What it is
Anchor text like click here or read more tells Google nothing about the destination. Descriptive anchors pass topical context to the linked page. ‘Click here’/‘read more’ anchors. Anchors give Google context about the target; generic ones waste that. Use descriptive, relevant anchor text.
Why does generic anchor text matter for AI search?
Anchors give Google context about the target; generic ones waste that.
How do you fix it?
Use descriptive, relevant anchor text.
How do you find it on your site?
- Crawl internal links and review the anchor text.
- Flag generic anchors like click here or learn more.
- Rewrite them to describe the destination using relevant words.
- Keep anchors natural, not stuffed.
Which ranking and citation factors does it touch?
Descriptive anchors pass relevance to the target page. Generic anchors waste that internal signal.
What is the impact?
Low-medium. Direct.
What is the evidence?
Descriptive anchor text helps Google understand targets. Google Search Central, SEO Starter Guide
Frequently asked questions about generic anchor text
What does "Generic anchor text" mean?
‘Click here’/‘read more’ anchors.
How do you fix generic anchor text?
Use descriptive, relevant anchor text.