Is adding SEO links within Clients Footer good?

[samr217]

With the Google Panda update craving quality, relevant content is it acceptable to place a targeted keyword within other customers websites such as " SEO in ......"

?????

Cheers

[AlanMosley]

I put a link in a the footer of sites i build some times, they would still be of some vallue but not much.

[EGOL]

I think that this is more of a customer relationship question than a search engine question.

Most designers believe that designer links are customary in the footer.  Some people think that a "design by XYZ Marketing" without a link is proper attribution.  In any case such links or attributions should be clearly mentioned in the design contract.

Some webmasters simply don't want links in their footer and the designer should be willing to accept that but charge a little more for the loss of attribution.

Some SEOs think that if they do SEO on a client's site that they are entitled to sitewide links in his footer.  My personal opinion is that the SEO should be doing everything possible to help the client instead of sucking his linkjuice.  SEOs should be able to build their own links.

[AlanMosley]

Yes i agree, Thats why i said somtimes, when i made a site, not SEO, i should of said used to do. if i detected any hint of displeasure i removed them.

If i thought they were of any great use thenn i would still be doing so, but as i host most sites I build on same ip or c-block and in the footer, i dont think there is much tobe gained.

[SteveOllington]

We had a site-wide (I know) in the footer of a huge site which seemed to propel us to P1 of G for a competitive term. Of course I accept that there's more to it than just that but of late I have been wondering how much of the things we stopped seeing value in, still actually hold more value than we think.

[EGOL]

Let's say that you get an attribution link in the footer of a PR7 domain with hundreds of PR6 pages and thousands of PR5 and PR4 pages.  That would probably propel your site forward.  Would you do the design work or the SEO for free if that were the deal ?

[AlanMosley]

I guess that depends on how much work was involved.

[Catalyste]

I always say why not. If the site is relevant, a link is a link even if it's not passing a lot of juice. Those links are easy to put in place and over the time they will help your site.

But don't put them on spammy, irrelevant sites

[EGOL]

Tossing this idea out for discussion....

One way that google detects manipulation is the presence of links that point to entirely unrelated websites - especially if they have optimized anchor text.  A link like that could paint a small target on either site.

Is it worth the small risk?