Anchor Text: the exact words

keyprase or complex title?

[silverbytes]

The point of this thread is to determine the more effective words in your backlinks.

Let's assume you point you site to the search:

blue widgets

is the best thing to have your icoming links with the exact 2 words keyprase, or those should be included in a more complete sentence:

What text in your anchor is better of these:

blue widgets
blue widgets in yourtown
yourtown blue widgets

other?

What is the importance of starting the anchor text with your keyphrase?
Should we all pointo to get "blue widgets" backlinks or better natural texts in anchors including the keyphrase?

[bufferzone]

To be able to answer this question, you need to analyze the different options to find out two things.

1.Are the search phrases being used and how many searches are being made pr month.
2.How is the competition for the individual search phrases.

When this is done you know what combination you best should concentrate your efforts on. Remember that you can use both or rather all the combinations. Make more the one page. One optimized for “blue widgets”, another optimized for “blue widgets in yourtown” and finally one for yourtown blue widgets” if your analyse shows that they all will yield good traffic and the competition is manageable

[silverbytes]

Thanks, good comment.
However I was talking about what words in that given keyphrase are better.

I did all you say. the people search for "blue widgets".

Now, is it better to get incoming links using the plain text "blue widgets" or phrases? in order to maximize that page exposure.

[your_store]

Now, is it better to get incoming links using the plain text "blue widgets" or phrases? in order to maximize that page exposure.

Well, I'd say ranking and exposure are two different things.

To rank for a search on blue widgets, an exact match in your anchor text is most benificial. But don't take that as a "blue widget maker" link won't help you, just not as much. However, don't go crazy with exact anchor text; because, many are concerned about an "unnatural anchor text" penalty. I haven't encountered it myself, but I'm also not out getting hundreds of identical links.

Now for exposture, you want to get your page in front of as many people as possible. To me this means diversifying the target phrases for your page. With the increased importance of anchor text, it really is simple to get your blue widgets page to rank for "blue widgets for sale" using only incoming links.

Also going after all the permutations of "blue widgets" with anchor text is only going to increase your ranking for the core "blue widgets" search.

[bufferzone]

Also I think it is important that people looking for widgets, even for blue widgets, finds your site well placed no matter what combination (I might use the word permutations) they use. People might try different combinations to se if they have covered all the options. If your site is well placed in all of those searches, chances are that they will choose to visit your site first

[grant]

many are concerned about an "unnatural anchor text" penalty

This kind of penalty will not happen. Webmasters are not held responsible for offsite factors. If they were, malice would ensue.

[neuron]

many are concerned about an "unnatural anchor text" penalty

if, for instance, in my State, for all holders of State-issued drivers licenses the minimum level of acceptable score on a standard eyesight exam is raised, and I lose my drivers license because of my inferior score, does that mean I've been penalized? Did the State just spank me because I was blind?

With all the hubbub about semantic scoring going around, surely some of it stirred up by me, it would be prudent to broaden your overall stance in the topology to provide additional security against probable algorithmic changes.

Also going after all the permutations of "blue widgets" with anchor text is only going to increase your ranking for the core "blue widgets" search.

well said, while broadening your stance in the local semantic topology