keyword weight/positioning for backlink text

Should your keywords appear at the beginning/middle/end of link text?

[mymommybiz]

I am wondering if Google places more importance on your backlinks with keywords in a certain position within the linking text?

For example is it better to have "kw kw kw blah blah blah" or "blah blah blah kw kw kw" when asking for links to your site? Or a certain ratio of keywords to non-kw?

I know Google views keywords in your backlink text as important, but I am just not sure whether it makes any sort of difference where those keywords appear in that link text. I have never seen this particular issue discussed before.

[SEO practioner]

Hello mymommybiz and welcome to WW!

I have been incorporating keywords in all backlinks I do, some are in front of the text, some after. To my knowledge, I don't think it makes much difference to Google or the others if they are ahead or before as long as they (the keywords) are there.

What I can tell you, expecially after THIS update, is that keywords are in when placed in inbound links. Pretty much all of the sites I take care of have moved up in PR since saturday and sunday. Google just craves on link text and keywords in them.

I hope this was of help to you.

:-) SEO

[Bradley]

Do what is ultimately best for your end users, not the search engines.

[mymommybiz]

The keywords are actually right on target, and what they would be even if I didn't have an SEO clue (it is an info site only, not commercial) I am doing something with a brandable phrase which will result in some backlinks, and my keywords could go either at the beginning or the end of the phrase.

[annej]

If it sounds natural and makes sense I'd put the keyword first. It seems to me it makes a difference in page titles and may in anchor links as well. OTOH it's not worth making an awkward phrase.