Anchor text – What is it? How do I create an anchor text link?

Anchor text links are clickable links to a different section of the same page. To create a clickable anchor link. First, you create an anchor in the subheading of your blog post. Second, you create a link to the subheading.

In my post, my beginner’s guide shows you how to link to a section on the same page in the WordPress editor step by step. I also have a video tutorial, if you want to watch that first, click on this clickable anchor link.

OK, let’s get started.

• Step one – Create the anchor
• Step two – Create your link
• How to test your anchor link before publishing
• How to create an anchor link video tutorial
• Conclusion
• Frequently asked questions

Step one – Create the anchor

First, select the subheading that you want to link to. I create a table of contents list at the top of my posts. I will show you how I create anchor lists for this post.

You can see above, that I have a subheading. ‘Step one -Create the anchor’.

That heading is going to be my first anchor.

I highlight the text.

Like this.

On the right of the screenshot above, you will see a drop-down box labeled ‘Advanced’. Click on that.

Like this.

To create your anchor, copy and paste your subheading text into the ‘HTML Anchor’ box.

Like this.

Step two – Create your link

After your anchor is set. Then you can create the clickable link.

I have a table of content lists at the top of my posts. I will create a link to this anchor in my content list.

First, I need to start a list block. To do that I click on the plus symbol in a circle at the top of this edit post screen.

Like this.

I use the list block a lot so it is showing up in my most used list.

If you want to start a ‘List’ block but don’t see it. Type ‘list’ into the search box at the top.

Once I click on list, I get this block on my page.

My first sub-heading will be my first link.

In my list, I type my heading. Once I finishing typing, I highlight all the text and click on the ‘link’ symbol in the toolbar.

Like this.

In the box that appears after clicking on the link symbol, first, type the ‘#’ symbol, and then copy the text from the ‘HTML anchor’ box in the ‘advanced’ drop-down box on the right, and paste that text after the # in our link box.

Like this.

I always copy the text from the ‘HTML Anchor’ box and paste it into the link box so that I don’t have any typing errors.

Don’t forget you need the ‘#’ symbol before the text. If you don’t have this the link will not work.

When you have pasted the text into the box. Click on the arrow symbol to the right of the text you just pasted to activate your new link.

Once you click on the arrow, your anchor link will be ready. The anchor link will turn blue to show that it is now a link.

Like this.

How to test your anchor link before publishing

When I first started creating anchor links I was worried that I hadn’t done it correctly and the link wouldn’t work.

To test your link works. Click on ‘Save Draft’ on the top right. Once it finishes saving, click on ‘Preview’.

Here is a preview of my blog post. You can see the orange anchor links.

To test your links work. Click on each one of them to make sure you go to the correct place on your page.

I have just checked my links in this post. They all work fine.

How to create an anchor link video tutorial

Conclusion

I think it is important to have good navigation in your blog. You want your visitors to get to the place they want to read with ease.

In long blog posts, having anchor text links will help your visitors find what they need quickly.

Not all your visitors are looking for the same thing so I like having my sub-headings as a list with anchor links near the top of my post.

My visitor can then decide what part of the post they want to start with.

Creating anchor text links may look at bit hard at first, but once you do it a couple of times it isn’t that difficult.

Don’t forget to keep your posts organized. If you need help setting up categories and menus in WordPress. Be sure to check out my ‘How to set up menus in WordPress‘ post.

I also have a YouTube channel of tutorials about WordPress, SEO, and the Amazon affiliate program.

Frequently asked questions

How do I link to a specific part of a page in WordPress?

To link to a specific part of the same page in WordPress, you need to create an anchor link.

My post above is a step by step guide how you can create an anchor link when using WordPress Gutenberg editor.

How do anchor links work?

Anchor links work in the same way as internal or external links. Once you click on the link you get taken to somewhere else.

Anchor links are for directing your visitors to somewhere on the same page.

For example, I like to have a list of my sub-headings at the top of my posts so that my readers can decide what part of the post they want to read first.

Once my reader clicks on my anchor links in my contents list, they go to the sub-heading of that link.

What is a jump to link?

Jump to links are anchor links. Some people call them jump links, some call them anchor links.

These links allow your readers to jump to a different part of your post without having to scroll down.

Comments

Do you use anchor links in your blog posts?

Did you know you could create anchor lists in WordPress?

I look forward to reading your comments.

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