Google Affirms SEO Link Best Practices Guidelines Remain Relevant Today

Google's link best practices for SEO, as outlined by John Mueller, emphasize the importance of using keyword-rich anchor text for links. These practices are recommended not only for SEO purposes but also for enhancing accessibility and user experience (UX). The guidelines suggest avoiding generic anchor text like 'here' or 'read more' and instead using descriptive keywords that give users and search engines a clear idea of what to expect when they follow the link.

Using keyword-rich anchor text is recommended by Google for several reasons:

• SEO: Keyword-rich anchor text helps search engines understand the context and content of the linked page, which can improve the page's search engine ranking.
• Accessibility: Descriptive anchor text provides better guidance to users with disabilities, making it easier to navigate through content using screen readers.
• User Experience (UX): Clear and descriptive anchor text improves the overall user experience by setting accurate expectations about the linked content.

No, Google's link best practices are not mandatory requirements for websites. John Mueller of Google mentioned that while the guidelines are good to follow for SEO, accessibility, and UX reasons, there is room for nuance, and website owners can apply their judgment when creating anchor text for links. The key is to balance natural writing with the use of keyword-rich anchor text where it makes sense.