Link uses generic anchor text: what it is, why it matters, and how to fix it
One or more links use generic, non-descriptive anchor text such as "click here", "read more", "learn more", or "here". Generic anchors miss the opportunity to provide keyword-rich context.
Where this fits: internal_links in SEO
Why link uses generic anchor text hurts your rankings
Descriptive anchor text helps search engines understand the topic of the linked page. Generic text like 'click here' provides no topical signal and reduces the SEO value of the internal link. Google specifically recommends using descriptive anchor text that gives users and search engines context about the destination page.
This is a low-severity issue: a polish item. Fix it in batches during scheduled maintenance; the win is cumulative quality, not a step change.
How to fix it
Replace generic anchor text with descriptive text that indicates what the user will find on the linked page. Include relevant keywords naturally in the anchor text.
<!-- Before -->
<a href="/seo-guide/">Click here</a>
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<a href="/seo-guide/">Read our complete SEO guide</a>Frequently asked questions
What does "Link uses generic anchor text" mean?
One or more links use generic, non-descriptive anchor text such as "click here", "read more", "learn more", or "here". Generic anchors miss the opportunity to provide keyword-rich context.
Why does link uses generic anchor text matter for SEO?
Descriptive anchor text helps search engines understand the topic of the linked page. Generic text like 'click here' provides no topical signal and reduces the SEO value of the internal link. Google specifically recommends using descriptive anchor text that gives users and search engines context about the destination page.
How do I fix link uses generic anchor text?
Replace generic anchor text with descriptive text that indicates what the user will find on the linked page. Include relevant keywords naturally in the anchor text.
How serious is this issue?
This is a low-severity issue: a polish item. Fix it in batches during scheduled maintenance; the win is cumulative quality, not a step change. It belongs to the internal_links family of checks.
How do I find every page affected by this on my site?
Run a free Dr Urls audit: it crawls your site, detects link uses generic anchor text on every affected page, shows example URLs, and generates a ready-to-use fix task. Re-scan after fixing to verify the issue is gone.
Does your site have this issue?
A free Dr Urls audit crawls your site, finds every page affected by link uses generic anchor text, and hands you a ready-made fix task.
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