Free tool which includes a link back to my site

[Wardy]

On one of my sites I provide a free tool to other webmasters to use that allows them to copy some code to use the free tool on their website and under the tool on it says "Powered by: mysite.co.uk" with a link to "mysite.co.uk".

Now I have no real control over which sites can come and use this free tool (a tool to test how fast an internet connection is), on the whole though it is aimed at a specific niche but a range of sites do use it which means good or crap sites can pick up the free code to place into their sites.

The link to mysite.co.uk is now always mysite.co.uk as the anchor text, I used to use the websites name (which is the actual name of the URL - link to site at end of post) so the links were keyword rich but only to my sites genuine name, however I now just leave it as the URL to my site.

I am not aiming to do anything untowards with the linking other than to get the acknowledgement that it was provided for free by my site, however I'm wondering if google etc will be able to tell they are natural and not dodgy?

My site is: http://bit.ly/MsNQwS (n.b. a new improved test is being created before anyone says it's not accurate).

[Chris.Menke]

Wardy,

Technically that qualifies as a link scheme according to Google.  The thing is, they're not exactly editorial, are they and they might not even provide that much algorithmic value to you now or in the future.  John Mueller says this: 

“If you are providing really useful widgets and you’re linking back to your website in a way that’s clear to the webmaster and maybe in a way that the webmaster can choose whether or not they want to link there then that’s something that might be a great service to those webmasters and might provide value on other websites and those webmasters may be happy enough that they say, ‘Oh this is a great service. I want to tell my friends about this great service that they are providing."

If you want to be clear that you're not attempting to manipulate rankings by adding your link (anchor text or not) you should just go ahead and nofollow it.

[RobertFisher]

Wardy,

Kudos on utilizing a tool like this for links.

A while back Matt Cutts talked about Google starting to devalue links from infographics. Whether or not they have followed through is anyone's guess. The reasoning (and I paraphrase) was that they felt too often they were being used by people without knowing they were a link back to a site and the infographic was not really a "vote" for content on the site. So, let's assume that Google would look at your tool and see it much the same way (And I think that is worst case scenario); I do not think they would look at some "negative" links from spammy webmasters/sites in a vacuum. IMO they would look at the overall link profile and, based on what you are saying, you should have a "natural" mix of links for this. As to the anchor text in the imbed, I think I would mention the tool and not use your domain. Something like, SiteName's Test Your Broadband Tool, would seem appropriate. The url for the link can be your site's homepage or other.

Hope this helps a bit,

Robert

[RobertFisher]

Chris,

I was responding before yours had posted and I am not sure this would qualify as a scheme or as an attempt to manipulate rankings. I think it falls more in the area of someone who has developed a Plugin for, say WordPress. Yes, he is wanting links, but if he is clear (and remember these are webmasters) that it links back to his site, I think it really falls in that area of are all infographics of value? IMO, if I went to the trouble to put an infographic on cats without hair on my marketing firm site, I must have thought it provided something (Whether or not John and Matt agree ;).

But, I have to say, one could argue either way.

Best

[CommT]

Hello Wardy,

If you are really concerned, you should make the links nofollow. However, I think Robert has got this answered for you!

Best of luck,

Amelia

[ClaudioHeilborn]

Definitely agree with Robert, I find no concern on a do follow link and I also would go for a long tail alt text, telling what the tool is useful for.

Good luck and anyway you can make a try and look for your own experience which by the way we would love to hear about when you achieve some conclusions.

Cheers, today no sunny day even in southern spain... :(!

[Chris.Menke]

Understood.  I guess I just wanted to say that with so many of those tools out there, it will take quite an effort to get the tool into widespread use and that doing so just for to obtain followed links of that sort may not be worth the effort.

[Wardy]

Hi Robert, thanks for the great reply and sorry it's taken me a while to respond, I was having problems with moz.com last week after I'd posted my question with the site not allowing me to reply despite being logged in.

Anyway, I will perhaps add that webmasters can no follow the link if they wish in the information for the tool and also change the anchor text too then.
With regards to the link will it not look spammy if I use my sites name and then a description of what the tool is considering my sites name is what the tool does?
For example: "BroadbandSpeedTest.co.uk speed test tool" as an anchor text do you think is OK?

Thanks for the reply again, very much appreciated!

[ClaudioHeilborn]

Hi again Wardy,

In my opinion your url and anchor (url BroadbandSpeedTest.co.uk and "speed test tool" as an anchor text) are natural enough not to bring any problems. Do not forget to tell us how it worked!

Cheers

[Wardy]

Hi Claudio, I presume you mean to use the following as my full anchor text : "BroadbandSpeedTest.co.uk speed test tool" rather than just "speed test tool"?

I'll be sure to keep track and respond back when I have any useful data etc.

[ClaudioHeilborn]

Hi Wardy, probably I was not clear enough, sorry!

Y suscribe to your original proposal, "speed test tool" as a correct anchor,

Good luck!