Anchor text is the visible, clickable text in a hyperlink, and it’s one of the most fundamental signals search engines use to understand the context of a link. An internal link with no anchor text is a hyperlink that is empty, often the result of a coding error. This is a critical missed opportunity for SEO because it provides no contextual information to search engines about the page being linked to, and it is inaccessible to users who rely on screen readers.
Think of your internal links as signposts. A link with descriptive anchor text is a helpful sign that says, “This way to the shoe department.” A link with no anchor text is a blank signpost. It’s unhelpful for users and tells search engines nothing about the destination, preventing them from associating that page with relevant keywords. For a broader look at linking, see our guide on the links category.
Why Empty Anchor Text is a Problem
Descriptive anchor text is a core component of a healthy link structure. As Google’s SEO Starter Guide emphasizes, the text you use for a link should provide at least a basic idea of what the page linked to is about.
- Lost SEO Value: You lose the opportunity to tell search engines that the linked page is relevant for a specific keyword.
- Poor Accessibility: Screen readers often read out the anchor text of links to help visually impaired users navigate. An empty anchor text is a silent, invisible link for these users.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Finding and Fixing Silent Links
The goal is to ensure that every internal link on your site has descriptive, relevant anchor text. For a deep dive into this topic, this guide from Moz on anchor text is an excellent resource.
Example: Fixing an Empty Link
<!-- Before: Empty anchor text --> <a href="/seo-guide"></a> <!-- After: Descriptive anchor text --> <a href="/seo-guide">Learn about SEO</a>For more on this topic, see our guide on on-page SEO.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is anchor text?
Anchor text is the visible, clickable text in a hyperlink. For example, in the link `<a href=”…”>Learn about SEO</a>`, the anchor text is ‘Learn about SEO’.
Does anchor text matter for external links?
Yes. The anchor text you use for external links provides context to your users and to search engines about the page you are linking to. It’s a best practice to use descriptive anchor text for all links, both internal and external.
What about image links? Do they have anchor text?
For image links, the `alt` attribute of the `<img alt=”Image alternate description goes here” src=”…”>` tag acts as the anchor text. An image link with a missing or empty alt attribute is the equivalent of a text link with no anchor text, and it should be fixed.
Are your links silent? Start your Creeper audit today to find and fix all internal links with no anchor text.