How to Select Your Own Anchor Text Using Default Links

Article by

If you're serious about improving your blog or ecommerce site, increasing traffic and conversions and using Social Networking for great visibility you've got to check us out. You never know how far your comments might go: http://www.growmap.com/pay-it-forward-works/

Gail has written 15 articles for ComLuv.com
I normally write at http://GrowMap.com

In my previous post about How CommentLuv Works I mentioned the new default links feature that Andy added to CommentLuv. Before I explain how to use them I would like to share why they are so important.

Building incoming links IS important to ALL sites from blogs to ecommerce stores to information sites and businesses of all kinds – including YOURS!

Default links are perfect for featuring your most important information when commenting and to build backlinks (also called incoming links) to your site that will bring new visitors to you from search engines.

The best backlinks are those that link to the search phrase that best describes what will be found on the page where the link goes.

The words that you link are called anchor text.

In the previous sentence the phrase “anchor text” is the anchor text. In the link previous to that one “build backlinks” is the anchor text.

When you want to find something online I bet you search for it – so if you want your site to be found by more visitors you need to decide on a short (two to four word) phrase that describes what you have to offer.

Select the words you believe most people would use to search for what you offer.

I explain how to research keywords and provide links to free tools and a process for finding your best keyword phrases in my post about building traffic.

Once you know what your target phrases are you want to create pages or posts that are specifically about that phrase.

I explain exactly how to use your phrase when writing in my post about selecting and using keywords. Before you add default links you need two things:

  1. The keyword phrases you wish to use
  2. The page or post where you want to send visitors who are interested in that phrase

Every blogger, freelancer or business should create landing pages for each of their most important keyword phrases. Each landing page should clearly define what you have to offer.

Now we are ready to put the power of the CommentLuv default links to work bringing you new visitors. Thanks to Andy they are really easy to create.

Simply point at the Member tab and the default links option drops down to take you to the CommentLuv default links page (or click on that link).

The screen capture below shows you how to fill in your anchor text and link.

  1. You need to be logged in for this to work.
  2. You can only add pages on the domain that you have registered with CommentLuv. All your registered domains should be selectable in the dropdown.
  3. Enter your keyword phrase in the anchor text field.
  4. Enter only the page or post URL (the part after your base domain) in the link URL field.

CommentLuv Default Links

In this example I have chosen the phrase Local Search Directory Listing and want to have it linked to the page found at http://GrowMap.com/local-search-directories/ by selecting http://GrowMap.com in the dropdown and typing or pasting local-search-directories/ in the box.

When you click submit you will see this confirmation page:

CommentLuv Default Link Confirmation Page

CommentLuv Default Link Confirmation Page

It would be a good idea to actually click on your link BEFORE you click confirm to make sure it works. Also make sure you entered your keyword phrase correctly.

Notice that I originally had Local Search Directory Listing and realized it should be Local Search Directory Listings (plural) so I changed it before I clicked confirm.

After you confirm your new default link it will be visible when you return to the default links page as you can see at the bottom of the image below under Your Default Links:

CommentLuv Anchor Text Links

Now that I have that post entered as a default link it will appear as one of my CommentLuv post choices as you can see below:

Local Search Directory Listings

Your default links appear below your last ten posts. If you have read this far I hope you will stay with me. There are at least three reasons selecting your own anchor text and landing page are important to you:

  1. You can save time by using that link instead of typing links in manually. That post is one I often recommend in comment replies so now I can just click the link instead of typing in <a href= “http://GrowMap.com/local-search-directories”>Local Search Directories</a> [This is the correct html format to manually add links in blog comments and on Web sites except for the extra space between href= and "http:// that I included so you could see how links are manually created and how much typing (or finding, copying and pasting) is required. Forums usually use a different format.]
  2. Anyone reading your comments including the bloggers you regularly interact with will instantly know what is most important to you. The more we know about each other the more we can recommend and link to each other.
  3. If you consistently build links using your default link anchor text that specific post or page will start moving up in the search engines. This is the number one way to get your site onto the first page of the search engine results.

Since most Internet users only look at the first page, only the Web sites listed on that first page get visitors.

How well will this work for you? Here is an example. Although I just added that phrase as a default link I have been leaving comments with the link added manually for some time.

If you search for the phrase “Local Search Directory Listings” in quotes my post is first at Google as shown in the screen capture below. If you click on that image you can see the current search results for that search.

[If you do click on the image please do me a favor and click on my link too because Google also uses impressions and clicks to decide who deserves to be on the first page. If many search and none click my post may drop down because Google's algorithm will decide it is not relevant.  Remember that and do not regularly search for your own best keywords or you will hurt your organic listings and end up spending more on any Google AdWords ads you buy!]

Search Results for Local Search Directory Listings

How long it will take to get onto the first page of any search engine depends on how competitive your keyword phrase is and the algorithm of each engine.

Even if you never make it to that coveted first position or even the first page, your CommentLuv default links allow you to share what is most important to you with the owner and readers of all the CommentLuv blogs you frequent.

Comments

  1. B.Traveller
    Twitter:
    says:

    So even though the link is initially hidden (and revealed by clicking on the grey arrow) it still gets indexed by google? I thought the javascript mumbojumbo stopped it from getting indexed.
    .-= B.Traveller´s last blog ..A Secret Flower in Denver’s Cathedral Basilica =-.

  2. Debbie L says:

    What a great feature! I have a post that has just slipped out of the drop downs, but it’s a keyword I really am focusing on.
    .-= Debbie L´s last blog ..Gratitude Walk =-.

  3. Does the comluv overide the blog comment default – I see that on this blog the author link remains no follow however the “last post” appears to be otherwise.
    .-= Pasty Muncher´s last blog ..Does My Bomb Look Big in This And Other Terrorism Joke =-.

  4. Seems like a pretty good idea to me. It’s nice to know someone is thinking outside the box and looking for ways to make their plugin spammerproof!
    .-= San Diego Wedding DJ´s last blog ..The Abbey – San Diego DJ – Downtown Breakfast Rotary Club Fundraiser =-.

  5. Lee
    Twitter:
    says:

    Now this is some helpful shiz Gail. Thanks. I’ve been lax in doing some of these important keyword studies and am going to come back to this for more. You guys Rock!

    Cheers, Lee
    .-= Lee ´s last blog ..Give Me Some Ideas on Why You Might Not Enter A Blog Giveaway =-.

    • Gail
      Twitter:
      says:

      Thanks Lee,

      Andy and I are working to make CommentLuv even better and explain more strategies for benefiting those who use it.

      I’m going to try out my new default link that I used as the example in this post and there is the brand new “DoFollow Enabled” right next to it.

      Doesn’t Andy do great work?
      .-= Gail ´s last blog ..Local Search Directory Listings =-.

  6. Colleen Lane says:

    Excellent. I paid for some credits and will most certainly use this. What would be nice (feature request!) is to be able to link to our root domain. In other words, our blog url structure is domain.com/blog/ and it would be nice to use the default link feature to link to domain.com in addition to domain.com/blog/

    I hope my example is clear enough.
    .-= Colleen Lane´s last blog ..West Pasco Washington Homes For Sale =-.

  7. Kristi
    Twitter:
    says:

    How about the ability to purchase default links for other sites for guest bloggers?

    For example, I write on several sites that are not my own, so even though I have suggested that these sites register for CommentLuv, I can’t really control whether they do or not. And even if they did register, sites like Search Engine Journal and Famous Bloggers both have a lot of posts every week, so if I did a post on Monday, my post would already be off the list by Friday.

    Also, in thinking about people who do guest blogging for my site, I probably wouldn’t buy a default link just for their guest post because I have lots of my own that I would want to do that for. Not that I don’t like my guest bloggers, but hopefully you see my point.

    So would it be possible to buy default links for my favorite guest blog posts on other sites under my account?
    .-= Kristi´s last blog ..How to Sound Like You Know What You’re Blogging About =-.

    • Andy Bailey
      Twitter:
      says:

      That’s a good suggestion, maybe it could be done on a manually moderated link? I could maybe charge more because it would require human intervention to prevent it being abused. (not by you! just those that do that sort of thing)

      • Gail
        Twitter:
        says:

        I like Kristi’s idea and agree that if it requires manual intervention (to keep spammers from abusing it) that you should charge more.

        I am sure many serious bloggers and businesses would be willing to pay for the ability to create anchor text links in any CommentLuv blog. (If they aren’t they simply do not understand the value!!!)

        I am loving using my new default links. I find I use them far more than I feature any of my latest ten posts.
        .-= Gail´s last blog ..Freelancers: How to Get More Freelance Work =-.

  8. Philip
    Twitter:
    says:

    Very useful information. I guess I have always just tried to have keyword rich titles and never though much beyond that. To be honest, I have a hard time finding time to write, much less do extensive SEO and keyword tweaking. This looks like a pretty simple way to improve my links though; at least for ComLuv. Thanks!
    .-= Philip´s last blog ..Review: The Evolution of Dad =-.

  9. Gail – thanks for the great tutorial. I will be buying the credits to do exactly as you commented below. The screenshots were really helpful as well. I didn’t realize until today that I had never even fully filled out my profile here.
    makepapereasy recently posted..Using Barcodes In Printing, A Growing StrategyMy Profile

    • Gail
      Twitter:
      says:

      Hello,

      There is so much to do that is surprising when we have figured out and filled out profiles everywhere. I am glad you found this post useful. Andy and I are continually working to make ComLuv easier to use and more effective.

      These default links are by far my favorite new feature of CommentLuv. I’m sure they will be extremely valuable to more and more bloggers as they become aware of them.
      Gail recently posted..NowRelevant- A search engine that discovers opening nichesMy Profile

  10. Frank Marcel
    Twitter:
    says:

    “do not regularly search for your own best keywords or you will hurt your organic listings” – well, that might be true if you click competitor’s results, right?
    What if I click no results? Will Google spin top 2? top 3? top 10 completely? I’m not sure… =)

    Sorry for changing the subject, but let’s get back to the point: Comluv is wonderful, excellent for Link Building purposes, but only if links are not “nofollowed”.

    So, I just got an excellent anchor text link with this commet, however, it is a nofollowed link, which is quite useless…

    However, you’ve just pointed out a Comluv feature I didn’t know of. Thanks a lot! =)
    Frank Marcel recently posted..Faça Análise de Sites com Google AnalyticsMy Profile

    • Gail
      Twitter:
      says:

      If you’re registered here your URL link would be dofollow (look at mine just above yours or this one) and your CommentLuv link IS dofollow.

      Many supposedly “nofollow” links are followed – if they were really never followed the content on them wouldn’t be in the search engine indexes and it is.

      And if you set up default links you can put your desired anchor text into the CommentLuv featured link. There are other options for obtaining links but not many as easy to use.
      Gail recently posted..Why I Recommend BloggerLuv- CommentLuv- SBCMy Profile

  11. Andy Eaton says:

    Thanks for the guide regarding the anchor text, worked great.
    Andy Eaton recently posted..Running For Weight Loss – What You Absolutely Must Do To Lose Weight!My Profile

  12. Boston says:

    Okay, well I clicked on your image and then clicked on your link in order to pass on the link luv. Congratulations on that number one spot! I appreciate you sharing that example because it at least helps to show us all what is possible. I wanted to ask you a question, however, about your comment where you said not to search for your own best keyword phrases or you will hurt your organic ratings? I didn’t quite understand that. Can you elaborate?

    Also, I don’t quite understand the whole default links thing. Are you saying that what you do is build up a list of links for yourself that you can automatically select when you are leaving a blog post? Perhaps I just need to fiddle around with it in order to figure it out…

    • Gail Gardner
      Twitter:
      says:

      Hi Boston,

      In both organic search engines and pay per click advertising like AdWords, algorithms are used to decide which links appear where in the results. The search engines use Internet user actions to detemine how relevant each search result is for any given search phrase.

      The algorithm (mathematical equation) considers many factors, but one of the most important is whether someone clicks or not. If a listing doesn’t get clicked on it drops down the page and if it does get clicked on it moves up.

      Business owners and bloggers need to understand that personalized search complicates all this. With personalized search, each person is shown DIFFERENT results and the same person may see different results depending on how they’re logged in or what computer they’re using.

      If you search for your keywords and never click on your business, YOUR search results will stop showing you that listing even if it is still being shown to everyone else. Before a business owner panics and thinks they’re dropped out of the results they need to have their search done on a totally different computer where no one has been searching for them.

      Regarding default links, they are an easy way to share the most relevant post or page when you are commenting in blogs that have the CommentLuv plugin installed. When you use them you don’t have to worry about whether you have written a blog post about any specific topic in the last ten posts – you’ll always have the ability to share the links that are most important to you.
      Gail Gardner recently posted..Stop Competing – Start Collaborating!My Profile

  13. Wow, this was something I was looking for. Its an usual problem that you want to include your article link in commentluv, but is missed in top 10. This default link feature will solve my problem. Thanks a lot for this feature. I just love commentluv.
    Great work.
    Rajesh Chaukwale recently posted..Mobile Hack- How to make your two friends call each otherMy Profile

  14. I definitely see how this could help in getting on the first page for one of the keywords that i’ve been trying to move up for about a year now. Very competitive phrase that has users in it that have been doing some of the same things I have to move up.
    Charleston Wedding Photographer recently posted..Carlee Bridal Portrait Middleton PlantationMy Profile

  15. Blog SEO
    Twitter:
    says:

    Very clear tutorial. Thanks for creating this dofollow link tool.
    Blog SEO recently posted..Link Building Strategy Menjadikan Internal Link menjadi Link WheelMy Profile

  16. Suhaib says:

    Great tips. However, all my posts contain keywords in title so I havnt used this till now. However, its awesome information if any of my posts doesnt contain keyword in title.
    Suhaib recently posted..Tips for New RelationshipMy Profile

  17. Wow, thanks a lot, so there is a premium option available to add links right? Nice idea.
    Adam W. Prillis recently posted..Top 10 Kindle Accessories- The Most Popular Accessories for Kindle ListMy Profile

  18. Tamawing says:

    Another thing I have noticed is the fact that for many people, below-average credit is the reaction of circumstances beyond their control. One example is they may be actually saddled with illness so that they have high bills going to collections. It can be due to a occupation loss or even the inability to go to work. Sometimes separation and divorce can truly send the financial situation in a downward direction. Thank you for sharing your notions on this blog site.
    Tamawing recently posted..Lead Generation SoftwareMy Profile

  19. James
    Twitter:
    says:

    Great feature though I’m still getting to grips with how to effectively use this on our website. Hoping it will generate more enquiries and orders for our fulfilment service!

  20. Alisha Ria says:

    Thank you for this detailed tutorial. I’m still coming to grips with commentluv, so it’s really helpful for me :)
    Alisha Ria recently posted..Lose Fat Fast: What Burns Fat?My Profile

  21. Will Playhouse
    Twitter:
    says:

    Hi Gail,
    Thanks for detailing the ways to skin this cat. From all I have had drummed into my head for the last few years is that anchor text is the key. You have emphasized that well.

    Will
    Will Playhouse recently posted..For PreschoolersMy Profile

    • GrowMap
      Twitter:
      says:

      You’re welcome, Will. I’m actually logged into CommentLuv to find out if default links still work now that Andy has a new way of doing CommentLuv. Those who have CommentLuv Premium (CLP) can choose their top 5 posts or pages but I’m not sure whether people who don’t have CLP or who have static sites that don’t include blogs will still be able to do this.

      I’ll need to come back there when I figure that all out and update that post and let you know.
      GrowMap recently posted..For Bloggers Who Hate Comment SpamMy Profile

  22. Mario says:

    Whoa! This actually explained ‘anchor texts’ in the best way possible! Of course, anchoring texts into the post surely helps to get listed on the search engine better!

Trackbacks

  1. [...] Works I covered many of the benefits of registering and how to get your last ten posts and default links to show up so you can choose [...]

  2. [...] CommentLuv default links guide the blog owners and readers who are interested in what you offer to your site. Use the [...]

  3. [...] by and visit their sites. Most are CommentLuv blogs so do say hello and share one of your latest or most important [...]

  4. [...] may drop down because Google's algorithm will decide they are not relevant? I learned that from How to Select Your Own Anchor Text Using Default Links.Looking to share a link to a private site or download with your friends? Check out Amit [...]

  5. [...] How to Select Your Own Anchor Text Using Default Links | CommentLuv. marketing tools    Set Aside Your SEO Ego and Set Reasonable Keyword Goals [...]

  6. [...] your comment (see image below). If you really like this, you can even sign up for a fee and create anchor test links which you need for link building permanently featured in your dropdown. Read how ComLuv increases [...]

Speak Your Mind

*

CommentLuv badge