Question

Internal Linking and Anchor Optimization It's well known that we should avoid exact KW match anchors when building links from third party websites. What about internal links? Is it beneficial or not to use optimized anchors when linking to internal resources?  

Answer 1

Good question, following. I've been using exact match or close match for my clients and the results have been super swell. Given, it's hard to tell whether that's helpful or detrimental

Answer 2

From a logical standpoint, Google probably does not penalize you for it in any way. Now the question is, does it give you an advantage or nah?  

Answer 3

Exact match kw anchor in backlinks is ok, in a given percentage of total. Lower for long tail, and higher if the kw is brand name. Mix exact match with branded anchor and with some naked url. Close match can be treated as exact match. Now, internal linking. First of all, if the site is well structured, Google is very likely to understand what header, footer and sidebars are, so we discuss links from content. I am sure you have a lot more freedom to use your choice of anchors, but still, doesn't hurts to mix it a bit. For example, branded anchor inside, not so much, naked url either, but exact match mixed with close match and other variations, might do good

Comments

One more thing: don't understimate the power of internal linking

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@kingfisher13887 Do you use any plugin for internal linking?  

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@puiia no. In the beginning of a site I plan in a very advanced all-in-one tool (Excel). Then, after some traffic starts kicking in, I analyse the data in GSC, and pick which page needs a lift. I have to say though, no such site has more then 300 pages

Answer 4

@escalante are you real serious haven't you used any exact anchors for any contextual backlinks . Use the exact anchors for high authority and high traffic backlinks mate it will increase your link juice instead of internal linking . More number of quality Referring domains is effective one

Comments

@meprobamate I have, my ratio is actually somewhere too high. I wrote "avoid", I should have been more clear :)

Answer 5

Let's say you have a page about On-page optimization, and you have a separate page called Guide to internal linking. In the content of the first page, you would use the anchor "check out this <guide to internal linking>" when pointing to the second page. Doesn't really get simpler than that.  

Comments

@morphology You're referring to one page, I'm currently doing it for all my important blog posts (~25 posts). Anyway, thanks

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@escalante what's the difference? You can't do it in bulk. Use the title (implying you have already optimized it for the KW) or a variation of it in the anchor text for the page you're linking to. Aim to be as specific as you can.  

Answer 6

You need to use descriptive internal links, and more often than not this means exact match or "broad match".  

Answer 7

Thank you guys, there's a clear consensus here  

Answer 8

You won’t get a penalty for internal links it’s been documented lots of times, exact match it fine it’s within your own website. Would mix up a bit like mentioned above it’s very powerful  

Answer 9

Avoid exact match anchors? Lol. I hope all my competitors believe that.  

Comments

Yeah, me too!  

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@boatload some people like to drink the Google Kool-Aid straight from the cup.  

Answer 10

Internally it's fair game. Externally it could be viewed as "too good to be true"