Anchor Text?

[phyc]

Is it true that G does not like it when it sees the same anchor text for all of the reciprocating links to a site? Since, this is an obvious sign of SEO. If this is true is it best to have different anchor text but at the same time similar anchor text for each reciprocating link.

Targeted Key Word: “widgets”

ex1: "widgets" "widgets" "widgets" "widgets" "widgets"
or
ex2: "widgets" "widgets and gidgets" "we sell widgets" "cheap widgets"

[PhilC]

Since the Florida update began, it has become very difficult to know what Google finds acceptable. I've just been researching a #2 listing where none of the anchor text that point to the site from other sites, and from within the site, includes the 3-word searchterm. Almost all of them have one of the words in the text though - the same word throughout.

Florida turned Google seo on it head and, until it's all been understood, it is best to avoid high optimization with anchor text.

[I, Brian]

Personally I would advise variety for anchor text wherever possible.

For one, yes, it would be easy for an algo change to wipe them out. The recent Florida update at Google has taught us to be cautious.

However, another reason is that anchor isn't just for search engines, but also human users. A lesson to myself was when targetting human users I tripped what is still my biggest single referrer in the SERPs for my comparative-religion site.