free stuff for linkbuilding- good idea?

is a free giveaway like wordpress theme a good method for more backlinks? or do you only receive none related links which debase your website rating?

 

All sorts of giveaways are good for backlinks - you just need to decide if the time and effort put into the giveaway item is worth it.

Your need to consider if your time would be better spent doing something like directory submissions.

 

As long as it is free people will eventually use it if you are doing a good job designing it the best way.

Regards

 

If you look at the PR for most wordpress themes that are widely used they have a high PR so sure it is probably a good idea.

 

Free things are always good linkbait. Templates are one way. You simply include a link in the footer of the template and voila! If it's a nice template, you can also get someone to sponsor it for a few bucks (in other words they get a link in the footer too).

Another way is to write some little program that does something useful for your industry. For example, I wrote a program for karaoke jockeys that will zip mp3 and cdg files together to save hd space. It is available for download from her site, but I also made a pad file for it, and thanks to the pad file, she gets one or two new links a week from software directories that choose to list the program.

Another way to get links is to help people generate code/content for their site. Myspace has several good examples of this. You use some profile generator thing on one site, then paste it into your myspace profile, and they get a link out of the deal.

There are all kinds of ways to get backlinks by giving something away. You just need to figure out what's more valuable: the backlinks or the $$ you could get by selling the resource.

 

Remember when giving stuff away free, that people install onto their own websites - they can always delete your link. Not that everyone will delete the link, but I think your primary purpose for designing templates, is for simply improving the web, or just to show off your designing skills.

 

Any link is a good link

People love free stuff!

 

I agree with Vigor any link is good but much better if your linking to trusted site and has high PR.

 

I agree, but i think its better for you to have links to your site from related websites you will get more credit

 

Just develop niche specific themes. If you want car links develop a car theme.

 

free tools, free technical insight, free word press themes.

There all GREAT ways to build links.

Google recently blogged about it as well on their webmaster forum as a recommended way to build links.

 

As long as someone uses it and does not alter the look and feel. You get a link.

 

thanks for feedback and here is my first free wordpress template

preview: onemillionfeeds.com

download: nichetheme.com/download-manager.php?id=2

two plugins integrated:

coffee2code.com/wp-plugins/
elektroelch.de/blog/2007/01/23/pagebar-v131/