Anchor Text Distribution Analyzer
Analyse the distribution of anchor text across a backlink or internal link export, classify each anchor by type, and flag over-optimised patterns that look manipulated.
Last reviewed by the Radiatus Cloud team
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A natural profile is mostly branded and unremarkable
Links that people create without being asked overwhelmingly use the brand name, the bare URL, or generic phrases like "click here" and "this article". Exact match commercial anchors are rare in that mix, because a person linking to a page naturally describes it rather than reciting a target keyword. A profile where a large share of anchors are exact commercial matches is therefore an unusual pattern, and unusual patterns in link profiles are what algorithmic penalties were built to detect.
There is no safe percentage
Advice circulating as a rule, such as keeping exact match anchors under one percent, is invented. No public threshold exists, the actual systems are proprietary, and the right distribution differs wildly by industry, brand strength and site age. What the distribution is genuinely useful for is comparison: against your own profile over time, and against competitors ranking well in the same space. A sudden shift in your own mix is a stronger signal than any absolute number.
Internal links follow different rules
You control every internal anchor, so descriptive keyword anchors are appropriate and expected there. The concern about over-optimisation applies to external links, where the pattern is supposed to reflect what other people chose to write. Analysing the two together produces a misleading picture, which is why the type of export matters and is asked for explicitly.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage of exact match anchors is safe?
No published threshold exists, and figures circulating as rules are invented. The distribution that looks natural varies by industry, brand strength and site age. Compare against your own profile over time and against competitors rather than against a number.
What counts as a branded anchor?
One containing your brand or domain name, whether alone or inside a longer phrase. These normally dominate a natural profile, because people linking to a site usually name it.
Should internal links be analysed the same way?
No. You control every internal anchor, so descriptive keyword anchors are appropriate there. The over-optimisation concern applies to external links, whose pattern is supposed to reflect what other people chose to write.
What does a sudden shift in the mix indicate?
Either a link building campaign using consistent anchors, which is the pattern that looks manipulated, or a change in how people refer to your brand. Your own profile over time is the most informative comparison available to you.
Do nofollow links count in the distribution?
They pass no ranking signal, but they do form part of the observable pattern. Analysing followed links separately gives the clearer picture of what actually influences rankings, so mark them in your export if you can.
Privacy & Security
Everything runs in your browser; nothing is uploaded.
How to Use
Paste your anchor text export to see the distribution by type and spot over-optimisation.
Disclaimer: This tool is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind. Results are for educational and utility purposes.
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