Love Your Links! Tips on Anchor Text

When generating traffic to your page, effectively utilizing links is an art that too few businesses have perfected on their websites. So how do you go from amateur to artist? I've compiled a list of tips to give your links an organic feel that both you and readers will love.

Keep it natural!

There is no bigger turn-off than seeing a large, garish "CLICK HERE!" on a website. Why? First off, the all-caps writing and exclamation mark can make readers feel uncomfortable, as if they are being yelled at. In face-to-face conversations, a salesman wouldn't want to yell or startle a customer--so treat your website as an online salesman! Turn your website from looking like a greasy, spam-infested con-man to a smart, informed sales professional by embedding your links comfortably into a paragraph. By doing creating quality, embedded links, you put your potential at ease and ready to learn more.

Stay on Key!

By incorporating keywords into your embedded text, you are hitting two birds with one stone! Not only will you let your target audience know exactly what your link is offering, but you are also letting search engines do the same. Avoid long, rambling keywords--this will help both you and the customer stay on target!

Mix it up!

One of the most common mistakes that separates the professionals from the rest is too much repetition in your links. Don't turn your keywords into your own personal "CLICK HERE" by constantly using it throughout your website, blog, and linked comments.Using the same keyword phrase as the anchor text, or using any phrase repetitively raises red flags to search engines like Bing or Google that your links are coordinated and/or paid for, instead of occurring naturally online. This can lead the search engines to question the motives of all of your content! Instead, make a spreadsheet of varied phrases based on your keywords, and rotate through your list. This way, you will gain credibility with not only your target audience, but search engines as well. So, if "local seo" is your targeted keyword phrase, then find different ways to use it in both your copy, and your links. A list with this phrase may include "seo for local businesses", "search engine optimization for local business", or "seo that focuses on local searches". By mixing up the order, expanding or abbreviating phrases, and using synonyms, your list will create itself as naturally as your links!

Stand Out!

While you want to keep your links natural, make sure that your readers still know that they are links. Changing the text color to your link will naturally draw the reader's eye--and mouse--to where you want them to click. However, remember that when changing the text color, it doesn't have to be the standard URL blue. Make sure your link color complements the color of your website! While italics can also set text apart visually, underlining and/or bolding your link is the most popular method by far. This way, your links can still follow the natural flow of the paragraph, but will stand out a little as well. Subtly calling attention to your link will not only tell the reader where to click, but make them want to click!

Standing out within a paragraph is important as well. In a paragraph, the best place for your links are either in the first line or last line of your paragraph (I personally prefer the first line.) This rule doesn't necessarily apply to sentences, however. You can also precede your keywords with specific reference words like "this" and "these", which conversationally points out your link as well. Remember, you want your links to be natural, not hidden!

Example 1- What NOT to do:

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Example 2- What you SHOULD do:

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When you compare these two examples, you see that the second example much more naturally leads you to click a link, while the first is glaringly cheap and low-quality. By following this guide and taking your links to the next level, you are adding the gloss of professionalism and credibility to your online presence that everyone will love!

Allison is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Palm Desert serving the Coachella Valley. http://www.changeseeker.org/MeettheTherapist.en.html and http://www.changeseeker.org/TherapyServicesProvided.en.html