Cosmo feature: any difference between linking a phrase or .com?

[100RedFlags]

I just had an article posted on Cosmopolitan.com to my site, www.100redflags.com. My request to them was that they link specifically the phrase "100 Red Flags" to http://100redflags.com, but they actually said "go to 100redflags.com" - with 100redflags.com hyperlinked.

My question:

1. If I'm trying to build rank with the term "red flags", or at least "100 red flags", is the way that they did it helping me at all?

2. If it will help me more to have them link the phrase "100 Red Flags", does it matter whether they do that today when traffic is high, or tomorrow when traffic is lower?

Thanks for the clarification,

Bill

p.s their post here: http://www.cosmopolitan.com/sex-love/dating-advice/dating-mistakes-women-make#slide-1

[RobertFisher]

Bill

1. yes it is helping you. You are getting a link to your homepage, and you have an exact match domain name for what you want. So, they likely did not really cause any problem IMO.

2. Interesting assumption on traffic here.... I think it helps you either way today or tomorrow, the same. Remember, the link is a gift that keeps on giving. One days worth of traffic will likely make no difference either way.

Best,

[rhutchings]

Agree with Bill.  The link is still valuable.  Google has said (warned) over the last year or so that they are looking hard at link profiles, anchor text and other things to indicate link quality.  I think they are trying to really dig down and get a "natural link profile" together for websites.  A natural profile will have a good variety of keywords, brand name, website domain name and other stuff (like "click here").

The true value there is the domain authority that cosmopolitan is passing through to you.  Dont be too concerned with the anchor text.

[EGOL]

1. YES.  Great link. Fantastic.

2. I would be singing hymns for those folks, not taking them to task because of the anchor text.  Write to them and say THANK YOU!  Its PERFECT!