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Does Your Link Say "My Website" or "Click Here"?

If you're using these phrases to describe your link to your website or blog you're missing a golden opportunity to call out to the search engines your website identity. Why you ask? Unless your website name is MyWebsite.com or ClickHere.com, you're promoting the wrong URL with your choice of "text". The text you insert to identify your website or blog is called the "anchor text". Anchor Text Missing

What is Anchor Text?

Anchor text is defined as the underlined hyperlinked words that identify your website or blog URL. As I stated above, the (Key)words you choose to identify your link is very important to search engines and it is an important ranking factor. Many believe (myself included) that Google pays particular attention to the text you choose when you hyperlink. The image to the right is an example from a LinkedIn profile of missing anchor text left in the default setting of my website and my blog.

Update: Dakno client and Las Vegas Real Estate Agent Terri White is updating her links. :)

Identify the Missing Opportunities!

In addition to the opportunities you link from your content in your AR post to other pages to your website or blog, the same smart use of anchor text should be a best practice when you create a LinkedIn profile, Active Rain profile or profile at any other website or blog.

Link Right at LinkedIn

In the case of LinkedIn, this site allows you to "edit" the default settings of "my website" and/or blog by selecting solid keywords to properly gain recognition by the search engines. My profile below offers you the correct use of Anchor Text Used anchor text.

You're Not Alone!

I'm a big proponent of LinkedIn and almost 99% of the persons I "connect" with have the same default "My Website" set for their anchor text. When I send a "connection request" I usually offer a tip to change the default for better recognition and branding for your blog or website.

Create Good Linking Habits

It's been said you have to make a decision to use a best practice for 21 days to make it a habit. Once the habit is established it will be a second thought for you when you write a post or create a new profile.

Connect with Me at LinkedIn

I trust this tip is easy to understand and even easier to implement. If we are not connected at LinkedIn, I'd love to be apart of your network!

Comment and let me know what you think!

To your online success,

Bobby Carroll

Read my previous Active Rain Post on The World's Youngest Blogger!

Bobby Carroll - Connect with me at LinkedIn

Bobby Carroll - Crystal Coast Blogger

Twitter Bobby Carroll @Realestatecoach

Real Estate Marketing Blogger and Copy Writer for Dakno Marketing

UPDATE! For those of you who want to edit your anchor text at your LinkedIn profile, you will need to click the dropdown menu where it says "My Website" and select the "Other" setting. When you select the "other" setting it allows you to type whatever keyword-rich anchor text you want. FYI...there is a character limit so be wise what you select for your anchor text.

Posted by Bobby Carroll - Real Estate Marketing on 10/26/2008 06:03 PM

Comments (86)

linkedin, anchor text, seo

Post is included in group: Blogging & SEO
Post is included in group: e-PRO Internet Technology
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86 Comments on Does Your Link Say "My Website" or "Click Here"?

OCT

2008

Hi, Bobby - I immediately went to my profile on LinkedIn to make this change, and the URL of my website and blog are typed in. However, the name of my sites is not what shows in my profile - it reads "My Website" and "My Blog". What step am I missing? Could you expand your "how-to" a little for dummies like me?

Thanks Bobby I changed mine on Linked In after our phone conversation. :)

Hi Margaret - When you login to your LinkedIn profile, simply click on the "edit" tool and type in the keywords for your website/blog. Then review the "Public Profile" side to see the results.

Thanks Bobby, you offer a lot of great advise as usual. I have never looked at "Linked in!" I will today!

Hi Missy - Glad to hear it.

Hello Jim - Always glad to help.

Thanks Bobby. I cannot wait to see the results.

Al Norman

Hi Al - Give it a while and you'll see your LinkedIn profile begin to show up in the Google search results. Just make sure your profile is complete.

Bobby: Thank you for this information. I was using NVU for the first time yesterday, and I was wondering what Anchor Text was in the tool bar. I've seen the term, but didn't know exactly what it was. Also, I knew about changing the anchor text in AR (now I know the proper term) but didn't think about doing it in Linked In. Thank you again.

Hi Michelle - My pleasure. Trolling aoround LinkedIn one can find many profiles left in the default "My Website" mode. Better to have those links grabbing the attention of the search engines if you are going to take the time to add your links.

Bobby - Great advice as usual... I need to complete my LinkedIn profile and can't wait to add my new website and blog!

Dakno client and Move to Lake Mary Realtor Debbie Summers - Me too. We are in the home stretch!

Bobby - I knew about anchor text for websites and blog posts, but not for Linked In. That a "To Do" for tomorrow.

Hi Bobby, Thanks, I though I had done it before, found out I needed to hit the other category, get the drop down then it worked.

List and Sell (and push the seo) Gary @ RentonHomeFinder

Sharon - Always happy to help the troops here at AR.

Gary - Thanks for pointing that out. I updated the post to add that detail!

Good information....thanks!

Bobby: Thank you again for this tip. I just changed everything and have invited you to "link up."

Oh my gosh! THANK YOU! I am going to hang around with you as much as possible in order to glean as many pearls of wisdom as I can!

Thanks for the imput I will go there and fix mine as well. I have never looked to see, there is so much to check out.

Thank you for the good tips!

Thanks for the tips....I do quite a bit of networking on Linkedin.....thanks for pointing this out.

Bobby~ If you will find me on linkedin- we can "connect" I couldn't find you earlier..... Vickie

Wow great information. I will have to check my linked in account and pay better attention to this on some of my other networking sites. Thank you very much!

Bobby - great tip and reminder ! Makes sense to me... will remember that and update any profile or entry where we made the mistake ! Thanks... also will link with you at LinkedIN !

Thanks for the tip. That was fast on the connection as well. Good idea that was easy to do.

Thanks for the tip I have to change my website on Linkedin. You did remind me of some good things.

Thank you for the advice. Just checked.... and sure enough there was no anchor text! So simple but if you don't know.... already changed my profile!

Would have never even thought of that. Running to all my profiles now. Thanks for the advice. Great stuff!

Thanks for the good advice. I'll pop in over there and see how I have mine listed.

Oh shoot, hadn't thought about doing this for LinkedIn, got to go do it now. Usually when posting links I try to use the proper key words even though sometimes I just feel like saying "you know what to do" on the link :) LOL ~Rita

Bobby - GREAT post. Ironically I just did the exact same thing on some of my sites but it makes me feel great to hear you confirm my thoughts in why i did it in the first place. I'm no SEO pro. Thanks!

Bobby, thank you. I'm working on building my web presence and tips like yours are very much appreciated.

Good point. Thanks for sharing this. Need to check this on several locations.

I like to get creative with my anchor text. But I make sure it's always applicable. I have an off-topic question though. Something has changed with the AR templates, colors, and the way it works. When I first created my background colors, I totally changed my header, to accomodate the Active Rain logo that was in the upper right-hand corner. But now they've removed the logo from that spot, and I can't find the page where we could just click and change the colors, and the place where I can upload a new logo. I need to fix the logo so I don't have a white spot in the corner from where they removed the AR logo.

Good info, I will be working on checking all my links tomorrow. I know I have a logo that links to my site from many places... but I guess I'll also add the url links as well.

Thanks, Bobby, I never realized you could personalize this on LI. I've updated mine tonight

Michelle

Bobby ... great information here.. Please feel free to check out my site and give me a few pointers.

Thanks for the great information about the anchor text, will go to all my sites and links and check the anchor and keyword text and update. I will also connect in Linkedin. Once again thanks

Whenever I've set up profiles on other social networking sites, I've always just focused on completing what they ask for, without any regard to anchor text. Looks like I have some homework to do this week. Thanks for the tip!

OCT

2008

Bobby:

Thanks for the tip about LinkedIn changing the anchor text. I went to LinkedIn profile and updated them. I didn't know you could do that.

Bob Burns
www.investmentpropertiesmiamiflorida.com

Bobby, Thank you! I will update my Linkedin profile, I did not know you could do that.

Wow, so much to learn! ActiveRain is full of great information! I will have to keep my eyes on this! PattyLuther

Hi Bobby

Thanks for the info. I need to make some changes

Rich

Charlotte NC

It will now! Thanks for the tip, Bobby.

Bobby, I love it, I have my mind wrapped and need to get to work changing all of the errors.

Thanks and as usual you hit it on the head.

Connor MacIVOR

Excellent concept. Not only will it help google find us, it is more likely to encourage a click if it says something "enticing".

Thanks so much! Just made the changes on my LinkedIn account....I'm constantly amazed at all the *little important changes we can make to help boost the google juice!

Thank you Bobby! I just went and changed mine. This is not something that I would have thought of. I appreciate it wery much!

Thanks for the tip. I will make the changes.

I will go and change that right now. Thank you so much.

Bobby... Thank you for taking the time to put this in writing and share with the A|R Community. I am going to update my LinkedIn profile now! Fabulous suggestions!

Bobby, thank you. I am going to go to ALL of my profiles and check them. While I'm there I'll be connecting to you too!

I think I've gotten better about this over time. However, I need to go back and look at my profiles to make sure I'm not missing this opportunity.

Thank you.

Bobby - Having good anchor text is the essence of any productive link-building campaign. Good stuff!

I agree that the way you word your anchor text can help you in search engines. But I believe I read some research that says if you make the link, "click here" or something like that, you will have a much higher percentage of people actually click the link.

So I guess it depends why you put the anchor text in place. Do you want people to actually click it, or is google juice just as important?

Great reminder and great post! I am going to re-create some of my messages in my blog from here on out! Thanks again for the tips!

I am a member at Linked-in too and will make the changes you suggested. Thank You!

Bobby,

Had to read it slowly twice not to miss anything important and to make sure I understand this. Thank you very much for this important information, it really helps a lot

Bobby- Thanks for the suggestion. I just went over to LinkedIn and made the changes.

I sure wish I had any idea what you are talking about......I am just happy I know what a blog is....As an electronically challenged person I feel I am missing out on a lot. How do I catch up??

Lori

Bobby-

I'm on my way to my LinkedIn Profile and gonna get it done!

Thanks for the tips Bobby, I'll check out my links and make sure that I did them correctly so I can drink more Google Juice!

My brain is on tech overload. I am book marking this to check when I can focus! Thank you for sharing your information. So many of us need all the help we can get....(ME) :)

Hi Bobby,

This is very helpful info. I am going to take a closer look at all my links and make sure they are helping me instead of wasted opportunities. Thanks!

Great advice! Thanks

Bobby

Thanks for the valuable information.

Best Regards

I see this all the time. I am glad there are many in my market place that still don't have a clue:)

Thanks Bobby for clarifying some questions that I had!!!!!!!!!! pippa

something else for me to do on this gloomy afternoon! thanks.

Thanks for the reminder, Bobby. I did know about this but often forget to do it.

I found you because of Twitter, so I'm glad I did. I have to go through your suggestions...one by one. It is time & effort well spent.

Thanks so much, Bobby! I always learn something from your posts!

Cheers,

Robin

Hi Bobby, you make some excellent points, thanks for the god advice!

Thanks! I am going to go fix mine right now! So much to know and you have the tricks!!! Thanks for sharing!

Great tip, Bobby! I'm off to Linkedin to update my web links...

Thanks, Kerry Lucasse

Atlanta Homes Search

OCT

2008

Bobby,

Never thought of that but you sure opened my eyes now. Makes lots of sense. Changes are coming pronto. I'll send you a LinkedIn invite soon.

I need to change that as well...thanks for pointing that out to us!

Thanks for the info - i'll check out linkedin.

Bobby ~ What if my goal is to rank number one in Google for "my website"? LOL... You are right, that is a great tip. I have noticed that most people miss the anchor tags on LinkedIn.

OCT

2008

Great post Bobby! One of the points I cover in my presentations to people on using LinkedIn, and one that bears repeating. You've done an excellent job of explaining the use of anchor text on your LinkedIn profile.

The other one I see frequently is where a user leaves their profile URL to the default, typically an address that looks like www.linedin.com/in/45ghb887. If they want to get some more mileage from their profile's SEO opportunities, they should customize it - just like you have - to their name, and try to do the same with other social networking venues they're on.

Thanks again!

NOV

2008

I ran right over to my LinkedIn account and changed my website links! Thank you for that great information. And since you seem so clever and you invite us to do so, I'm headed right back over to LinkedIn to get connected with you!

NOV

2008

Thanks everyone for your comments.

To Marty the Alaskan Realtor's comment about training consumers to "click here", yes, I do agree that the web user has been conditioned to use "click here". Yes - many continue its use as a common method to enticing site visitors to go where we want them to go. However through the use of Wompra and Crazy Egg we have tracked and noticed that site interactions can be solicited equally effectively by offering site visitors different solicitations with equal effectiveness and still obtain better SEO. In addition, I would prefer to gain "brand awareness" for the name of my "Dakno real estate marketing blog" or my "Dakno real estate web design website" than to continue to use "click here".

FYI... intially when I wrote this post last week I had 92 LinkedIn connections. Thanks to everyone who has connected with me. I now have 130 connections just because of your willingness to reach out to me. Thanks!

DEC

Nice description of how to use Anchor text. Have wonderful and prosperous 2009

Great post and information. I have to now edit my LinkedIn profile!

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