Hey Iwan,
Your anchor text might be the reason you're stuck on page 2.
I've been testing anchor text strategies for 16 years… and here's what I know for sure:
Backlinks are only half the equation. The other half is what's in the anchor.
Here's the exact anchor text strategy I actively use across all client campaigns:
1. The right mix of anchor types
You need a natural blend of:
- Target anchors: Includes any part of your keyword
- Branded anchors: Your brand or domain name
- URL anchors: Raw links (e.g., https://yourdomain.com)
- Topical anchors: Broad topics (e.g., "SEO tools")
- Misc: "Click here," "this page," etc.
Target anchors move rankings fastest, but overdoing them gets you penalized.
2. Avoid copy-paste anchor ratios
Forget the "20% exact, 30% branded" formulas you see online.
Every niche has different norms.
Here's what to do instead:
- Grab the top 5 competitors in Ahrefs
- Export their anchor data
- Categorize each anchor by type
- Average the distributions across sites
That becomes your safe zone
3. Never reuse the same target anchor
I once lost 80% of a site's traffic overnight after repeating "best X" too many times.
Instead of repeating, vary your anchors:
- top-rated X
- recommended X
- affordable X providers
- X reviews
4. Let your SEO title do the heavy lifting
Your SEO title gets linked across the web.
Make sure it includes your main keyword.
This gives you more target anchor coverage, without raising red flags.
5. Match anchors to where the link comes from
Make your profile look natural:
- Blog posts = Descriptive/target
- Resources pages = Branded or naked
- Forums = URL or SEO title
- Comments = Author name
- Sidebars = Topical or blank
6. Break up your keyword
If you're stuck at position #4, try linking with just part of the phrase.
Instead of "Chicago plumber" → try "Chicago" or "plumber" alone.
7. Write like a human
"I recommend this [plumber Chicago]" looks shady.
"I recommend this [plumber in Chicago]" gets the same result—without penalty.
Always write anchor text in natural language.
8. Diversify your URL formats
Rotate between:
- https://yourdomain(.)com
- https://yourdomain(.)com/
- www.yourdomain(.)com
- yourdomain(.)com
9. Use synonyms
Google knows "top automobile coverage" relates to "best car insurance."
Use variations to stay relevant without repeating yourself.
10. Use surrounding text to build context
Even generic anchors work when surrounded by keywords.
Example: "To learn about the best protein powder, [click here]"
Moral of the story?
You don't need more links. You need smarter anchors.
Get this right, and you'll outrank sites with twice your backlink count.
And if you want a second pair of eyes on your anchor text strategy?
Click here for a free website audit and we'll show you exactly where to improve.
To your continued success,
Matt Diggity
