We’ve discussed before the power of ‘anchor-text links,’ or text that includes a link to another page on your site that has further information on a topic, product or service. The anchor-text you use can have a tremendous impact on your rankings.
But too many sites out there still rely on “click-here” or “more…” or other simple phrases centered on the same thing. How many times have you seen the phrase “Click here for more information” on a website – not very inviting is it?
For many companies, “click-here” or “more information” is perhaps the most widely used text on their site. Besides the uninviting tone of those phrases, companies who use them are missing out on a lot of ranking opportunities.
This New Jersey Transit Authority site is a perfect example – at the end of each paragraph seen below, they have a “more info” link directing potential passengers to the service’s transit schedule. Instead, it would be better if they drop the “more info” altogether and integrate the link into the copy – such as:
Memorial Day Schedule Information
Memorial Day Weekend bus and rail schedule information is now available!
Not only does this link take advantage of internal link structure to increase keyword exposure, it gives the reader a better idea of where they’re going.
So be aware of how you’re linking out to other sites and to other pages within your site. Avoid common phrases like “click here,” etc. Continuing to use those phrases means you will be missing out on great ranking opportunities – not to mention, the confusion your visitors are likely to experience.