search Engine Optimization and focus on quality.

Avoid Overuse of Money Keywords

If you have been overusing the anchor text with exact match keywords, then that might the main reason why your website rankings have nosedived. You clearly need to reconsider your SEO approach if you want to regain your position in the SEO world. According to research published by the Search Engine Journal, high ranking websites that used the least number of exact match keywords in anchor texts retained their rankings even after the Penguin update. Therefore, it is advisable to use a minimal amount of exact match keywords as anchor texts and avoid any type of keyword stuffing.

Use Partial Match Keywords

Rather than using exact keywords for anchor texts, use them with slightly similar or rephrased keywords. This ratio can be a bit higher than the number of exact match anchor texts. This way, the content looks more authentic and natural.

Use natural anchor texts

You will gain brownie points for using natural looking anchor texts for example; the link to your website URL could be used as an anchor text (www.example.com) or more conventional anchor texts as “Click Here”, “Here”, “Buy now”, “Article”, “Blog post” etc.

Therefore, keeping in mind all these points, a useful thumb rule would be to use anchor texts in the following manner:

• 60% URL based or non-keyword anchor texts

• 30% broad match or partial keyword and rephrased anchor texts

• Only 10% exact match keyword anchor texts

Opinions may differ on this distribution ratio of anchor texts, but as hard-hitting as it may sound, it is clear that Google is pretty serious regarding quality issues. It is also evident that Google will continue to launch more updates of such kind to reward quality content sites and penalize sites with spam links and keyword stuffing. So it’s better to revise your approach and act now to build a White Hat SEO strategy aligned with Google’s focus on superior user experience.

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