Anchor Text in SEO: What It Is, Types and Best Practices

In the constantly changing landscape of SEO, staying ahead of the competition means focusing on more than just keywords and backlinks. A growing emphasis is on building topical authority—a strategy that helps websites become recognised experts in their niche, providing immense value to both search engines and users alike. But what exactly is topical authority, and why is it crucial for SEO success? Let’s delve deeper into this concept and understand how to build it effectively. What is Topical Authority? Topical authority refers to how well a website is trusted to provide comprehensive, expert information on a particular subject or niche. In simple terms, it's about becoming an authority in a specific area by covering it extensively and in-depth. When Google sees that your website consistently offers valuable, well-researched, and complete information about a topic, it begins to consider you a "go-to" source for users looking for information on that subject. For example, if your website specialises in “vegan cooking,” building topical authority means creating a vast amount of content that thoroughly covers every aspect of vegan cooking—recipes, ingredients, benefits, challenges, tips for beginners, and more. By consistently providing high-quality, interconnected content, your site gains authority over time, which translates to higher rankings and increased organic traffic. The Importance of Building Topical Authority 1. Improved Search Engine Rankings Search engines, particularly Google, are constantly working on improving the relevance of the search results they provide to users. With advancements in AI and semantic search, Google now looks beyond individual keywords and assesses the overall context of a website. Websites with topical authority are more likely to be ranked higher because Google recognises them as comprehensive and trustworthy sources. 2. Increased User Trust and Engagement Users are more likely to trust websites that provide in-depth, reliable information on a subject they are researching. If a visitor lands on your website and finds a treasure trove of well-organised content, they are more likely to stay longer, interact with your site, and return in the future. This engagement boosts important metrics like time on page and bounce rate, which further helps with SEO. 3. Higher Relevance in Competitive Niches When you establish topical authority, it helps you stand out even in a highly competitive niche. While it may take longer to build compared to targeting specific keywords, the payoff is that you become a resource that Google and users will continue to trust, giving you a competitive edge. Topical authority is especially important in YMYL (Your Money, Your Life) areas, such as health, finance, and legal content, where credibility is key. 4. Sustainable Long-Term Growth Instead of chasing temporary ranking gains through keyword manipulation or questionable link-building practices, building topical authority provides a long-term, sustainable path to SEO success. Google prioritises user satisfaction, and websites that genuinely offer valuable information are more likely to withstand frequent algorithm changes and updates. How to Build Topical Authority: A Step-by-Step Guide Building topical authority requires a well-planned approach that covers the subject matter thoroughly and strategically. Here's a short guide to help you get started: Step 1: Define Your Niche To become an authority, you need to start with a well-defined niche. Broad topics are difficult to dominate, so focus on a specific segment within your industry. For example, instead of focusing on “fitness,” narrow it down to “strength training for women” or “HIIT workouts for beginners.” This focused approach allows you to provide a complete, detailed collection of resources that users and search engines will appreciate. Step 2: Conduct Comprehensive Topic Research Once your niche is clear, research every aspect of it. Tools like Ahrefs and SEMrush can help you identify content gaps and topics that are underrepresented in your niche. Think of the questions people ask, the pain points they have, and the related topics that can support your main subject. The goal is to create a content plan that leaves no question unanswered. Step 3: Create Pillar Content and Cluster Topics Create a pillar page—a long, comprehensive piece of content that covers your niche in depth. From there, develop cluster topics or subtopics that provide detailed information on specific aspects of the main topic. For example, a pillar page on “strength training for women” could link to subtopics like “best strength training exercises,” “beginner strength training programme,” and “benefits of strength training for women.” This internal linking between pillar and cluster content strengthens the topical connection and helps search engines understand that your website covers the subject comprehensively. Step 4: Use High-Quality Backlinks To further enhance your topical authority, consider acquiring backlinks from other reputable sources in your industry. Platforms like Bubble SEO make it easier to gain access to high-authority guest posting opportunities, which can drive traffic and signal to Google that your site is a trusted resource. Aim for backlinks that are relevant to your niche and are from authoritative domains to boost your credibility. Step 5: Maintain and Update Content Google favours websites that are well-maintained and up-to-date. Continually update existing content to reflect the latest trends, statistics, and developments in your niche. Tools like Google Search Console help identify opportunities to refresh content that may be losing its rank over time. This ensures that your content remains relevant and useful, boosting your authority even further. Tips for Strengthening Topical Authority Answer Users' Questions: Make sure your content addresses real questions and pain points users have. Check forums like Reddit and Quora to see what questions people are asking in your niche. Engage with the Community: Actively participate in your niche community through blog comments, social media, and forums. The more you are seen as a contributor, the more authoritative your website will appear. Utilise Structured Data: Incorporate schema markup to help search engines understand the relationships between different pieces of content on your site. This boosts visibility in search results and helps with rich snippets. In an increasingly competitive digital world, building topical authority is the key to establishing your website as a trusted resource in your niche. By providing comprehensive, in-depth content and strategically creating clusters of supporting topics, you not only improve your visibility in search engine results but also build trust and loyalty with your audience. While high-quality backlinks and content promotion are important components of the strategy, the core of topical authority lies in consistently delivering value to your readers. Start by narrowing down your niche, mapping out a detailed content plan, and continually updating your material. By positioning yourself as an expert voice, you’ll create a sustainable path to SEO success that withstands algorithm changes and fosters lasting relationships with your audience.

Improving your SEO profile through backlinks is a crucial aspect of a successful SEO content strategy. Backlinks are one of the most powerful tools in SEO.

2022's most viewed guest post....

1. Introduction: SEO Isn’t Difficult, but It’s Surprisingly Easy to Get Wrong Most businesses try their best with SEO, but the problem is that the internet is full of “tips” that sound right… yet aren’t. So, people end up following advice that doesn’t help, or worse, makes things harder. The encouraging part?A lot of SEO mistakes aren’t huge disasters. Sometimes you just need to make a small adjustment to see a big difference in your rankings. To help you out, we’ve put together the most common mistakes we see small businesses make, along with simple fixes that work. 2. Mistake #1: Targeting the Wrong Keywords What You Might Be Doing Wrong When you start with SEO, it’s natural to aim for the big, high-volume keywords. It feels logical, more searches should mean more potential traffic, right? Unfortunately, those keywords are usually incredibly competitive, take forever to rank for, and cost more if you’re running ads. Another issue is ignoring search intent. For example: An e-commerce store should be looking at keywords like “buy…” or “…for sale”. Informational sites should focus more on “how to…” or “what is…” * searches. If your content doesn’t match what the searcher wants, Google simply won’t rank it as highly. How to Fix It Long-tail keywords are your friend here. These are longer, more specific phrases like “cheap guest posting packages” or “how to create SEO content for beginners”. They’re easier to rank for, much more targeted, and often have better conversion rates. A few tools that make researching keywords much easier: Google Keyword Planner SEMrush Ahrefs If you need help choosing the right keywords for your site, Bubble has guides and services on keyword strategy you can explore. 3. Mistake #2: Publishing Thin or Low-Value Content What You Might Be Doing Wrong Running a business is hectic, so content often gets pushed to the back burner. When that happens, you might: Post short blogs that don’t really say much Copy competitor articles hoping to replicate their results Rely heavily on unedited AI content Google can tell when content has no real value. And it won’t reward it. How to Fix It Quality content doesn’t have to be fancy; it just needs to be genuinely helpful. Try focusing on: Answering real questions your customers ask Adding examples, data, or personal insights Creating content that people want to bookmark or share Google’s Helpful Content guidance explains exactly what it’s looking for, and it all comes down to relevance and usefulness. If writing isn’t your strongest area, Bubble offers SEO content writing that’s designed to boost your rankings without sounding robotic. 4. Mistake #4: Forgetting About Technical SEO What You Might Be Doing Wrong It’s easy to focus on content and keywords and forget that your website itself needs to function well. Some common issues include: Slow loading pages Huge images that haven’t been compressed Broken internal or external links Pages that don’t work properly on mobile Technical errors stopping Google from crawling the site These problems quietly drag your rankings down. How to Fix It A few small but important steps: Compress images (TinyPNG, Squoosh, anything simple works) Use Google Search Console to check for errors or broken links Test your speed using PageSpeed Insights Keep your plugins and website builder updated 5. Mistake #5: Using the Wrong Types of Backlinks What You Might Be Doing Wrong Backlinks are still a huge part of how Google decides which sites to trust. But not all backlinks are created equal. We often see new businesses: Buying huge batches of cheap links Getting links from unrelated websites Skipping outreach completely Prioritising quantity over quality Bad backlinks can do more harm than good. How to Fix It The number one rule: relevance matters more than anything else. A highly relevant link from a smaller site is far more valuable than a completely irrelevant link from a massive domain. Some ways to get better backlinks: Create helpful resources that people naturally link to Share guides or templates Publish guest posts on niche-related websites Use ethical outreach to get your content seen Bubble specialises in this, our guest posting and link insertion services are built around relevance and quality, not quantity. 6. Mistake #8: Never Updating Your Old Content What You Might Be Doing Wrong There’s a big myth that you should just keep pushing out fresh content and forget about everything else. But older content can still rank extremely well, if you update it. The problem is that people publish blogs and never look at them again. Over time, they collect: Outdated stats Broken links Old screenshots Out-of-date keyword targeting Google notices when content becomes stale. How to Fix It Try giving your content a refresh every 6–12 months. It doesn’t take long and makes a big difference. You can: Update stats and references Replace broken links Add new internal links Improve readability Update your targeting for newer keywords Sometimes updating old content performs better than publishing something brand new. 7. Conclusion: Fix These Small Mistakes and Watch Your SEO Improve People often assume SEO has to be expensive, complicated or time-consuming, but honestly, many improvements come from small, smart changes. If you’ve noticed your rankings dip or you’re just not growing the way you expected, it might simply be time to tweak your strategy or refresh some older content. And if you want hands-on help, whether that’s guest posting, link insertions, SEO-friendly content, you can explore Bubble’s services anytime.

Here are some tips to help you create a blog post that will engage your readers.

With lots of changes in the digital world, ensuring that your content reaches your target audience is equally crucial.

If you work in SEO, you’ll already know how unpredictable the last few years have been. Google keeps tightening its understanding of quality, AI keeps reshaping the search experience, and users are far more selective about the content they trust. Moving into 2026, the direction of travel is becoming clearer. We’re heading towards a search landscape built around authority, clarity and genuinely helpful information. Below is a grounded look at the trends that will have the biggest influence this next year, based on what marketers are already seeing day to day. 1. AI-Assisted Search Isn’t a Side Feature Anymore AI generated summaries and rapid-fire answers are now a normal part of the search journey. For many queries, users get what they need before they ever reach the organic results. That puts pressure on brands to create material that AI systems feel confident referencing. One of the strongest signals you can build is topical authority. Many teams are supporting this by investing in guest posting campaigns that place their expertise in front of wider audiences. When your brand appears on respected sites, AI models and search engines both treat you as more trustworthy. Google has been explaining more about how generative elements in Search are evolving. Its recent overview on how Google uses AI in Search gives a good sense of the direction things are going. 2. E E A T Is Becoming Harder to Fake Google’s focus on expertise, experience, authority and trust keeps getting sharper. It has become much more effective at spotting the difference between lived experience and content that has been pieced together from existing articles. This is why brands are giving older content a fresh review. Adding clearer author input, speaking to specialists and including practical examples go a long way. A structured process such as the BubbleSEO content refresh checklist can help teams update pages in a consistent way. If you want a deeper look at how Google evaluates trust, the Search Quality Evaluator Guidelines remain one of the best sources available. 3. Personalised Search Shapes User Journeys Search results now vary widely from person to person. Google tailors results based on browsing behaviour, location, device type and more. Two people searching the same phrase can see very different sets of pages. This is one reason diverse formats matter. Videos, comparison charts and helpful visuals often earn more clicks than plain text. Backlinko’s analysis of user behaviour patterns, highlighted in their latest SEO research, reinforces the idea that layout and format heavily influence engagement. 4. First Party Data Quietly Becomes a Power Move With third party tracking disappearing and privacy expectations rising, businesses are putting more emphasis on information users choose to share with them. SEO plays an important role because organic visitors tend to arrive with more intent. Guides, templates and practical resources still work incredibly well for building owned audiences. Recent findings from Think with Google show how much value businesses are placing on consent-based data. 5. User Experience and Accessibility Start Carrying More Weight Google is paying closer attention to how easy sites are to use. Core Web Vitals haven’t gone away, but accessibility, layout quality and clarity are getting more emphasis. Brands that simplify their designs and make pages easier to navigate often see improvements. Research from WebAIM’s accessibility analysis shows that many websites still struggle with basic issues. Businesses that fix these problems early tend to perform better because fewer competitors are doing the same. 6. Video and Visual Search Keep Eating Traditional Search YouTube and TikTok have effectively become search engines. Many users prefer short visual explanations over long written guides. Google has responded by pulling more video elements into its main results, especially for commercial queries. Simple visual assets can make a surprising difference. Even a short filmed walkthrough or screen capture can help a page stand out. Reports from Pew Research show a clear rise in video-led search habits, and brands that embrace this shift are seeing stronger engagement. 7. Local Search Zooms Right In Local SEO is becoming more granular every year. Instead of broad city level rankings, results increasingly focus on smaller neighbourhoods, movement patterns and real time local behaviour. Accurate listings, high quality reviews and well structured location pages are now essential. BrightLocal’s ongoing insights, shared in their Local Consumer Review Survey, highlight how much influence precise information now has on visibility. 8. Human Creativity Matters Again With AI generated writing everywhere, the web is starting to feel repetitive. Google understands this, and it’s rewarding content with personality, perspective and originality. Teams that mix AI efficiency with human insight usually get the strongest results. Original research, specialist commentary and real-world examples create a voice that stands out from the noise. Final Thought SEO in 2026 is shifting towards depth and authenticity. Brands that lean into expertise, create genuinely helpful content and invest in solid technical foundations are in a strong position, even as search continues to evolve.

With the changing landscape of online content, one of the most crucial aspects of boosting your visibility is mastering the art of keyword selection.

In the SEO landscape, link building remains a crucial component of achieving higher search engine rankings. One of the most effective strategies for link building is guest posting.

Understanding the Basics of Links Links are one of the cornerstones of SEO and play a crucial role in how well your website ranks in search engines. Whether you’re adding links to your own blog posts or earning backlinks from other websites, the type of link you use can significantly impact your website’s growth. There are two main types of links you’ll encounter: DoFollow and NoFollow. While the difference between them may seem small, it can have a major effect on your SEO strategy. Let’s break it down. What Are DoFollow Links? A DoFollow link is the standard type of link that allows Google (and other search engines) to crawl, index, and transfer SEO authority—often called “link juice.” Unlike NoFollow links, DoFollow links don’t contain any special HTML attributes. For example: <a href="https://www.bubbleseo.com">Bubble SEO</a> When a reputable website links to you with a DoFollow link, Google interprets that as a vote of confidence. The higher the authority of the linking website, the more positive the effect on your own site’s rankings. For example, if a high-authority site like Moz or Ahrefs includes your link in an article, that trust signals to search engines that your content is valuable and credible. What Are NoFollow Links? A NoFollow link tells search engines not to pass authority to the linked website. In HTML, it looks like this: <a href="https://www.bubbleseo.com" rel="nofollow">Bubble SEO</a> While NoFollow links don’t transfer link juice, they are far from useless. They still allow users to click through and visit your site. More importantly, they make your link profile look natural—because not every backlink should be DoFollow. NoFollow links are commonly used for: Paid advertisements Affiliate links Blog comments User-generated content on forums For example, if you post a link on Reddit or Wikipedia, it will almost always be a NoFollow link. Even though it won’t directly boost SEO authority, it can still drive traffic, build brand awareness, and diversify your backlink profile. Why You Need Both DoFollow and NoFollow Links Many people make the mistake of thinking only DoFollow links matter. While they are essential for building domain authority, relying on them alone can make your backlink profile look unnatural. A healthy SEO strategy includes both types of links: DoFollow links: Boost domain authority and rankings. NoFollow links: Drive referral traffic, build authenticity, and signal to Google that your link-building strategy is natural. Google values authenticity. If all your backlinks are DoFollow, it may look suspicious—potentially raising red flags about manipulative link building. A mix of DoFollow and NoFollow links helps protect your site and ensures long-term growth. Conclusion: Building a Balanced Link Profile When building links for your website, always aim for a natural and balanced mix of DoFollow and NoFollow links. Overusing the same anchor text or stuffing too many links into your content can harm your rankings instead of improving them. At the end of the day, both types of links play a vital role in your SEO strategy. DoFollow links help with authority and rankings, while NoFollow links build authenticity and drive valuable referral traffic. If you’d like expert help creating SEO-friendly content and building a strong backlink profile, explore our content writing services at Bubble SEO. Our professional copywriting team is ready to help you grow your business with content that ranks.

Ranking on Google involves a combination of factors, take note on constantly evolving algorithms.

Guest posts are a key tool to help improve your marketing, across many different levels.