April 18th, 2009
by Lorrie Thomas
When an organization pays a design/development firm to build a website, that does not necessarily entitle that firm to have a link on your website to theirs. I am referring to those little links that live in the footer of a website that read something like site designed by XYZ firm.
Links back to a web design firm off your site provide them with free marketing and the more links they have back to their site also supports their search engine optimization efforts.
I have a hard time being ok with paying firms to do work then giving them free ad space/SEO for the life of your website…I usually nix this link and only release the “ok” to add the link when the site is done and if the firm/designer/developer EARNED the link by doing a great job and being a pleasure to work with.
If you allow your web designer to have a link back to their site, it has to be YOUR CHOICE.
I made a personal and professional choice to have SiteGoals (the firm who built Web Marketing Therapy) have their link in the footer of our website because:
1. They are a pleasure to partner with and I love to boast that they built our site (it was a great collaboration)
2. The link is subtle and does not compete with my content
3. They promote me on their Austin Website Design site, so they pay it back to us 
I refer their great work and their approach to work is identical to ours. They partner with companies and offer value and solutions, just like we do. I’m happy to tell everyone who built our site!
Kate McMillan, our Web Design Wonkette, asks up front about adding links to her personal design website when she contracts for web design, so know to watch for these terms in contracts and if this is not in the contract, you don’t have to have the designer’s website link on yours.
Your website is YOUR WEBSITE. Don’t forget that!
Web Marketing Therapy Related Links:
- One site fits all?
- Designing Solutions
- Top 10 Ways to Make Money from Your Site
- Web Marketing Therapy - Is Your Site Working for You?
