Are web design companies being crushed ??

kurgan warrior · 9-10-06, 02:29 AM

I've read repeatedly that links from non related sites don't help and/or may hurt your rankings.

So what about web design companies who add a link at the bottom of their clients sites "Powered by such and such" or "Designed by such and such"

Web design companies often design non related sites, is that little link at the bottom of their customers non web design related site crushing their own ranking?

I'm asking because I don't see many highly ranked web design companies in searches.

If a web design company has created 5,000 sites and placed their link on each (or go forbid on the overall footer of the forums where there may be several thousand pages per site) have they signed their doom ??

Does anyone have experience with a web design company and this issue ??

tacimala · 9-10-06, 09:53 AM

In my cases, I haven't even paid attention to anything like that in the past. The anchor link that I use at the bottom of the page is only my company name, which of course I rank well for. I don't think designers do that to boost rankings, but to let other users know that if they like the site they are viewing, here is the place to get it. I do believe that it attributed to my site getting a PageRank of 5 fairly quickly, however.

This is just me, but I'm sure some designers have used this method for a flotation device.

kurgan warrior · 9-10-06, 01:10 PM

I'm not so much wanting to know if it helps actually raise PR rank, it really is just to let people know who built the site and give them a link to the design company in case they need work done too.

My question is , are the design sites being hurt by those links since the sites they create aren't related to their design site. Like I said, you'd expect design companies to rank really highly but they dont. It would not be worth placing such links if doing so knocked the site down in search engine results. A lot of customers do search engine searches for web design companies.

Should web design companies worry about the links they placed on the possibly hundreds of sites they've created ? Not seeing any prominent web design companies ranking highly might suggest yes.

keithl · 9-12-06, 10:09 AM

IMO, Web design companies spend a great deal of time on the look and feel (and mostly Flash) components of their sites, and not as much time on the true content.

Adding more content, even possibly a couple of HTML-based white papers/case studies about your company, what it did to solve a problem and how you worked with your client will go a long way to helping your ranks.

Make sure, however, that you do it right: put content that matters to your customers in their decision to use your firm over another. Make sure you point out the real benefit in selecting your firm/studio.

php-junkie · 9-12-06, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kurgan warrior

I'm not so much wanting to know if it helps actually raise PR rank, it really is just to let people know who built the site and give them a link to the design company in case they need work done too.

I know Google states that in their guides but I really don't think they actually rank pages based on it otherwise submitting your website to directories would be pointless.

PR rank? That is a bit redundant since PR stands for PageRank. That would be like saying RPG games. Redundant because the G in RPG is for games. Same thing with NIC Card, Network Interface Card, The C stands for card. Redundant.

kurgan warrior · 9-15-06, 05:46 PM

Php Junkie, I couldn't help but notice the UO banner in your sig.

I played UO in my spare time almost since release, through the dread days up until trammel allowed housing and Luna killed the game. (IMO)

Its nice to see that the game is still alive.

I realise PR rank is redundant but PR still stands for public relations to me. Google hasn't taken that one over in my books just yet. "Page Rank" ranking system is how they describe it too. We can meet up in fel somewhere if you wanna argue! lol.

My concern remains. Should a web side designer avoid placing links on sites he creates if the site is not related. If the web site designer needs to rely on search engines for business adding linkbacks on non web design related sites may hurt his business.

Not being able to find any top ranked web design companies that show linkbacks in their portfolio of designs is what is making me ask.

**Croc Hunter** · 9-16-06, 10:53 AM

As a webmaster I will tell you point blank: No.
A (meaning one) recipricol link is better than no link.

9-10-06, 02:29 AM	#1
kurgan warrior Registered Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: CA Posts: 22 Reputation: 0	Are web design companies being crushed ?? I've read repeatedly that links from non related sites don't help and/or may hurt your rankings. So what about web design companies who add a link at the bottom of their clients sites "Powered by such and such" or "Designed by such and such" Web design companies often design non related sites, is that little link at the bottom of their customers non web design related site crushing their own ranking? I'm asking because I don't see many highly ranked web design companies in searches. If a web design company has created 5,000 sites and placed their link on each (or go forbid on the overall footer of the forums where there may be several thousand pages per site) have they signed their doom ?? Does anyone have experience with a web design company and this issue ??

9-10-06, 09:53 AM	#2
tacimala SEO For Hire! Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 694 Reputation: 61	In my cases, I haven't even paid attention to anything like that in the past. The anchor link that I use at the bottom of the page is only my company name, which of course I rank well for. I don't think designers do that to boost rankings, but to let other users know that if they like the site they are viewing, here is the place to get it. I do believe that it attributed to my site getting a PageRank of 5 fairly quickly, however. This is just me, but I'm sure some designers have used this method for a flotation device. __________________ SEO for Hire - Kalamazoo Business Directory

9-16-06, 10:53 AM	#7
Croc Hunter Mod.. with bite.. Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Australia Posts: 7,295 Reputation: 442	As a webmaster I will tell you point blank: No. A (meaning one) recipricol link is better than no link. __________________ Croc Hunter MSC :

9-10-06, 01:10 PM	#3
kurgan warrior Registered Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: CA Posts: 22 Reputation: 0	I'm not so much wanting to know if it helps actually raise PR rank, it really is just to let people know who built the site and give them a link to the design company in case they need work done too. My question is , are the design sites being hurt by those links since the sites they create aren't related to their design site. Like I said, you'd expect design companies to rank really highly but they dont. It would not be worth placing such links if doing so knocked the site down in search engine results. A lot of customers do search engine searches for web design companies. Should web design companies worry about the links they placed on the possibly hundreds of sites they've created ? Not seeing any prominent web design companies ranking highly might suggest yes.

9-12-06, 10:09 AM	#4
keithl Registered Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Burlington Posts: 922 Reputation: 110	IMO, Web design companies spend a great deal of time on the look and feel (and mostly Flash) components of their sites, and not as much time on the true content. Adding more content, even possibly a couple of HTML-based white papers/case studies about your company, what it did to solve a problem and how you worked with your client will go a long way to helping your ranks. Make sure, however, that you do it right: put content that matters to your customers in their decision to use your firm over another. Make sure you point out the real benefit in selecting your firm/studio.

9-15-06, 05:46 PM	#6
kurgan warrior Registered Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: CA Posts: 22 Reputation: 0	Php Junkie, I couldn't help but notice the UO banner in your sig. I played UO in my spare time almost since release, through the dread days up until trammel allowed housing and Luna killed the game. (IMO) Its nice to see that the game is still alive. I realise PR rank is redundant but PR still stands for public relations to me. Google hasn't taken that one over in my books just yet. "Page Rank" ranking system is how they describe it too. We can meet up in fel somewhere if you wanna argue! lol. My concern remains. Should a web side designer avoid placing links on sites he creates if the site is not related. If the web site designer needs to rely on search engines for business adding linkbacks on non web design related sites may hurt his business. Not being able to find any top ranked web design companies that show linkbacks in their portfolio of designs is what is making me ask.