Still surprised how many people ignore anchor diversity in 2025

RMX

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Ran a few audits for new clients and saw loads of exact match anchors pointing to service pages.
No surprise they were tanking. I usually mix branded + partial + natural anchors across tiers and it works like a charm.

Do you follow a pattern or go case by case?
 
I don't know what natural anchors are, but yeah, anchor abuse is probably the most common mistake SEO newbies make :)
Yeah mate! Natural anchors are just links that flow with the text, not those keywords are stuffed ones. Gotta keep it looking real for Google’s sake.
 
Do you follow a pattern or go case by case?
The pattern is avoid exact match, use brand anchors and random anchors (like click here), use varied anchors, use exact match only a little.
 
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The pattern is avoid exact match, use brand anchors and random anchors (like click here), use varied anchors, use exact match only a little.
That’s the smart way! Avoid going heavy on exact match, throw in some brand and random anchors, and keep it balanced.
 
Thing like "here" "click here" "check this"
these are generic anchors, I don't know where the natural part comes from. But thanks for the clarification :)
 
Lately, I've been paying more attention to the text surrounding the link. Google has confirmed it takes link context into account. As for the anchor itself, I mostly use branded anchors and sometimes add the target keyword alongside.
 
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Lately, I've been paying more attention to the text surrounding the link. Google has confirmed it takes link context into account. As for the anchor itself, I mostly use branded anchors and sometimes add the target keyword alongside.
Yeah, Google’s definitely paying more attention to what’s around the link, not just the anchor. Your approach sounds spot on branded anchors with a touch of keyword keeps things looking natural.
 
I’ve seen that too, people still hammering exact match anchors to service pages like it’s 2012. It’s a quick way to raise flags, especially if the site doesn’t have a strong enough foundation to support that kind of aggression.

I usually go case by case. Some niches can handle more partials, especially if the site has topical authority and a clean link profile. But generally, I mix it up: branded, URL, generic, partials, and the occasional exact match when it makes sense contextually. For tiered linking or lower tiers, I get a bit looser, but I’m still mindful of ratios.

The natural distribution always wins long-term, especially if you’re trying to build something that sticks. Curious, do you ever test anchor variations across siloed topics within the same domain?
 
I’ve seen that too, people still hammering exact match anchors to service pages like it’s 2012. It’s a quick way to raise flags, especially if the site doesn’t have a strong enough foundation to support that kind of aggression.

I usually go case by case. Some niches can handle more partials, especially if the site has topical authority and a clean link profile. But generally, I mix it up: branded, URL, generic, partials, and the occasional exact match when it makes sense contextually. For tiered linking or lower tiers, I get a bit looser, but I’m still mindful of ratios.

The natural distribution always wins long-term, especially if you’re trying to build something that sticks. Curious, do you ever test anchor variations across siloed topics within the same domain?
Yeah, mixing anchors properly is the way to go, no doubt. But most people still get stuck thinking it’s just about chucking in a few branded or partials and calling it a day. Truth is, it depends on the niche, the link profile, and how the site’s structured. You’ve got to read the signals and play it smart across silos and tiers, not just follow a template.

Good to hear you're doing it case by case. That’s where the real results come from. And yeah, as a newbee on BHW, you're picking things up sharpish. keep at it, you’ll get the hang of it in no time.
 
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