Better to redirect domain or to link from home page?

[Demosthenes]

Hi,

I have a niche directory and sometimes clients remove themselves because they have discontinued their business practice.

If they sometimes provide me with their own website (as they will no longer use it either), is it wiser for me to:

a) directly point their URL 301 to my own directory

b) keep their website as is, and add a url link to my directory in their homepage

c) keep their website as is, and add an anchored link with the industry keyword to my directory

Thanks!

D

[akorff]

I wouldn't do choice (a) because that isn't a natural redirect.   With these sort of decisions, I always look at what's realistically occuring because ranking algorithms will eventually get smart enough, if they are not already there.  The fact is that the client's depricated website isn't, in reality, being replaced by your entire directory.

Unique domain-based back-links are important for SEO, so I would definitely keep the site up if there isn't a lot of cost associated with it.   I think option (c) would be better.  Given various options, a key word anchor to your base domain is hard to beat.

[Demosthenes]

Aaron,

Since there isn't cost beyond yearly domain pay to keep it up, I will go with option C.

Thanks for your explanation and recommendation!