Definition
Untargeted Anchor Text refers to linked text containing generic phrases like “Click here” or “Find out more,” rather than keywords or brand names. While this type of anchor text can direct users to additional information, it provides little context about the linked content’s relevance or subject matter.
What is it?
When a website uses untargeted anchors, search engines receive fewer signals about the destination page’s topic. This can limit potential SEO benefits, as keyword-rich or brand-specific anchors often help search engines associate the target URL with relevant search queries. Despite its lower impact on ranking signals, untargeted anchor text can still serve a practical purpose by prompting users to click through when the surrounding text clearly explains what they’ll find next. However, overreliance on phrases like “Click here” or “Learn more” can come across as vague and unhelpful, both to users skimming the page and to crawlers trying to understand content relationships.
How is it used?
Website owners typically employ untargeted anchor text to maintain a natural link profile, mixing it in with keyword-based and branded anchor variations. This diversity can reduce the appearance of keyword stuffing, which may trigger search engine penalties. Although it won’t directly boost keyword relevance, untargeted anchor text can increase click-through rates if placed in a logical context—such as a call to action at the end of a paragraph describing an upcoming event or product feature. By balancing different anchor text types, sites can help users navigate seamlessly while also providing search engines with enough context to rank pages effectively.
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