Back in the days before Google, online usability folks were all about making user friendly hyperlinks that communicated to the user what the link was about and what to expect when they clicked it. That means, a keyword rich anchor text link that describes the page it is linking to.
I remember early on, folks in that community, being upset with me when I linked the words "click here" or "more here" and so forth and not using keyword rich anchor text to describe it.
Usability advocate, Kim Krause Berg posted in the Cre8asite Forums a rant about this.
She said, "Hypocritical Google Dislikes User Friendly Links."
I've stated before that I don't give a flying cow about whether or not Google thinks a site I link out to is acceptable or not. If I decide to link to a page I like, I'm doing it. If I choose link anchor text that describes where my visitor will land, that is my right. All links are mystery links to people unless it is clearly explained where the link will take them. This is usability 101. Google knows this.
Is Google trying to kill user friendly links because of the manipulation of it by a group of SEOs?
Do they have other choices? Is this what Google is aiming to do?
Forum discussion at Cre8asite Forums.
