How to Check Anchor Text: A Simple Guide for Better SEO

Have you ever clicked on a blue underlined word or phrase on a webpage and landed on another page? That clickable text is called anchor text. Understanding what is anchor text, knowing how to check anchor text, and learning the proper use of anchor text can improve your website’s SEO and user experience.

In this blog, we will explain what is anchor text in easy words, why it matters, and most importantly, how to check anchor text on your own site or others. Everything is written in simple English so anyone can follow.

What is Anchor Text?

What is anchor text? Anchor text is the visible, clickable text in a hyperlink. When someone writes a link, the words they choose to display become the anchor text.

For example:
If you see a sentence like “Learn more about SEO tips here,” the words “SEO tips” are the anchor text. When you click them, you go to another page.

Anchor text helps both users and search engines. Users understand where the link will take them. Search engines like Google use anchor text to understand the topic of the linked page.

There are different types of anchor text:

• Exact match: The anchor text exactly matches the target keyword (e.g., “check anchor text”).
• Partial match: The anchor text includes the keyword with extra words (e.g., “how to check anchor text easily”).
• Branded: Uses a brand name (e.g., “Grok AI”).
• Generic: Words like “click here,” “read more,” or “this website.”
• Naked URL: The full web address itself is the anchor text.
• Image: When an image is linked, the alt text acts as anchor text.

Knowing what is anchor text is the first step. Next, let’s see why the use of anchor text is important.

Use of Anchor Text in SEO and User Experience

The proper use of anchor text brings many benefits:

• Helps search engines understand content

Google looks at anchor text to get clues about the page it points to. Good anchor text can improve rankings for relevant keywords.

• Improves user experience

Clear anchor text tells visitors exactly what they will find after clicking. This builds trust and reduces bounce rate.

• Builds better internal linking

When you link pages inside your own website using relevant anchor text, you help search engines crawl your site better and pass ranking power between pages.

• Supports link building

When other websites link to you, the anchor text they use affects how Google sees your page.

However, overusing exact-match anchor text can look spammy. Natural and varied use of anchor text works best.

Why You Should Check Anchor Text Regularly

Many website owners never check anchor text. This can create problems:

• Too many exact-match links may trigger Google penalties.
• Generic anchor text like “click here” wastes SEO opportunities.
• Broken or irrelevant anchor text confuses users and search engines.
• Poor internal anchor text weakens your site structure.

That is why learning how to check anchor text is important for every website owner, blogger, and SEO beginner.

How to Check Anchor Text: Easy Methods

Here are practical ways to check anchor text. You do not need advanced technical skills.

1. Check Anchor Text Manually on Any Webpage

This is the simplest method.

• Open the webpage in your browser (Chrome, Firefox, or Edge).
• Right-click on any link and select “Inspect” or “Inspect Element.”
• Look for the HTML code that starts with <a href=...>. The text between the opening and closing tags is the anchor text.

Example:
<a href="https://example.com">check anchor text</a>
Here, “check anchor text” is the anchor text.

You can also hover your mouse over a link. Many browsers show the destination URL, but the visible text is still the anchor text.

2. Check Anchor Text of Your Own Website Using Free Tools

Google Search Console
If you have verified your site in Google Search Console:

• Go to the “Links” report.
• Look at “External links” and “Internal links.”
• You can see top linking sites and sometimes the anchor text patterns.

Browser Extensions
Install free extensions like:

• SEO Minion
• Link Redirect Trace
• Check My Links

These tools highlight all links on a page and often show the anchor text clearly.

3. Check Anchor Text with Professional SEO Tools

For deeper analysis (especially backlinks), use tools such as:

• Ahrefs – Go to Site Explorer → Backlinks. You can see the exact anchor text used by other websites linking to you.
• SEMrush – Use the Backlink Analytics tool. Filter by anchor text to see distribution.
• Moz Link Explorer – Shows anchor text breakdown.
• Ubersuggest or Mangools – Good budget-friendly options for checking anchor text.

These tools help you check anchor text for both internal links and external backlinks. Look for over-optimization (too many exact-match anchors) or spammy patterns.

4. Check Internal Anchor Text on Your Website

Internal linking is under your control. To check anchor text inside your site:

• Use a site crawler like Screaming Frog (free version available).
• Crawl your website.
• Export the internal links report.
• Look at the “Anchor Text” column.

You can also search your site with Google using operators, but a crawler is more accurate.

Best Practices for Anchor Text

Once you know how to check anchor text, follow these simple rules for better results:

• Make anchor text descriptive and natural.
• Vary your anchor text. Do not always use the same keyword.
• Prefer partial-match and branded anchor text for external links.
• Keep anchor text concise (usually 2–5 words).
• Ensure the anchor text matches the content of the target page.
• Avoid keyword stuffing in anchor text.
• For images, always write clear alt text because it works as anchor text.

Good use of anchor text feels natural to readers. If it sounds forced, rewrite it.

Common Mistakes When Using Anchor Text

Many beginners make these errors:

• Using “click here” or “read more” everywhere.
• Forcing exact-match anchor text on every link.
• Linking with irrelevant anchor text.
• Ignoring mobile users (make sure links are easy to tap).
• Not checking anchor text after major site updates.

By regularly taking time to check anchor text, you can avoid these mistakes.

Final Thoughts

Now you understand what is anchor text, the smart use of anchor text, and clear ways to check anchor text.

Start with the simple manual method today. Open a few pages of your website, inspect the links, and review the anchor text. Then move to free tools or Google Search Console. If your site grows, consider a professional SEO tool for deeper insights.

Good anchor text helps both people and search engines. It makes your content clearer, improves navigation, and supports better rankings over time.

Take a few minutes this week to check anchor text on your most important pages. Small improvements in anchor text can make a real difference in the long run.

Remember: Keep it natural, keep it helpful, and keep checking. Your website (and your visitors) will thank you.