How do you feel regarding the use of a free theme with footer links in place? do you see it as a small (virtual price) to pay for a decent design? Over the months ive put together 3 of my own wp themes for my own personal use only, for 3 blogs of mine. But i dont mind admitting that i admire others designs more than my own, they have better skills, so i think for a few blogs i will be setting up il probably go for a few free decent designed themes. I think what is better is when the link/s in the footer are kinda neutral, for example maybe a design company or a link related to your niche, but not if its a forex link in the footer and you plan to use the theme for a music site. Cant be too beneficial for the theme designer/sponsored link owner either when its backlinks from an unrelated blog.
For the site you have to link to....: Yes it doesn't help but it doesn't hurt the links that are being sent. On the other hand it might hurt you because you 'appear' to be selling links, though you are actually not. At least that way for sure. However, I strongly believe in Google and think that Google will disregard these links because its a common sense that you are not selling links but someone is buying it from someone else and since you are using the product because of its beauty entirely, you shouldn't be penalized for the footer links.
IMO, there should be only one link at the footer of the blogs that should go to the "Designer's site" like Designed by: abc company It will not hurt your site then and you will not be considered a link seller - I think so.
I agree with glitto, if you want to make your blog look diff than others then go for custom theme, get it designed from someone so you dont have to worry about footer link.
I agree with you both, one link to the designer in the case of a free theme sounds about the best way, and in the case of being different i also agree with getting a custom theme done.
Hope your right on that godsofchaos, im beginning to sway towards using free themes, at least till i improve my skills a bit more. I think il set myself a rule of only using themes which link back to the designer/company, and not themes that have 4 links that have clearly been sold.
As long as it goes to the designer's site then they deserve the link & credit for making the theme. Anyone who removes it sucks. Although if the link was to a dodgy site, I just wouldn't use the theme.
Put a "nofollow" tag on the sponsored links. This way you are keeping the link intact (which is necessary to use the theme) but you aren't passing any juice to those sites.
Same, although I see the reasons for both selling and buying links, I won't use templates like that either - looks kinda tacky imo.
I agree Do you think they would be ok with that? i guess i could mail any designer see if they are happy enough with that. I agree with that too.
I wouldn't say that they suck. I am a big fan of clean, uncluttered designs. When I have to look in the footer and see "Design by: "Whoever" and then "Powered by Wordpress" I hate it. The only thing I have in my footer is the copyright usually, or I might keep the designers link. Its not like I am taking credit for the design, I just think it makes it look bad. And my theme is also customized by me, using things I created. So some parts of my design are not created by the designer, so why give them credit for those too?
Most sponsored themes insist the link stays intact. They generally don't say anything about adding the "nofollow" attribute to them though.
Unless you made the ENTIRE theme, credit the original creator. If you are a big fan of clean, uncluttered designs then make one.
They might told you not to change anything on footer links which also includes adding nofollow attribute. my suggestion is go for custom theme if you do not like to retain links & follow the license.
Most paid themes have an affiliate program. Just change the link to your affiliate code, thereby keeping the link in tact, but grabbing any fees if someone should happen to buy the theme or others from that designer . Most designers encourage this. I have one theme were the designer has stated that it is O.K. to remove the footer link. I have links to my other related stores on all of my sites, so any necessary links (Designer, affiliate, etc) go in the same table so they blend in with the others.