We sell a business product that includes website templates for the purchaser to use for their own business. Currently we include no link to our own website in these templates, as such a link (if visible) would not be in keeping with the customer's business. However I feel we are missing a massive opportunity to create numerous links back to our site. Our website designers have suggested using a hidden link around a <br> tag somewhere in the templates index page. However I have read that there is a risk of SE's penalising for this. We rely heavily on Google Adwords for marketing and cannot risk problems with that account. We also show fairly well in Google's generic results for our major keywords, and do not wish to spoil this, but enhance it. Such a hidden link as described above would not be intended to deceive the SE's, but simply to avoid spoiling the customer's website. The customer would not object to its presence. Any comments/suggestions on the pros or cons of utilising this option? Many thanks MP --
No, Hidden Links are a big NO NO NO in seo and search engines. If you get caught you could get banned. I would steer clear of that thought.
Supplying website templates to your clients that include hidden text links will in fact have them not just in danger of being penalized, but in risk of being completely banned from Google's index; should they get caught, of course. My advice for you would be to include a text link leading back to your site as standard for all your templates; however, allow for clients to buy a 'branding free' version at a slightly higher price. Just my two cents.
Yes that is the way, vbulletin soeftware any many others are using.. I reccomend this too. And hidden links are very very easy to detect by search engines and look very suspisious to them obviously...
If your doing well in results why do something stupid and get banned. I can see your site being banned if you add hidden links to templates.
I'd like to as what phplinkdirectory does, drop your price and ask your buyers to insert a link back to you. Or increase the price to remove the link. Or you can do as many traffic stats monitor providers do, provide some small and free functions which execute on your server, insert the invisible link to the template.
I would suggest you to strictly avoid using hidden links. Instead try and build more natural links to ensure maximum SE benefit.
OK guys thanks - I got that message loud and clear. I won't take the risk. Better safe than sorry. Would have thought that my design/hosting co would know better!
Hey Mikey, unfortunately most hosts are not SEO based like myself. The hosting I provide answers all the questions possible about SEO. If we do not know something we research it extensively to make sure. I would start looking for a SEO based host if I were you.