Empty Anchor Text

This error appears when there are internal links with no anchor text defined. Here's what it means and how to add descriptive text.

What this error means

Anchor text is the visible, clickable part of a link. It's what users read before deciding whether to click, and what Google uses to understand what kind of content that link points to. When a link has no anchor text, it appears empty or invisible, and neither the user nor Google knows where it leads. A link without anchor text isn't a broken link — the destination page may work perfectly. The problem is that nobody knows what it's about before getting there. For Google, a link without context provides far less value than one with descriptive, relevant text. This error usually appears when links are added to images without an alt attribute, when icons or visual elements are used as the only clickable elements without any associated text, or when link text is accidentally left empty while editing content. Fixing it is straightforward and improves both the site's accessibility and the signals Google receives about the structure and content of your pages.

Why having anchor text on links matters

A link without anchor text is a link that isn't doing its job. It doesn't inform, it doesn't guide, and it tells neither Google nor your visitors anything useful. And on a site where every link should be working in your favor, that's leaving value on the table. Fixing it improves accessibility, how your users navigate, and the signals Google receives about your content.

Impact on SEO rankings

Google uses anchor text to understand the context of links and the content they point to. An empty link doesn't provide that information, which reduces the SEO value of that link and can affect the rankings of the destination page.

Impact on user experience

A link without visible text doesn't tell users where they'll end up if they click. That creates distrust and may cause them to avoid the link entirely, losing access to content that could be useful to them.

Negative signals for site quality

Having links without anchor text reflects carelessness in content review. For Google, these kinds of details form part of the overall assessment of your site's technical and editorial quality.

How to fix it step by step

If this error showed up in your audit, here are the steps to leave it behind.

Step 1

Identify which links have empty anchor text

Ruk Audit shows you exactly which links have no anchor text defined and which URLs they point to. Review them before editing anything and prioritize those on the most important pages.

Step 2

Check what's at each link's destination

Before writing the anchor text, visit the destination page and understand what it's about. The anchor text should describe the content it points to — not be generic or made up.

Step 3

Add descriptive anchor text to each link

Write a brief, clear text that explains where the link leads and what users will find when they click. Avoid generic text like "here", "click here", or the full URL as visible text.

Step 4

Verify that all links have visible anchor text

Once the changes are made, check that no link has been left without anchor text. Review both text links and those wrapping images or icons, which are the ones most easily overlooked.

Does your site have this problem?

Audit your website for free and discover if this and other SEO errors are affecting your ranking.

See all the errors we detect