Insights

What is an anchor?

An anchor is a type of HTML coding you can use to create a link from one section of your copy to another. It’s also known as a jump link. Your users can click and jump to a specific part of your content without having to read all the copy on that page.

Let’s try it out right now.

Take me to the bottom of this page!

You see? That’s pretty handy, especially when users are looking for specific information. It takes them to the section that applies mostly to them. And the beauty of that is when they find what they are looking for quickly, they will more than likely stay on your site and read more from you. They will view your content as valuable and useful because you’ve made it easy for them to find what they were searching for.

The question now is how do you add anchors to your text?

How to add anchor links to your copy

The way to add anchors in your copy will vary depending on the platform you use. If you use WordPress, the way to add anchor links will be slightly different to a Squarespace user. So a little research is needed.

But in most cases, it's super simple. All it takes is a bit of code, and you are well on your way to keeping your audience on your website for longer. And most CMS platforms make it easy for you to add anchor links, only taking you a couple of minutes max to do so.

Need some more help with this? Our partners at Semrush have got you covered.

When to use them

Knowing that they boost engagement and work well for the user can make business owners feel like they need to use them everywhere. But the key here is not to get too trigger-happy.

Anchor links work best in…

Blog posts. You can use jump links in your blog posts, especially if it’s long or contains a lot of information. A good way to use them here is to create a table of content at the beginning of your post. This then allows readers to automatically jump to the section that contains the most relevant information for them.

Landing pages. Depending on how long your landing page is, using anchor links can sway potential clients toward your product or service. If your landing page is fairly long, anchor links will guide your readers through to the most important step: the call to action. So when adding anchor links to your sales page, be sure to link them to a motivating CTA to help convert your readers.

Homepage/ website pages. You can also use anchor links on your homepage or other pages across your site. This helps your users to easily navigate through your site without having to search. By adding anchors in this way, you create a smooth-sailing experience that will make a deep impression on the user.

Top tip! Some businesses use anchor links in their email campaigns, but we recommend avoiding that. Not all email service providers support the use of anchors, so using them in an email may affect how the email appears.

What are the benefits of using anchors?

The beauty of anchor links is that they help both the user and you, and here’s how…

• When writing long articles or on web pages where there is a lot of content, anchor links are useful for organising copy, giving the page structure and purpose.

• Anchor links provide a more streamlined user experience, giving your users the ability to jump directly to where they need to go without having to scroll.

• One of the hidden benefits of anchor links is that they contribute to your website’s SEO. They help add weight to your website’s link structure, which then increases the visibility of your site on major search engines such as Google!

Time to let your business set sail

When writing your next blog post or when whipping up some copy for your latest landing page, why not start adding anchor links? Give your target audience a reason to stay on your site by creating a smooth-sailing user experience!

Like a literal anchor that keeps a ship from drifting off, anchor links help stabilise your users, keeping them from drifting away from your website.

Jump back to where I was, please!