Technical SEOPublished02.05.2026

Naked URL / Generic Anchor Link

A link without commercial anchor text: a raw URL or generic word ('here', 'more'). The foundation of a natural backlink profile.

On this page
What Is a Naked URL / Generic Anchor LinkTypes of Non-Keyword AnchorsWhy They Are the Foundation of a Natural ProfileHow to Use Them in SEO
In brief

A naked URL or generic anchor link is a hyperlink where the anchor text is either the URL itself or a neutral generic word such as 'here', 'source', 'page'. Such links make up the bulk of a natural backlink profile and are safe for SEO.

What Is a Naked URL / Generic Anchor Link

Regular internet users rarely write commercial anchors like 'buy iPhone cheap'. They more often paste the full site address (naked URL) or use words like 'here' or 'source'. Such links are called non‑keyword links. They contain no keywords but still pass link equity and signal a natural profile.

HTML
<!-- Example of a naked URL link -->
<a href="https://seohead.tech/glossary">https://seohead.tech/glossary</a>

<!-- Example of a generic anchor link -->
<a href="https://seohead.tech/glossary">here</a>

Types of Non-Keyword Anchors

There are two main types:

  • Naked URL — the anchor is the full site address: `https://example.com/page`. Common in comments, forums, signatures.
  • Generic — neutral words without semantic load: 'here', 'more', 'source', 'this page'.
Non‑keyword links do not contain target keywords, so they cannot trigger the Penguin filter. They are completely safe.

Why They Are the Foundation of a Natural Profile

Google’s algorithms evaluate not only the number of links but also their diversity. In a natural backlink profile, non‑keyword links make up 60–80% (together with branded anchors). Reasons:

  • Real people share links without keywords — they just copy the URL.
  • Forums, Q&A sites, social networks generate mostly naked URLs.
  • Over‑optimisation with exact‑match anchors causes penalties; generic links create a healthy background.

Even with generic links, too high a proportion of commercial anchors can be a problem. Ideal profile: 60–70% generic + branded, 20–30% partial, and 5–10% exact match.

How to Use Them in SEO

  • When buying links, always add 30–50% naked URL or generic anchors to dilute the profile.
  • Use generic anchors for internal linking on utility pages — safe and avoids over‑optimisation.
  • For new sites (first 3–6 months), make 80% of links generic or branded to avoid suspicion.
  • Monitor the share of generic links in Ahrefs or Semrush — if it drops below 40%, review your link building.
TXT
Example of a bad profile: exact match 70%, generic 5%, naked URL 5%, branded 20%
Such a profile will almost certainly trigger Penguin.

Example of a good profile: exact match 8%, partial 15%, branded 35%, generic 25%, naked URL 17%
FAQ

Common questions

Yes, standard HTML links (without rel=nofollow) pass PageRank regardless of anchor text. Naked URLs and generic anchors pass equity just like any other link.
No. A high proportion of generic links is a sign of a natural profile. Problems arise only when they are absent (all links are commercial).
No, unless they are part of paid or trusted schemes. Generic links are safe and don’t need to be hidden from Google.
Yes, that is also a naked URL anchor. Google recognises such formats, though it is recommended to include the full protocol.
Use Ahrefs → Anchors. In the report, all anchors of type 'URL' and 'Generic' are non‑keyword links. Sum their percentages.
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Naked URL / Generic Anchor Link — What is it?