Which is better - text or graphic backlink?

[danaj]

If a site offers to give you your choice of a text or graphic link, which is better in regards to SEO and rank?

Thanks!

[JamaicanFood]

Welcome Danaj,

Based on the threads I have read I think that text links work better. You see back links serve two purposes, drive traffic to your site and/or create a backward link in increasing link popularity. Usually most SEO companies I have interacted with state that text links are actually better, I think a senior member could shed some more light on this.

JF

[martinibuster]

A text link will count as a "vote" and the anchor text will help serve to define your website's relevance for a particular query.

A graphic link contributes a vote, and it is generally held that alt text contributes to defining your website's relevance, but to a lesser extent (this isn't anything that can be said with one hundred percent assurance). I've seen instances where alt text within a site's graphic navigation helped push a site up in the ranks I'm sure there may be others who can testify that they tried it and it didn't help.

[AjiNIMC]

I agree with martinibuster, If I were you I would go for grpahic link , the reason being,

1) Not many agree to give graphic links, and link diversification is a key factor to reduce the risk.

2) Customer wise , graphic links catch more attention

{note:Image without alt text will do that good)

BTW, welcome to the world of S.Engines and WebmasterWorld.com

Enjoy
Aji

[justdave]

In regards to SEO rank, I think a text link is better than a graphic link. For traffic, I would say that graphic links are better. They offer a better presence and are probably more effective.

If you are aiming to increae your results for a certain key word/phrase, text links using that phrase as your anchor text may contribute more than graphic links. Of course, location of the link plays a big part in the effectiveness of the link. Just my two cents.

[martinibuster]

AjiNIMC makes a good point about diversification of links. And justdave makes a great point about the traffic.

Especially for a brand new website waiting for SE traffic, speaking strictly about traffic and not link pop or anything else, graphic links might make more sense than a reciprocal or text link.

[tbear]

Of course, you could ask if they would give you a graphic link with a text link beneath it..... ;)

[AjiNIMC]

Of course, you could ask if they would give you a graphic link with a text link beneath it..... ;)

There you go, thats the best way to handle it :) and many do agree.

[shigamoto]

It depends on how your link directory is built. Some websites has a ton of link logos from other sites and some use text links.

Personally I think text links are better since they give you more freedom to describe what the site is about (the link logos doesn't always do that in a great way).

[AjiNIMC]

one image is equivalent to 1000 words

[avi wilensky]

For off-site SEO, a text link is far better than an image link (for anchor text). If a web site is industry related where you can advertise your products to potential customers, it may be a decision worth evaluating.

avi wilensky

[edited by: martinibuster at 7:49 pm (utc) on Feb. 11, 2005]
[edit reason] Please, no self promo in sigs. [/edit]

[canadasescorts]

I have been doing a lot of banner exchanges recently with other sites, i know arent putting any alt image text on the banners, but they link back to me. Is this still good?

[AjiNIMC]

I have been doing a lot of banner exchanges recently with other sites, i know arent putting any alt image text on the banners, but they link back to me. Is this still good?

Each link is a vote and powers your site(page), each alt tag of an image link powers keywords mentioned in the alt tag.

Use Alt tag always

Aji

[creative craig]

Use Alt tag always

I think that you mean alt attribute ;)

Make sure that the alt text is descriptive to the image and also a keyphrase that you are trying to focus on. Avoid writing sentences and paragraphs as you may dilute the effect of the alt text altogether!

[AjiNIMC]

I am so sorry , thanks for correcting me , yeah I meant alt attribute, you can also use title attribute to image.