Is offering a valuable tool for a link still ok?

[GYMSN]

We've created a tool for our website visitors that I believe is quite useful and one of a kind.  While we'll never make any money off the tool, and I'm in the type of industry where webmasters don't link out, I think our visitors will find it useful.

My question is, to monetize this the only way would be to give it to other webmasters (it's worth 10k) whereas they would have to link to our tool via the same page they post it on.  By monetizing I mean boosting that page in rankings and having it rank for a related popular keyword.  I'm assuming it would be a sitewide linked page from other webmasters because of the usefulness.

Is this method of getting links a no-no these days?  I'm thinking with Penguin we would have to highly monitor who we gave the tool out to...

Any thoughts?  thanks..

[loopyal]

Who can tell what is ok this week? You may find it best to ask, rather than require. You could also do it by email or phone, as you are being selective. And it is probably best that you don't ask for a single consistent link text.

One thing you could try is providing a help page on your site, that they would link to. Again, don't define the linking text.

[GYMSN]

I agree, it's basically impossible to figure out what the hell to do anymore.  Sometimes I just want to do nothing.

I completely agree with hand selecting and making sure they use the most random anchor text possible.  Ironically most would probably naturally use what google would consider over optimized keywords because it's not "in post / in content" links.

My theory is that its the same as someone linking to your site via an article.  You're providing a source of information therefore should be credited for it.  Now, if we only knew if the algos were set to think the same way...

[loopyal]

Another option for you, with a high quality business and site, is a newspaper story. Contact me by Private message if you think that will work and I will interview you for a story.