How to choose the right link anchors for promoting a site via links from PBN homepages?

When it comes to website promotion, the question of which link anchors to use often becomes key. The correct choice of anchors is not just a technical detail, but a strategic decision upon which the success of the entire SEO campaign depends. Today we will talk about why anchors are so important and how to choose them correctly for links from PBN main pages.

What is a link anchor and why is it important?

A link anchor for a link from a PBN main page is the link text that the user sees and that search engines take into account when assessing the relevance of the link. For search engines, the anchor text serves as a signal about the content of the page to which the link leads. If you use the correct link anchors, it helps search engines better understand what your page is about, and as a result, improves its positions in the search results.

Why is the choice of link anchors so important?

When it comes to promoting a site using links from PBN main pages, anchor texts play a key role. Properly selected anchors can significantly improve the site's positions in search results, while wrong choices can lead to a drop in positions or even sanctions from search engines.

Types of link anchors and their impact on site promotion via links from PBN main pages

1. Exact matches: These are anchors that completely match the keyword you want to promote the site for. For example, if the keyword is "buy plastic formwork", then the anchor can be "buy plastic formwork". Such anchors are most effective for promotion, but their excessive use can arouse suspicion from search engines.
2. Partial matches: Here the anchor contains part of the keyword or its variation. For example, "formwork for foundation" is a partial match for the keyword "buy plastic formwork". This type of anchor is safer and is often used in combination with exact matches.
3. Branded anchors: Contain the name of the company or brand. For example, "formwork from Geoplast". Such anchors help improve brand awareness and are safe for use in large volumes.
4. Geographic anchors: These anchors contain a location reference, for example "buy formwork in Moscow". They are especially important for local SEO and promotion in specific regions.
5. Anchors based on the page Title: The Title is one of the most important page elements for SEO, so using it in anchors can significantly strengthen the relevance of the link — we have implemented this technique ("anchor = Title") in separate regulation. For example, if the page Title is "Buy plastic formwork in Moscow from the manufacturer", the anchor text could be "plastic formwork in Moscow".
6. Anchors based on the page H1: The H1 header is also of great importance for search engines. Anchors formed based on the H1 are usually well-received by search engines. For example, if the page H1 is "Plastic formwork for construction", the anchor text could be "formwork for construction".
7. Anchors based on page content: Anchors can be formed based on keywords and phrases used in the main text of the page. This allows the anchor text to be natural and maximally relevant to the page content. For example, if there is a lot of text on the page about "removable plastic formwork", the anchor text could be "removable plastic formwork".

How to correctly choose link anchors for website promotion using links from PBN home pages

The choice of anchors should be based on several factors:

• Promotion goal: If your goal is to improve positions for specific keywords, then these keys should be present in the anchors. However, one should avoid over-spamming exact matches.
• Diversity: Use diverse anchors to create a natural link profile. This will not only improve promotion results but also protect the site from possible sanctions from search engines.
• Intent: Anchors should clearly reflect the user's intent, whether it be purchase, information, or navigation.
• Entity: The anchor should contain the main keywords that describe the product, service, or topic of the page.
• Use of page structure: Anchors based on the Title, H1, and page content create additional signals for search engines confirming the relevance of the link.

Statistical data and examples of link anchors for website promotion using links from PBN home pages

Research shows that sites using diverse anchors, including those formed based on the Title and H1, have a 25-30% higher chance of avoiding Google sanctions compared to sites that rely excessively on exact matches.

The table below provides data on the distribution of anchors for successful PBN campaigns:

Anchor type	Usage percentage	Anchor example
Exact matches	30%	"buy plastic formwork"
Partial matches	25%	"formwork for foundation"
Branded anchors	15%	"Geoplast"
Geographic anchors	10%	"buy formwork in Moscow"
Title-based anchors	10%	"plastic formwork in Moscow"
H1-based anchors	5%	"formwork for construction"
Content-based anchors	5%	"removable plastic formwork"

Choosing the right anchors is the foundation of successful website promotion using links from PBN homepages. The optimal strategy consists of using a combination of exact match, partial match, branded and geographic anchors, as well as anchors based on page structure (Title, H1, content). Such an approach not only improves the site's positions in search results but also reduces the risk of penalties (how to recognize a filter — analysis of signs). Use the data and recommendations to create an effective and safe anchor profile for your site.

This information will allow you to better understand the importance of anchors and apply it in practice to achieve better results.

How to correctly select link anchors: a practical guide

Basic principles of anchor selection

1. Intent and entity:
   • Intent: The anchor must clearly indicate the user's intent, whether it is a purchase, obtaining information, or another action. For example, if the page is aimed at sales, the anchor could be "buy plastic formwork".
   • Entity: The anchor must include the main keyword that describes the topic of the page. For example, if the page is about construction materials, the entity will be "plastic formwork".
2. Using the page Title:
   • The optimal anchor option is using the full page Title or its main part. The Title should be a concise, complete sentence, without unnecessary separators or conjunctions, for example: "Купить пластиковую опалубку в Москве".
   • The Title must contain a link between the entity and the intent and reflect the unique experience the user receives on the page.
3. Considering the page structure:
   • H1: An anchor based on the page's H1 header helps maintain relevance and structure SEO signals.
   • Page content: Anchors can be formed based on key phrases used in the page text, making them more natural and relevant.

Practical recommendations for selecting link anchors

1. Select all promoted pages:
   • Identify the pages that will bring the most benefit to your business. At least one anchor link must be placed on each of them.
2. Use exact Title matches:
   • It is recommended to place the first link with an exact match of the Title or its main part. This will create a strong SEO signal and improve link relevance.
3. Diversity and variability:
   • Anchors should be diverse. This means using different formulations to avoid over-optimization and create a natural link profile.

Table: Examples of different types of link anchors

Anchor type	Anchor example	Usage recommendations
Exact matches	"buy plastic formwork"	Use for main key pages.
Partial matches	"formwork for foundation"	Good for diversity and naturalness.
Title-based anchors	"Пластиковая опалубка в Москве"	Ideal for the first link to the page.
H1-based anchors	"Formwork for construction"	Supports relevance and structure.
Content-based anchors	"Removable plastic formwork"	Makes the link natural and relevant.

Link placement strategy

1. Minimum one link per page:
   • Purchase at least one link for each promoted page. For a sustainable effect, it is recommended to repeat the placement after six months.
2. Determine the budget and plan purchases:
   • Divide the annual budget into equal parts and purchase links monthly throughout the year. This will ensure stable growth of positions.
3. Analyze results and adjust the strategy:
   • In approximately six months, evaluate the results and, if necessary, adjust the budget and link purchase strategy.

The correct choice of link anchors is the foundation of a successful SEO strategy. Use these recommendations to create a relevant and powerful anchor profile that will contribute to the growth of your site's positions in search engines. Following these principles will allow you to avoid mistakes and get the maximum return from link promotion.

It is important to remember that all issues related to the selection of thematically related donors and the creation of a pyramidal link structure are handled on our side, ensuring the highest quality turnkey promotion.

 

Which anchor is better: length and word composition

A separate practical question is how many words should be in the anchor and what it should be composed of. There is no rigid formula, but the patterns from our practice are consistent (source: Tier1.shop methodology):

• One word ("windows", "formwork") — the worst option. The intent is blurred: it is unclear whether to buy, repair, or read. Such an anchor competes with everyone at once and adds almost no relevance to a specific page.
• 2–3 words with intent ("buy plastic formwork") — a strong targeted signal. Classic exact match: it works, but is dosed most strictly — repetitions of exactly such formulations are first read as over-optimization.
• 4–7 words, a key with clarification ("plastic formwork rental for foundation with delivery") — the workhorse of the anchor list. A long formulation looks more natural, catches the low-frequency tail of queries, and carries almost no risk of repetitions: there are orders of magnitude more options for long phrases than for short ones.

Regarding composition: search engines have long understood morphology, so word forms and word order are not critical — decline the keyword to fit a natural phrase. Stop words and prepositions do not interfere, but rather help readability. The best source for ready-made formulations is the Title and H1 of the promoted page (see above) and search suggestions on its topic. Target proportions of anchor types in the profile are in a separate analysis anchor plan.

The Importance of Intent and Entity in Link Anchors for Website Promotion Using Links from PBN Home Pages

When it comes to choosing anchors for links, especially in the context of website promotion using PBN, understanding and correctly using intent and entity are of key importance (term definitions are in the glossary). These two aspects determine how relevant and effective a link will be for the target audience and search engines.

Definition of Intent

Intent (or intention) is what drives the user when performing a search on the internet. It reflects what goal or task the user is trying to accomplish by entering a specific query into a search engine. Understanding intent allows for the creation of anchors that not only meet the user's needs but are also better perceived by search engines.

There are three main types of intent:

1. Informational Intent:
   • These are queries where users are looking for information. They may be searching for answers to questions, instructions, or general information on a topic of interest. Examples of queries with informational intent: "how to choose plastic formwork", "advantages of removable formwork".
   • Anchor example: "how to choose plastic formwork".
2. Transactional Intent:
   • In these queries, users intend to perform a specific action, such as purchasing a product, registering on a website, downloading a file, etc. This type of intent is characteristic of commercial queries related to making a decision or making a purchase. Examples: "buy plastic formwork", "register for a webinar".
   • Anchor example: "buy plastic formwork".
3. Navigational Intent:
   • Navigational queries indicate that the user is looking for a specific site, page, or section. Most often, such queries include the name of a brand, product, or service. Examples: "Geoplast official website", "Sberbank personal account login".
   • Anchor example: "Geoplast official website".

Definition of Entity

Entity is a key concept or object that describes the main meaning of the page to which the link leads. This can be a product, service, topic, or concept that is central to the target page. It is important that the entity be clearly defined and reflect the main content of the page.

Examples of using intent and entity in link anchors

• Informational intent with an entity:
  • Anchor: "how to choose plastic formwork for a foundation".
  • Here the intent is informational (searching for information), and the entity is "plastic formwork for a foundation".
• Transactional intent with an entity:
  • Anchor: "buy removable plastic formwork".
  • In this case, the intent is transactional (purchase), and the entity is "removable plastic formwork".
• Navigational intent with an entity:
  • Anchor: "Geoplast official website".
  • The intent is navigational (searching for a specific site), and the entity is "Geoplast".

Understanding and correctly using intent and entity when choosing anchors is a fundamental part of an effective SEO strategy. Anchors that accurately match user intentions and clearly reflect the entity of the target page not only increase link relevance but also significantly improve its perception by both search engines and users.

Correctly selected anchors that take into account intent and entity ensure a higher click-through rate, improve user experience, and contribute to higher page rankings in search engines.

 

Examples of using entities in link anchors for website promotion via PBN home pages

An entity in the anchor text is a key concept or object that clearly describes the main meaning of the page to which the link leads. Correctly specifying the entity in the anchor plays a crucial role in how search engines understand the context of the target page and its relevance to user queries.

How correct specification of the entity in the anchor helps search engines understand the context

When a search engine analyzes a page and finds a link on it, the anchor text serves as one of the most important signals about the content of the target page. If the anchor includes the correct entity, it helps the search engine better understand exactly what the page is about and how it relates to the user's query. This is especially important in competitive environments where many pages may claim the same keywords.

For example, if you have a page dedicated to plastic window installation services and the anchor to this page is "plastic window installation", the search engine understands that the page is relevant to queries related to this service. This can help the page achieve higher positions in search results, especially if other factors, such as internal optimization and the overall link profile, are also high.

Examples of successful and unsuccessful anchor phrases

Successful anchor phrases

1. Anchor: "buy plastic formwork for a foundation"
   • Entity: plastic formwork
   • Intent: purchase
   • Why successful: The anchor accurately reflects both the entity (plastic formwork) and the intent (purchase). This helps search engines understand that the page is oriented toward transactional queries related to purchasing the product.
2. Anchor: "installation of plastic windows in Moscow"
   • Entity: installation of plastic windows
   • Intent: installation service
   • Why successful: Here the anchor points to a specific service and includes a geographic marker, which increases the page's relevance for local queries.
3. Anchor: "recommendations for choosing plastic windows"
   • Entity: choosing plastic windows
   • Intent: informational query
   • Why successful: The anchor reflects the user's goal — to find recommendations, and emphasizes that the page provides informational content.

Unsuccessful anchor phrases

1. Anchor: "click here"
   • Entity: absent
   • Intent: unclear
   • Why unsuccessful: Such an anchor provides neither search engines nor users with information about what will be on the target page. This may lead to the page ranking lower.
2. Anchor: "and other products"
   • Entity: unclear
   • Intent: unclear
   • Why unsuccessful: The anchor text is too generic and does not contain information about exactly where the link leads. This reduces relevance and worsens the user experience.
3. Anchor: "plastic, formwork, concrete and much more"
   • Entity: mixing of entities
   • Intent: unclear
   • Why unsuccessful: Several entities are used here at once, which confuses both search engines and users. Such an anchor does not provide a clear understanding of the target page's content.
4. Naked links (using the URL as the anchor):
   • Anchor: "https://example.com"
   • Entity: absent
   • Intent: unclear
   • Why unsuccessful: Naked links, where the URL is used as the link text, do not give search engines a clear signal about the content of the target page. It is harder for search engines to determine what the page is about if the anchor does not describe its content. In its guidelines for webmasters, Google explicitly indicates the need to use informative and descriptive link texts to facilitate understanding for both users and search engines [google help].

   Using naked links as the primary method of promotion can reduce the overall effectiveness of your link profile. Such links can be useful in some contexts, for example, for natural link diversity, but they should not form the basis of your anchor strategy.

Correct use of entities in anchor texts is the foundation of successful SEO. Anchors that clearly convey the essence of the page and match the user's intent help search engines better understand the context and ensure higher positions in search results. Conversely, unsuccessful anchor phrases, such as "click here" or the use of naked links, can reduce the effectiveness of the link profile (about a healthy balance of anchors — in the analysis of natural link profile) and negatively affect site visibility.

By following Google's recommendations and using informative anchor texts, you can maximize the potential of every link, increasing relevance and improving search results.

 

How link anchor diversity helps avoid search engine sanctions

Anchor diversity is a key aspect of a successful SEO strategy that helps not only to increase the relevance of the link profile but also to avoid sanctions from search engines such as Google. Aggressive use of identical anchor texts, especially if they are exact keyword matches, can lead search engines to perceive your site as attempting to manipulate search results, which in turn can lead to the imposition of sanctions.

How the discipline of uniqueness works in practice is evident from recent cases (source: Tier1.shop cases). In the link sprint of a legal website 542 out of 562 anchors are unique (96%) — long intent-based formulations with an entity such as "cost of a lawyer's work on individual bankruptcy"; repetitions accounted for only 20 placements, and no single phrase appeared more than three times — the result was a record number of keywords in the top 3 in the site's entire history. And in the two-year catering case the anchor policy went through three phases: targeted commercial intent for key sections → brand/naked "cushion" for the homepage → broad coverage of the catalog with unique formulations (248 out of 344).

Why is link anchor diversity important?

Search engines, such as Google, strive to provide users with relevant and high-quality search results. They use complex algorithms to determine whether a site is truly useful to users or if it is trying to manipulate results using unnatural promotion methods.

Using diverse anchors signals to search engines that links to your site look natural and organic, which corresponds to normal web behavior. In a real-world situation, when people link to your page, they rarely use identical anchor texts. Thus, diversity in link anchors helps:

1. Create a natural link profile: This reduces the likelihood that your site will be perceived as participating in a link manipulation scheme.
2. Improve visibility for various queries: Different link anchor texts help your site rank better for a larger number of queries, including low-frequency and medium-frequency keywords.
3. Strengthen page authority: When diverse link anchor texts are used, it helps search engines better understand the page content and increase its relevance for a wider range of search queries.

Examples of Google penalties for aggressive use of exact matches

Aggressive use of exact matches in link anchor texts is one of the tactics often used to quickly increase positions for specific keywords. However, Google has mechanisms to detect such manipulation attempts, and they can lead to serious sanctions.

Example 1: Penguin Algorithm

Google Penguin is an algorithm introduced in 2012 to combat websites using aggressive SEO methods, including the excessive use of exact matches in link anchor texts. One of the primary signals Penguin tracks is an excessive concentration of identical anchor texts.

If the algorithm determines that a significant portion of links to a site use identical anchors, it can lead to sanctions such as:

• Drop in search rankings: In the best case, the site may lose its positions for main keywords.
• Loss of visibility: In more serious cases, the site may completely disappear from search results for certain queries.
• Manual actions: In individual cases, the Google team may impose manual actions on the site, leading to a significant drop in traffic and possibly removal of the site from the index.

Example 2: Penalties for link schemes

Google actively fights so-called "link schemes," where unnatural and manipulative methods of building link mass are used. One of the signs of such schemes is the use of a large number of links with identical anchor texts.

An example of a penalty could be:

• Loss of trust: A site may lose its rating and trust from Google if it is discovered that a majority of its links have identical anchors.
• Website pessimization: The site may be lowered in rankings for all queries, which practically destroys its visibility in the search engine.

Anchor text diversity is not just a recommendation, but a necessary condition for creating a healthy and sustainable link profile. It helps avoid suspicions of manipulation from search engines and ensures a more natural growth in site positions. On the other hand, aggressive use of exact matches can lead to serious sanctions, which can significantly damage your site and business.

To avoid these problems, it is important to use diverse anchors, including branded, partial matches, as well as link anchors that reflect various aspects of your page content. Such an approach is not only safe but also more effective in the long term.

Yandex and Google: do anchors work the same way

The mechanics are the same — the link text helps the search engine understand what the acceptor page is about — but the reaction to abuses differs between systems, and this should be taken into account when assembling the anchor list.

Google. Anchor text has been embedded in the search architecture from the very beginning: Brin and Page's 1998 article already describes a separate anchor index. The Penguin algorithm is responsible for over-optimization: since September 2016, it has been integrated into the main core, works in real time, and acts granularly — according to the official Google announcement, spammy links are devalued (stop being counted) rather than sinking the entire site. Harsh sanctions for anchor spam in Google today are mainly manual actions in the case of mass schemes.

Yandex. The history is harsher: in 2014, Yandex disabled link ranking for a portion of commercial queries in the Moscow region, and in 2015, it launched "Minusinsk" — a filter against mass purchased SEO links, one of the main markers of which were typical commercial anchors. According to our observations, Yandex is still more sensitive to the share of exact commercial matches and responds better to a natural profile structure: non-anchor, branded, and diluted formulations (source: Tier1.shop practice).

Practical adjustments:

• For Yandex, keep the share of exact commercial anchors lower, and branded and non-anchor ones higher; exact matches — sparingly and only for the most important pages.
• For Google, descriptive anchors with query words work for page relevance — but there too, duplicates of exact formulations are dosed.
• A universal rule for both systems is repetition discipline. According to our analytics, a duplicate anchor in links from main pages gives a pessimization risk higher than 50% (source: Tier1.shop analytics). At the same time, case 43 clarifies the picture: it is not the repetition itself that is critical, but its concentration in time — 2–7 repetitions of an anchor, spread over months and years, did not cause sanctions, whereas clustered series of identical anchors on other projects led to pessimization.

Data collection and analysis: How to monitor the effectiveness of link anchors

For your SEO strategy to be successful, it is important not only to choose anchors correctly but also to regularly analyze their effectiveness. Monitoring keyword positions and assessing the impact of chosen anchor texts on page ranking allow for timely strategy adjustments and achieving better results.

Tools for tracking keyword positions

There are several powerful tools for tracking your site's positions by keywords. These services allow you to monitor ranking dynamics, evaluate the effectiveness of the anchor strategy, and make necessary changes.

1. SEMrush:
   • One of the most popular tools for monitoring keyword positions. Allows tracking both current positions and historical data, providing deep analytics for each keyword.
   • Features: detailed reports, competitor analysis, ability to track mobile and desktop positions.
2. Ahrefs:
   • A powerful tool that offers not only keyword position tracking but also deep analysis of the link profile. Ahrefs helps evaluate how selected anchor texts ccskjr affect your site's visibility in search engines.
   • Features: backlink analysis, content research, mention monitoring.
3. Serpstat:
   • A universal SEO platform offering position monitoring, site audits, and competitor analysis. Serpstat provides keyword data for both Google and other search engines.
   • Features: keyword clustering, site visibility analysis, site audits.
4. Google Search Console:
   • A free tool from Google that allows you to track the keywords for which your site receives traffic. It allows you to see how specific link anchors affect site positions.
   • Features: first-hand data, performance report, indexing and technical issues.

How to analyze results and adjust the anchor strategy

Analysis of keyword position data should be a regular part of your work. This allows you to not only track the effectiveness of selected anchor texts but also to make timely changes to the strategy.

1. Data Collection:
   • Use tools such as SEMrush, Ahrefs, or Serpstat for regular keyword position monitoring (our "before/after" measurement methodology is in the article how to measure link effectiveness). Save reports on main keywords before and after implementing a new anchor strategy.
2. Analysis of Position Changes:
   • Compare keyword position data before and after applying the anchor strategy. Pay attention to keywords that have undergone significant changes. A rise in positions indicates the success of the strategy, while a decrease indicates the need to revise the approach.
3. Strategy Adjustment:
   • If you see that some keywords are not showing the expected growth, analyze which link anchors for site promotion using links from PBN home pages were used. It may be worth changing the anchor text, adding new links, or revising the internal optimization of the page.
   • Consider the possibility of using more diverse anchor texts to increase the naturalness of the link profile.
4. Tracking Long-term Dynamics:
   • The effectiveness of an anchor strategy may not manifest immediately. It is important to track positions over a long period to see the real picture of the influence of the selected anchor texts.

Table: Example of a keyword position report before and after implementing a new anchor strategy

Keyword	Position before strategy	Position after 1 month	Position after 3 months	Position change
buy plastic formwork	15	10	5	+10
plastic window installation	8	5	3	+5
window recommendations	22	18	12	+10
formwork for foundation	10	7	4	+6
plastic windows Moscow	12	9	6	+6

This table illustrates an example of how to track keyword position changes after implementing a new anchor strategy. Positive changes indicate the success of the chosen strategy, while negative or absent ones indicate the need for further adjustment.

Monitoring the effectiveness of an anchor strategy is a continuous process requiring regular data collection and analysis. Using specialized keyword position monitoring tools, such as SEMrush, Ahrefs, and Serpstat, helps not only to track current results but also to make necessary adjustments to achieve the best results. By maintaining a variety of anchor texts and constantly analyzing their impact, you can ensure steady growth of your site's positions in search results.

Step-by-step instructions for monitoring keyword positions using SEMrush

Using SEMrush to track keyword positions allows you to effectively monitor the results of your anchor strategies. Follow these instructions to save reports for main keywords before and after implementing a new anchor strategy.

Step 1: Log in to SEMrush

1. Go to the website SEMrush. If you do not have an account, you can purchase it here - the post is updated regularly.
2. Log in to your account using your login and password. If you do not have an account yet, register.

Step 2: Creating a new project

1. After logging into the system, select the tab "Projects" (Projects) in the left side menu.
2. Click the button "Create Project" (Create Project).
3. Enter your website domain and project name, then click "Create Project".

Step 3: Position Tracking Setup

1. In the created project, select "Position Tracking" (Position Tracking).
2. Click "Set up" (Configure) to start setting up position tracking.
3. In the section "Targeting" select the region or country for which you want to track positions. If necessary, specify a city or a specific location.
4. In the section "Device & Location" select the device type (mobile or desktop) for which you want to track positions.
5. Click "Next" to proceed to the next setup stage.

Step 4: Adding Keywords

1. In the section "Keywords" click "Add keywords" (Add Keywords).
2. Enter the keywords you want to track. You can add them manually, copy them from a list, or upload a file with keywords.
3. Click "Add" (Add) to save the keywords to the project.
4. Click "Next" to proceed to the next stage.

Step 5: Competitor Setup (optional)

1. In the section "Competitors" (Competitors) you can add competitor sites to track their positions for the same keywords.
2. Click "Add competitors" (Add Competitors) and enter the competitor domains.
3. Click "Next" to complete the setup.

Step 6: Launching Tracking

1. Click "Start Tracking" (Start Tracking) to launch the position monitoring process.
2. Wait a few minutes while SEMrush collects data for the keywords.

Step 7: Position Analysis Before Implementing the New Anchor Strategy

1. Go to the section "Position Tracking" of your project.
2. In the report "Overview" (Overview) you will see your site's current positions for the keywords.
3. Click "Export" (Export) and select a format (e.g., Excel or CSV) to save the report with current positions. This report will serve as the baseline for comparison after implementing the new anchor strategy.

Step 8: Implementing the New Anchor Strategy

1. Implement the new anchor strategy on your site using the selected anchor texts.
2. Wait several weeks (at least 1-2 months recommended) for search engines to index the changes and update the positions.

Step 9: Position Analysis After Implementing the Anchor Strategy

1. Return to SEMrush several weeks after implementing the new anchor strategy.
2. Go to the section "Position Tracking" of your project.
3. Compare the current keyword positions with those that existed before the strategy implementation.
4. Click "Export" to save the new report with positions after the changes.

Step 10: Comparison and Strategy Adjustment

1. Compare two reports: before and after the implementation of the anchor strategy.
2. Analyze which keywords improved their positions and which did not. This will help you understand how successful your strategy was.
3. If the results are not satisfactory, adjust the anchor strategy by adding new links or changing the anchor texts.

Using SEMrush to monitor keyword positions, you can effectively control the results of the anchor strategy implementation. Regularly save and analyze reports to make timely changes to the strategy and achieve sustainable growth of positions in the search results.

Results: How to monitor the effectiveness of an anchor strategy with practical examples

A living example of the importance of the anchor is our experiment: a link with an intentionally "foreign" anchor still raised the page from 38th to 13th position in Google, but an exact match between the anchor entity and the page works noticeably stronger.

For successful website promotion using anchor links, it is important not only to choose anchors wisely but also to constantly track their effectiveness. Monitoring keyword positions allows you to timely assess the impact of your actions and adjust the strategy if necessary. Examples of real cases demonstrate how using these approaches brings significant results.

1. Use of specialized tools

• SEMrush, Ahrefs, and Serpstat provide powerful capabilities for monitoring keyword positions, analyzing competitors, and tracking changes in real time. For example, in the case of the website of an advertising and printing agency from Saint Petersburg a comprehensive approach was used, including position monitoring with Ahrefs and other tools. As a result, for the "printing products" cluster, all keywords took positions close to top-1 (screenshot 1, screenshot 2).

2. Monitoring and analysis process

• It is important to track keyword positions before and after the implementation of the anchor strategy to evaluate its effectiveness. In the case with the flower delivery website in Samara, where six anchors (including branded ones) were used, the positions of all keywords improved by 11–32 points and entered the top-1 and top-2 in Yandex (screenshot).

3. Importance of anchor diversity

• Diversity in anchor texts helps create a natural link profile and avoid sanctions from search engines. This approach was successfully applied in the case with the website for selling concrete in Saint Petersburg, where diverse anchors and sitewide links were used. As a result, the site showed positive changes for key queries, improving its positions in Google (screenshot 1, screenshot 2).

4. Strategy adjustment based on data

• Regular analysis allows for the timely adjustment of the anchor strategy. For example, in the case with the website for term paper ordering services in Moscow 30 links with different anchors were used to promote the site via links from PBN homepages, which led to a significant increase in positions for high-frequency queries in both Yandex and Google (screenshot 1, screenshot 2).

5. Examples of report usage

• Comparing keyword position reports before and after strategy implementation helps visualize changes and evaluate the success of the actions taken. For example, in the case with the water delivery website in Saint Petersburg positions for the main keywords rose from 15–35th place to top-1 and top-4 in Yandex (screenshot 1, screenshot 2).

Conclusion

Monitoring the effectiveness of the anchor strategy is a continuous process requiring attention to detail and a readiness to adapt approaches. Real cases show how using the right tools, anchor diversity, and regular data analysis lead to sustainable growth in positions and improved results in search engine results pages. By applying this knowledge and practice, you will be able to achieve the maximum effect from your SEO campaign and secure success on a long-term basis.

See also: anchor plan and proportions, how to remove anchor over-optimization, guide to links from homepages.