Google Still Demands Visible Anchor Text—Are Your Links Naked?

The Enduring Relevance of Visible Anchor Text in Google's Ecosystem

Despite years of iterative updates to Google's core algorithms, particularly those driven by advanced Natural Language Processing (NLP) and AI, the fundamental principles of clear, descriptive linking remain surprisingly entrenched. Revisiting the core tenets of quality link building, many seasoned SEO professionals find themselves nodding in agreement with longstanding advice, even as the technology surrounding search ostensibly moves toward semantic understanding. This enduring relevance was underscored in recent discourse, catching the attention of observers like @rustybrick, who highlighted the continued recommendation for visible anchor text on Feb 13, 2026 · 7:16 PM UTC.

As we navigate the early landscape of 2026, the current status of Google’s anchor text recommendations appears pragmatic rather than revolutionary. While AI models excel at discerning the thematic relationship between linking and target pages based solely on surrounding content (the 'contextual crawl'), the explicit signal provided by a well-chosen anchor remains a trusted, high-priority directive. For many linking scenarios, especially when crafting internal site architecture or ensuring maximum impact from crucial external citations, the explicit instruction offered by visible anchor text is still positioned as a best practice—a fail-safe mechanism in an increasingly nuanced ranking environment.

Defining "Naked" vs. Descriptive Anchor Text

Understanding the spectrum of anchor text requires clearly differentiating between signals that offer clarity and those that offer ambiguity. What constitutes "naked" anchor text is perhaps the most straightforward, yet frequently abused, category in link profiles.

The Pitfalls of Ambiguity

"Naked" anchor text typically falls into two main, unhelpful buckets: the raw, unformatted URL (e.g., https://www.example.com/page-name) or generic, non-descriptive phrases that offer zero context about the destination (e.g., "click here," "read more," or "this article"). These terms force the algorithm—or the human user—to do all the interpretive work, relying entirely on the text surrounding the link to infer relevance. This approach dilutes the specific topical relevance the link is intended to convey.

In stark contrast stands descriptive, contextually relevant anchor text. This type of text uses keywords or phrases directly related to the content on the destination page, acting as a concise summary of the linked material. For example, linking the phrase "advanced quantum computing applications" to a specific deep-dive article provides immediate, rich data about the target page's focus.

Algorithmic Interpretation Without Clear Signals

The real test for modern search engines lies in how well they interpret context when clear anchor signals are absent. Google’s sophisticated NLP algorithms are certainly capable of analyzing thousands of surrounding words to piece together topicality. However, relying solely on this process introduces inherent risk. If the surrounding paragraph is slightly off-topic, or if the link is placed in a sidebar or footer where context is thin, the strong, explicit signal of a descriptive anchor is lost. The visible anchor text acts as a highly efficient distillation of intent that even the most advanced AI benefits from.

Why Visibility Still Matters for Crawling and Indexing

The fundamental purpose of anchor text has always been instructional for the crawlers; it tells the indexer what to expect upon arrival. This role has not vanished, even in the era of sophisticated semantic analysis.

The role of visible anchor text in helping search engine crawlers understand page topicality is akin to providing a highly accurate file label. While a crawler can eventually open the file and read its contents, the label significantly speeds up organization and categorization within the index. A dense cluster of links all pointing to a page using the same specific anchor text reinforces that page's authority on that specific topic with high certainty.

This clarity directly impacts information hierarchy and relevance scoring. When an algorithm encounters strong, targeted anchors pointing toward Page X, it signals that Page X is the definitive resource for those specific terms. If all links were "click here," the ranking signals would be dispersed and diluted across the entire context where the links appeared, leading to less precise relevance scoring for the target page.

Anchor Text and User Experience (UX) Signals

Beyond the purely technical aspects of crawling and indexing, the importance of visible anchor text is deeply interwoven with the primary goal of any website: serving the human user effectively.

Users rely heavily on visible anchors to predict content and make navigational choices. Before committing to a click, a user’s eye scans for meaningful phrases. A well-written anchor saves the user cognitive load by immediately communicating value or direction. This immediate feedback loop is crucial in retaining user attention in a hyper-competitive attention economy.

The relationship between clear navigation via anchors and reduced bounce rates is empirically observable. If a user clicks a link expecting information on "2026 market trends" but lands on a page vaguely related to general finance, frustration mounts rapidly. Clear anchors set accurate expectations, leading to deeper engagement metrics and, subsequently, lower bounce rates—a key indicator Google values highly.

Google’s increasing reliance on direct user interaction metrics—dwell time, scroll depth, and bounce rate—means that anchors that successfully guide users to relevant content are indirectly rewarded. A descriptive anchor is, therefore, a foundational UX element that supports positive behavioral signals sent back to the ranking systems.

Navigating Anchor Text Diversity: Balancing Guidelines and Algorithms

The perpetual challenge in SEO is managing the persistent tension between adhering to clear historical guidelines and adapting to the fluid nature of evolving NLP/AI-driven interpretation. While Google’s systems can now infer meaning, they still operate best when explicit guidance is present, provided that guidance appears natural.

Crafting a Natural, Varied Profile

Best practices dictate a strategy that incorporates branded anchors (e.g., "RustyBrick analysis"), naked URLs (used sparingly, perhaps for citation purposes), and, most importantly, descriptive anchors, all woven together naturally. The key word here is natural. Successful profiles avoid mechanical repetition.

A significant danger arises from the risks associated with over-optimization or manipulation of anchor text density. Attempting to force a target keyword into 90% of inbound links signals manipulation to modern systems, often triggering penalties or algorithmic suppression, regardless of how "smart" the AI believes it is. Over-optimization is the clearest path to creating an unnatural-looking link profile.

Case studies consistently illustrate that sites achieving sustained high rankings achieve success not by mastering one type of anchor, but by mastering diversity coupled with relevance. For instance, sites that gain links organically from news outlets often feature branded anchors, while high-authority resource pages often accrue highly descriptive internal links—both strategies succeeding because they reflect genuine, earned linkage patterns.

The Future of Anchor Text in an AI-Dominated Search Landscape

As generative AI models become more integrated into the core ranking processes, a critical question looms: Will future algorithms eventually render explicit anchor text redundant?

It is conceivable that in the distant future, AI could analyze the semantic flow across multiple connecting pages so comprehensively that the anchor text itself becomes mere decoration. If the surrounding text provides perfect context, the need for an explicit directional signal diminishes. However, until Google announces a definitive shift away from this decades-old best practice, caution is paramount.

Our concluding thoughts must be centered on maintaining current, quality-focused best practices. Since the visible, descriptive anchor provides immediate clarity for crawlers, immediate usability for users, and acts as a reliable fallback signal when semantic interpretation is ambiguous, its importance has not yet waned. We should continue to craft anchors that are descriptive and natural, treating visible text as a powerful tool rather than a relic, until the technology definitively proves otherwise.

Source: Shared by @rustybrick on Feb 13, 2026 · 7:16 PM UTC via X: https://x.com/rustybrick/status/2022389435518575102