# Anchor text types and backlink URL distribution (/docs/off-page-seo/anchor-text-and-backlink-distribution)

---
type: Document
title: Anchor text types and backlink URL distribution
description: The five anchor-text types, the ratio to use across a backlink campaign, and how to split backlinks between a homepage and inner pages by site type.
status: stable
order: 31
generated: { by: human:ahmedraza, at: 2026-09-15T11:37:20Z }
ksor:
  audience: [public]
  owner: human:ahmedraza
  approval: { by: human:ahmedraza, at: 2026-09-15T11:37:20Z }
sources:
  - id: iskills-course-notes
    title: iSkills — course notes
    resource: "iSkills SEO course notes, compiled 2025"
trust_tier: unverified
build_id: sha256:25bcd9248ab7b7333e626a24b636e9eef514e339025ed762d0fe7ddd9b6486b8
source_commit: c890fca6aaa00f103ea9325ee0db7161c40e38ae
ksor_version: 0.0.60
---

## Anchor text and target URL, restated

**Anchor text** is the clickable text in a hyperlink; the **target URL** is
the address it points to. Anchor text tells Google what the linked page is
about. Example: anchor text "ABC Menu" → target URL
`https://abcmenu.com/`.[^iskills-course-notes]

## On-page vs off-page, in one line

On-page SEO optimizes content inside your own site; off-page SEO earns
backlinks from other sites. Natural links are trusted by Google more than any
engineered pattern.

## Interlinking and anchor diversity

**Interlinking** is linking one of your own posts to another. Use different
anchor text for the same target page across different mentions, to keep the
pattern natural. Anchor diversity types:

- **Main keyword** — exact match (e.g. "Capcut Mod APK").
- **Related/long-tail keywords** — slight variation (e.g. "Capcut Pro APK
  without watermark").
- **Generic anchors** — general words ("Click here", "Visit now").
- **Naked URLs** — the link itself (e.g. `https://abcmenu.com/drink-menu`).

## The five anchor text types

**A. Main keyword** — the exact target keyword; used in contextual links
from high-authority sites.

**B. Related keywords** — variations or LSI terms near the main keyword, e.g.
"APK Download", "Latest Version APK", "Android APK".

**C. Generic anchors** — non-keyword phrases ("Click here", "Read more",
"Visit site"); spread across many backlinks rather than reusing one phrase.

**D. Naked URL** — the raw URL as the anchor (`https://abc.com/`,
`https://abc.com/page-name`); good for branding, profiles, forums, and blog
comments — never in contextual guest posts or niche edits.

**E. Character anchors** — symbols (`.`, `/`, `-`) as anchor text; rare, seen
mostly in navigation or directory listings.

## Target URL rules

Preferred format: `https://abc.com/` — avoid `http://abc.com/` or
`https://www.abc.com/` as the link target; every variant should redirect to
the one preferred URL, or there is a technical issue on the site.

## Backlink URL distribution by site size

| Site type | Homepage | Inner posts |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Micro website (small niche site) | 50% | 50% |
| Brand/macro site | 20–30% | 70–80% |
| Single-page site | 100% | — |

**Worked example (200 backlinks, micro site):** 100 to the homepage (80 to
the preferred URL, the rest to redirected alternates) and 100 to inner posts.

## Anchor text distribution (per 100 homepage backlinks)

- Naked URL: 30–40 links
- Generic anchors: 30–35 links
- Related keywords: 10–20 links
- Main keyword: 5–10 links

Generic anchor examples: "APK", "Download", "Latest Version", "Android".
Related anchors: pick your top related keywords from keyword research and
reuse each 2–4 times.

## Usage rules by anchor type

- **Naked URL** — foundation links only (branding, forums, blog comments);
  never in contextual guest posts.
- **Main keyword** — contextual backlinks from high-authority sites or
  forums.
- **Generic anchors** — usable anywhere, but avoid overusing in contextual
  articles specifically.
- **Related keywords** — best suited to contextual backlinks on
  high-authority sites.

## Assignment pattern

Build 100 homepage backlinks and 100 post backlinks, tracked in a
spreadsheet with columns: Target URL, Anchor Text, Link Type, Backlink
Source — this both verifies the work and tracks anchor balance over time.

## Anchor distribution chart (homepage vs inner posts, per 100 links)

| Anchor type | Homepage | Inner posts |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Naked URL | 30–40% | 25–30% |
| Generic anchors | 30–35% | 25–30% |
| Related keywords | 10–20% | 20–25% |
| Main keywords | 5–10% | 15–20% |
| Character anchors | 0–5% (optional) | 0–5% (optional) |

## Pro tips

- Keep anchor text natural — avoid repeating an exact keyword too often.
- Distribute anchors evenly to avoid a Google penalty for over-optimization.
- Mix branding anchors, generic anchors, related keywords, and naked URLs in
  every campaign.
- Check a competitor's anchor profile for inspiration before starting yours.

[^iskills-course-notes]: iSkills SEO course notes, compiled 2025.