Aug 19 2009

Mind the Keyword-in-Anchor-Text Factor in Breadcrumbs

We have already discussed why adding breadcrumbs is beneficial for both user experience and SEO: they help users to  understand where they are in relation to the rest of the site and provide better interlinking and thus easier crawling.

However what also should be mentioned is that usng your keywords in each and every level of the breadcrumb path may look like you are stuffing your internal anchor tet with keywords.

There is a good thread at WebmasterWorld offering an example of how to mind the usage of your primary keyword in the breadcrumbs.

Thus, using the word “widget” in every link of the breadcrumb, like here:

[Widget] > [Blue Widgets] > fluffy blue fast widget

you repeat the word “widget(s) too often throughout the site and thus risk “cranking the keyword-in-anchor text factor up to a high level

To avoid this situation (that may seem suspicious to Google), it may be wise to use synonyms and other relevant words:

[Widget] – [Blue Internet-tools] – fluffy and fast

What are your thoughts?

32 Responses to “Mind the Keyword-in-Anchor-Text Factor in Breadcrumbs”

  1. Tip: Mind the Keyword-in-Anchor-Text Factor in Breadcrumbs http://dailyseotip.com/mind-the-keyword-in-anchor-text-factor-in-breadcrumbs/327/

  2. Open says:

    Last post Aug 3, “Daily SEO Tips” ?

  3. Rotary Airlock says:

    This is a good point, though from my personal experience so far I have not had a problem with repeating the keyword in the breadcrumb. Still, it’s important to be aware of the possible consequences of something that is seemingly trivial in the perspective of someone who isn’t aware of the effects of keyword stuffing.

  4. Free online quizzes says:

    I think it’s good idea to use synonyms because you can create a better long tail. You can combine a lot of different word, this way you get a lot of visits. On the other way, I think that you can overuse, because you can lose pagerank juice. Perhaps, it doesn’t exist an exact strategy in general, it depends on the competition for every key word or phrase.

    In my opinion,it isn’t easy to change all breadcrumb in comparison with the title page. Therefore, it’s complicate factor to manage.

  5. julio says:

    Sorry, I make a mistake “I think that you can’t overuse because” and “it’s a complicate factor to manage”

  6. Guilherme Marques says:

    I agree with Rotary, it’s usefull to be aware of the consequences, is there someone who could share some bad experience in this case?

    The idea about long tail keywords is great either! But isn’t more important the title page than breadcrumb? I think so!

  7. Andy says:

    As it is dynamically created I have actually never even thought of intentionally putting keywords into a breadcrumb trail.

    I’m not really sure that such attention detail matters in the SEO game.

  8. outdoor furniture says:

    Wouldn’t it be useful to see how many of your competitor’s backlinks contain the keyword your are also targeting so you have some idea of how many links you need to over take them in the results? Well, you can!

  9. Golf packages says:

    I agree with Rotary, it’s use full to be aware of the consequences, is there someone who could share some bad experience in this case?great idea thanks.

  10. R4 says:

    I think it’s good idea to use synonyms because you can create a better long tail. You can combine a lot of different word, this way you get a lot of visits.thanks.

  11. Javs says:

    Thanks for sharing the post. The breadcrumbs are one of the seo techniques which is both user and search engine friendly. By giving the synonyms for the keyword may help us to not to be treated as spam an can boost our rankings. All the seo experts should have note at this factor when they are working on their sites design.

  12. Cheap Motorbike Insurance says:

    Personally I think if the keyword is relevant in the link, you won’t be penalised. I often use my main keyword in the ‘home’ breadcrumb link on my sites, if it’s relevant.

    Look at the site at number one for ‘headphones’ in google.co.uk and tell me if they have a problem with keyword-in-anchor-text factor (I should point out this isn’t one of mine! just highlighting it to make my point)

  13. handbag hook says:

    On-page optimization is important because it deals with on-the-page factors that are critical to the overall efficiency and effectiveness of a website and once these factors are fully optimized, this will contribute to an increase in web visibility and thereby outdoing other less search engine-friendly websites.

  14. refinance home loans says:

    I think that you can overuse, because you can lose pagerank juice. Perhaps, it doesn’t exist an exact strategy in general, it depends on the competition for every key word or phrase.thanks.

  15. Gifts for mum says:

    Breadcrumbs use a single line of text to show a page’s location in the site hierarchy. They are very helpful both for SEO and enhanced usability.thanks.

  16. Landscapers Brisbane says:

    good post By giving the synonyms for the keyword may help us to not to be treated as spam an can boost our rankings.thank you so much.

  17. french bed says:

    good one I often use my main keyword in the ‘home’ breadcrumb link on my sites thanks.

  18. Salon Clearwater says:

    Breadcrumbs is good wordpress tool. I’ll try to put anchor text in this. Thanks.

  19. Health Retreats says:

    As it is dynamically created I have actually never even thought of intentionally putting keywords into a breadcrumb trail.

  20. Chiropractic Care St Petersburg says:

    Good widget of set keyword as anchor text. Thanks for information.

  21. Termites Control says:

    I often use my main keyword in the ‘home’ breadcrumb link on my sites, if it’s relevant.nice post thanks.

  22. Termites Control says:

    You can combine a lot of different word, this way you get a lot of visits. thanks man.

  23. Spanish Classes says:

    I think that as long as it is relevant to the users, it´s ok to use keywords in the breadcrumbs. Like someone said, so far I have not had a problem with repeating the keyword in the breadcrumb.

  24. home equity loan rate says:

    This will contribute to an increase in web visibility and thereby outdoing other less search engine-friendly websites.thanks.

  25. psychic medium says:

    I have actually never even thought of intentionally putting keywords into a breadcrumb trail.thanks for sharing.

  26. cardboard boxes says:

    We have already discussed why adding breadcrumbs is beneficial for both user experience and SEO: they help users to understand where they are in relation to the rest of the site and provide better interlinking and thus easier crawling.

  27. DIY Car Hire Melbourne says:

    Navigation maps (the text-links at the bottom of each page) Nav Maps are a great place to put keyword enriched anchor text. These text-links tend to be found at the bottom of each page in a site. An important note is that these links WILL be used by site visitors and MUST be created and phrased with live-visitors and SE Spiders in mind.

  28. http://www.diycarhire.com.au/car-hire-Sydney.aspx says:

    The INDEX page of a site is the most powerful real estate found that URL. Again, all work on the INDEX page MUST consider live-visitors before SE Spiders. When keyword-enriching text on the INDEX page, there are often ways to link into internal pages. This is a good thing as it pushes spider traffic while associating the keyword (anchor text) with the specific page
    linked to. An important consideration is that the INDEX page often has a higher page rank than internal pages.

  29. Hotels Sydney says:

    IN my point of view This is a good thing as it pushes spider traffic while associating the keyword (anchor text) with the specific page

  30. Hotels Sydney says:

    An important note is that these links WILL be used by site visitors and MUST be created and phrased with live-visitors and SE Spiders in mind.

  31. Jenny Wu says:

    IN my point of view This is a good thing as it pushes spider traffic while associating the keyword (anchor text) with the specific page

  32. Andri says:

    I use breadcrumbs and it makes my blog’s navigation becomes better. The anchor text is good for your internal backlink and keyword density if is relevant to your blog/site.