Anchor text diversity - post penguin.

[SamCUK]

Hi,

It seems that achor text diversity is hugely important post penguin but what's the best strategy? What kind of anchor text should I be going for? As I understand it more that 60% of  links with the keywords in trigger a google flag. For example are the following good examples for the term 'wedding singer'?

local wedding singer, best wedding singer, wedding singer website, hire wedding singer.

Would these cause triggers in google as all contain the keyword 'wedding singer'?

Or should I be going for:

click here, visit us, listen now, view a profile

Obviously these words don't contain the anchor text 'wedding singer' but with a few exact match #wedding singer' anchor texts and good on page SEO will this mix give better results?

[Nobody1560986989723]

I think for a start you need to not worry about percentages or nit-picking over calculations. Here are some basic principles

• Firstly make sure your website itself is great and that your content reads well for human beings, then perform your on-site optimisation to make sure the site is primed for your choice of keywords. In my view, if you've selected your keywords, your on-page optimisation has to be the next step - because any visitors you are bringing into your site from search must be engaged and interested. Get some colleagues/friends to read it through.
• Then begin your link-building. Make sure you have a range of type of link - editorial posts, reviews or relevant articles you've written, some directories maybe, get engaged into some relevant communities to what you do - have you exhibited at a wedding fair? Then see if the venue organisers list their exhibiters and get listed.
• You will need to have a good proportion of links with your target anchor text - but they must be in-context, so worry about that aspect on the sites you have the most control over - i.e. doing an article on a wedding blog about selecting the right music for your wedding. If link building is done 'naturally' then the range of anchor texts will come as different sites will link to you in different ways.
  • Some may allow keyword-rich anchors
  • Some will be business name
  • Some will be 'Website'
  • Some will be your website URL etc etc
• Google in particular likes brand value - so ensure you are building awareness of your brand through all your marketing activities, through online and offline means.

So build a strategy for your link building but make sure the keyword range is broad and steer clear of 'best wedding singer' unless you've got sufficient awards or something that merits the title.

Oh and one final thing might be to grow your own website with relevant information or helpful articles, or even different styles of singing you do. Some couples may want a romantic wedding singer or a 'fun, jazzy' one. You could easily broaden your keyword appeal by not limiting all your keywords to 'wedding singer'-oriented ones.

Hope this helps.