How many anchor text links do you use when you publish articles?

48 replies
  • SEO
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Since Google's last update I've cut down on the number of anchor text links I use when I post articles on directories and on my own websites. I now only use 3 anchor text links and sometimes I'll put a raw link with only the http://yoursite.com/

I've also noticed that a lot of my clients that are SEO professionals are now requesting their press releases contain only 1 anchor text link and one link like this 'www.your.site'.

Is this a new trend? SEO has definitely changed this year. How has it affected the way you create anchor text links?
#anchor #articles #links #publish #text
  • Profile picture of the author SEO Haven
    1 link is better than 3 (low OBL is always better). 3 is not bad for low-competition niches, but more than that isn't recommended (if you manage to find a site that allows more).
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    • Profile picture of the author d0de
      Originally Posted by SEO Haven View Post

      1 link is better than 3 (low OBL is always better)
      Do you have a source for this?

      Obviously low OBL is better if the other links are pointing to competitor's domains. However, I haven't seen the claim before that 1 link is better than 2 if the other links on the page are held constant.

      Originally Posted by bb785 View Post

      You are setting yourself up for some trouble if you are using exact match anchor text 3 times in every article. You also quickly reach a point of diminishing returns having multiple links from a single domain.
      Could you expand on this a little more? I asked a very similar question and didn't really get a good response.
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  • Yup. That's definitely the new trend.

    Some peoples' experiments are noting that they aren't getting as good results as before from using multiple anchor text links in their article.

    It's probably a good idea to publish 3 articles with 1 anchor text link per article, as opposed to 1 articles with 3 anchor text links now. Of course, you'll want to do some testing to see what gives the best results for you.

    Don't forget to vary your anchor text and make the anchor text links blend in seamlessly with the rest of the article.
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  • Profile picture of the author govind sharan
    You can use 1 article with 3 anchor text links.
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  • Profile picture of the author lauradrew
    I think in 1 article 1anchor text is better & safe and it should be in the resource box not in the article body.
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  • Profile picture of the author Mike Anthony
    I have never put more than two and one is my usual. sheesh if three is now your reduced number how much did you put before?
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    • Profile picture of the author ricoramiro
      Originally Posted by Mike Anthony View Post

      I have never put more than two and one is my usual. sheesh if three is now your reduced number how much did you put before?
      I used to use 5 links in all my content. Thanks to all you guys for the advice.

      It's really helpful :-)
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  • Profile picture of the author bb785
    You are setting yourself up for some trouble if you are using exact match anchor text 3 times in every article. You also quickly reach a point of diminishing returns having multiple links from a single domain. Also, if the links are going to the same page, google is only going to count the first anyway. If you are dead set on multiple links in one article, mix it up and use the url as your anchor on one of them.
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  • Profile picture of the author UMS
    Given that a lot of directories only allow 1 link per article, you must have been publishing on some low quality directories.
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  • Profile picture of the author OneManSEO
    I like the one link per article strategy and maybe if I need/want a second link, then link it to a relevant photo (where possible).

    People just want to get as many links for as little dollar spent, but really you end up spending more for the same results when you dilute your backlinks so heavily.
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  • Profile picture of the author MikeFriedman
    I just make the whole thing one big long anchor text. That way, with enough articles I can target just about every word in existence.
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    • Profile picture of the author OneManSEO
      Originally Posted by MikeFriedman View Post

      I just make the whole thing one big long anchor text. That way, with enough articles I can target just about every word in existence.
      My brain is telling me that I have seen this done before. I just can't remember where and when...

      #CommonSenseIsDead
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    • Profile picture of the author paulgl
      Originally Posted by MikeFriedman View Post

      I just make the whole thing one big long anchor text. That way, with enough articles I can target just about every word in existence.
      ROTFLMAO! I remember right after I joined this forum, someone was chuckling
      how they were getting traffic for terms they did not even target. Then
      by accident, they realized they had linked a whole paragraph on a few articles
      and posts by mistake.

      Why is anchor text diversity the new buzzword? Google could care less.
      Even the people that tout such nonsense have hundreds of posts here,
      a sig, same anchor text....the whole thing is not even laughable anymore.

      Paul
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      • Profile picture of the author dburk
        Originally Posted by paulgl View Post

        Why is anchor text diversity the new buzzword? Google could care less.
        Even the people that tout such nonsense have hundreds of posts here,
        a sig, same anchor text....the whole thing is not even laughable anymore.

        Paul
        Hi Paul,

        Please stop sabotaging my disinformation campaign. :p I have nearly all my competitors chasing their tales, and you come along and tell the truth. :rolleyes:
        You keep it up and everyone's going to realize how much time they've been wasting.
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    • Profile picture of the author Mike Anthony
      Originally Posted by MikeFriedman View Post

      I just make the whole thing one big long anchor text. That way, with enough articles I can target just about every word in existence.
      Thats a WSO SEO technique if I ever saw one. $17 or $27 its a shoe in for about 4-500 sales. Get some JVs and you will clear $20,000 in three days or less.

      In fact shucks I want a piece of this action. I got some new number of search results metrics to determine competition when compare to the letter count of the page titles showing in Google. Cutting edge secrets from Google. I'll throw it in if you include my new product "How to get BETTER than the Number One Organic or Paid spot in google" as an upsell.
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      • Profile picture of the author MikeFriedman
        Originally Posted by Mike Anthony View Post

        Thats a WSO SEO technique if I ever saw one. $17 or $27 its a shoe in for about 4-500 sales. Get some JVs and you will clear $20,000 in three days or less.

        In fact shucks I want a piece of this action. I got some new number of search results metrics to determine competition when compare to the letter count of the page titles showing in Google. Cutting edge secrets from Google. I'll throw it in if you include my new product "How to get BETTER than the Number One Organic or Paid spot in google" as an upsell.
        I think this is clearly a winner. We could easily sell it for $77, but we'll keep it at $17 for the WSO section.
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        • Profile picture of the author DABK
          Let's make it really exciting, let's write the price like this:

          was $997
          now and only for the next 12 hours only $17.

          And place a timer right under, that starts going down right away.

          Then, everyone will know this is quality SEO learning we're selling.

          PS Can we call it: Make $14,375 a day in 3-easy-SEO-steps?
          PPS Can the copy start about how a homeless, college drop-out make $3 gazzillion in only 6 months?

          Then phtoshop a red Ferrari, a McMansion behind a pimply kid? Also, 3 barely-legal, fake-blondes with high pectoral IQ?

          PPPS Ooops, I forgot the swimming pool. Someone stick it in there too.

          Originally Posted by MikeFriedman View Post

          I think this is clearly a winner. We could easily sell it for $77, but we'll keep it at $17 for the WSO section.
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    • Profile picture of the author ricoramiro
      Originally Posted by MikeFriedman View Post

      I just make the whole thing one big long anchor text. That way, with enough articles I can target just about every word in existence.
      I remember reading somewhere that anchor text links shouldn't contain more than 5 words.

      But I do see people who'll link a whole sentence.
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  • Profile picture of the author samaustin141
    I prefer to put one anchor text links in my article and its very healthy and naturally way in point of view Google search engine.You also prefer to give one link for your website and second link is website blogs.
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  • Profile picture of the author Webtech77
    Very helpful indeed. I was unaware about google penguin updates that the number of anchor text links we can use in an article.
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    • Profile picture of the author milliondream
      Yes this a new trend! SEO has definitely changed this year. I success create anchor text links ideas as below;

      - Used 1 aritlce per 1-2 anchor text link, penguin love this.
      - Not only control quantity of anchor text links, we need to change mindset for input only keyword on page of backlink for drive traffic. Sometime need to used relate keyword on article that very important.
      - We have many backlink from Tier-1, Tier-2, please stopped used only keyword on many page of article, we need to used Generic keyword for penguin (read this, read more, read here, find here, find this, find more, Click Here, Clicking Here, Go Here, Going Here, Read This)

      PS; Not only anchor text link for make we on first page of GG.
      - Authority site of backlink
      - Niche content
      - Social network
      - Mass volume backlink
      - etc...
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      • Profile picture of the author paulgl
        Originally Posted by milliondream View Post

        Yes this a new trend! SEO has definitely changed this year. I success create anchor text links ideas as below;

        - Used 1 aritlce per 1-2 anchor text link, penguin love this.
        Would that be Tennessee Tuxedo, Chilly Willy, Mumble, or perhaps
        Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot?

        Paul
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  • Profile picture of the author PerformanceMan
    I only use one link per article. Otherwise the link dilution effect occurs.
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    • Profile picture of the author ricoramiro
      Originally Posted by PerformanceMan View Post

      I only use one link per article. Otherwise the link dilution effect occurs.
      Hey PerformanceMan - You're right about link dilution! I hadn't even thought about that. Damn!
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  • Profile picture of the author kilwa123
    I Use only 2 anchor text
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    • Profile picture of the author paulgl
      Originally Posted by kilwa123 View Post

      I Use only 2 anchor text
      I guess that doesn't include sig link stuffing....
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      • Profile picture of the author d0de
        Originally Posted by paulgl View Post

        I guess that doesn't include sig link stuffing....
        What the...

        Identical content on two sites with different domain names and different site names?

        ...Why?!?!
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  • Profile picture of the author BeautifulWebsites
    Great thread, any recommendations on good article submission sites that are relevant today ?
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  • Profile picture of the author Geekgirl01
    I only ever use one link.......sometimes two if its a very long article.
    Would never use more than that though
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    • Profile picture of the author ricoramiro
      Originally Posted by Geekgirl01 View Post

      I only ever use one link.......sometimes two if its a very long article.
      Would never use more than that though
      If you have a long article, it's okay to insert a link after every 100 words or couple of paragraphs. But I wouldn't overdo it!
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  • Profile picture of the author DevinZoren
    I usually put 2 anchor text on my articles. It doesn't look spammy. and it depends on how you use it.
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  • Profile picture of the author larry05
    Generally at the maximum 3 links can be used when you would like to have an article submission done with the purpose of SEO in mind. More than 3 links is considered a spam and may be discarded.
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  • Profile picture of the author kimseo
    I usually embed 3 links in around 500 words article
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  • Profile picture of the author bijutoha
    So, after long time, Is it still alive with above all recommendation ?
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  • Profile picture of the author chrisjohn93
    I am using one or two anchor text on my article in a way that is don't looking spammy.
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  • Profile picture of the author karishmasingla
    I think one anchor text we have to target. And we have to link other article as well. This will save you any panellize from the Google.
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  • Profile picture of the author Xochitl Shat
    Definitely it's not bad two anchor text use for an article. Anchor text was one of the easiest ways for Google to understand the relevancy of any given website. Yet, the current update’s predecessor, Penguin has become notorious for its focus on anchor text diversity.
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  • Profile picture of the author inetguru_987
    1 link and I wouldn't make them all anchor text links. I would have more of just my url and generic text.
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  • Profile picture of the author wizard12
    Sorry I didn't gret the point exactly!

    So you mean 1-3 anchor text with similar links or text are ok per article (ie you can use more anchors if they carry different links or text?), or you mean just 1-3 anchor text whether they are similar or not?

    I have started a MSN website the other day, Am I Ok to add say 6-8 anchor texts, say a few directing to different Wikipedia links and others directing to something else?

    Sorry I am not able to understand your exact meaning here.

    Thanks.
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  • Profile picture of the author davidweb09
    After Google latest updates I use only one link per article submission to escape from spam.
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  • Profile picture of the author npoint
    One to my website and another 1-2 to authority sites related to the content of the article
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  • Profile picture of the author manavforum
    I think one to two anchor text links are best, not more.
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  • Profile picture of the author mjoshua
    I will use the raw link as anchor text for one link - beyond that - it's extremely diverse. seems like google wants so much diversity that any link that is given value unless you keep using the same anchor over and over. So I will even use something that is peripheral to the niche, instead of an obvious keyword. it's funny what google analytics will show you in the phrases...
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  • Profile picture of the author MarksWineClub
    I treat internal and external links pretty differently. For an external artcile, I stick to one or two and anchor text is used sparingly, if at all.

    Quite frankly, I know that a company name is still the most logical way for someone to link, so I try and do that at least 75% of the time.

    Internally, I don't think there is a limit really. Look at Wikipedia as an example. If it makes sense for my readers, I link it. I really don't try and get overly prescriptive, it's usually 6 or less I guess on average, but sometimes it is many more.
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  • Profile picture of the author deepakrajput
    Doesn't matter that your are using how many number of links because every link provided by every article sites will be No-Follow.
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  • Profile picture of the author sarasotareverse
    Now you should you on anchor text link in one article or blog. that will be more beneficial according to google.
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