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Learn SEO: Text Links
By Kimberly Bock | December 10, 2007
As you learn SEO, you will quickly realize the importance of Link Popularity.CM SEO describes Link Popularity as “The process of developing incoming, outgoing, and reciprocal links for the purpose of increasing Page Rank.”
In other words, it is an important factor in the Ranking algorithms of many Search Engines, especially Google’s Search Engine.
Text Links And Search Engines
Text Links provide another way for SEO’s to give the Search Engines what they need in order to direct traffic to your door.
If you are utilizing keywords that are relevant to your target market’s search query, within the anchor text of your link, (also referred to as Link text) the Search Engine has more readable text to find as relevant to the query as well. (as long as it IS relevant!) This of course, means that you will then have a better chance of Ranking well for the keywords used, possibly moving your site up in the Search Engine Results Pages (SERP’s).
To clarify, let’s take http://learningseobasics.com for example.
I am promoting this site as a means to educate you about the importance of learning SEO basics and also to promote learning advanced SEO with Search Engine College. If you are looking for a site like mine you may search for me using these queries “Learn SEO Basics” “Learn SEO” “SEO Basics” etc. Or maybe you have this single page under “Text Links” “Text Link” “Anchor Link Text” etc..
If I want my site to be more readable by the Search Engines so you can find me with those queries, then it is advisable to for me to use Text Links within my content that utilize those query words. Such as, “Click here for SEO Basics” or “Learn SEO: ALT IMG Attribute“.
These internal links direct you to another post which include these keywords.
When you hover your mouse over the above links, you will see that I have used ALT Text to describe them. The Search Engines are reading this text, as well as the anchor Text of the Link. (the actual words of the link that you see)
But more importantly than your internal linking, will be the use of Text Links of sites that are linking TO you. If they are linking to your site with these relevant keywords within their Links, it shows the Search Engines as your site having more relevancy to the query.
Advantages Of Text Links
*Loading time is faster
*Indexable by Search Engines
*Easier to edit
*Better for visually impaired readers (they use special “Text To Speech” Software)
*They contribute to a site’s search relevancy
*Contributes to a site’s Link Popularity
I Hope this has been helpful. Have fun learning SEO!
Topics: SEO/SEM Training |
January 24th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
Question, how important is the ALT TEXT tag?
January 25th, 2008 at 12:56 am
Hi Orlando, thanks for commenting. Let’s see if this will help…
Using ALT Text tags are extremely recommended due to the cravings the search engines have for readable text. Every little bit helps when the spiders crawl through your pages and indexing is taking place..
Of course, relevant text being of utmost importance here.
If you are a car dealer and your alt keywords are related to Mama Hoochey Coo, those keywords won’t provide relevant information and actually will work against you to some degree. (dependent upon combinations of other factors as well.)
Did that satisfy your question?
If not, I can take another stab at it, just let me know!
January 25th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
Great answer focusing on relevancy, as it is key in all SEO pursuits. I’ve never seen paid much attention to this tag and was just wondering whether this was something I was missing out on.
I notice that some of your ALT TEXT tags are different from the actual text in the link (a little leaner, a little meaner, a little more relevant) is this a strategic decision?
January 25th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
Orlando,
Sometimes I’ll use the tag to optimize for the search engine’s benefit, but sometimes I use it to give a ‘funny’ or to otherwise appeal to my readers..
SEO at times includes making sure both are providing results. (smile)