Forum Moderators: martinibuster
Q.1. Do you guys just link out to other sites without permision?
(This is regarding outbound linking for higher pr on pages.)
(>>regarding brett's article on seo of a site and outbound linking for the future.)
I'd like some advice on linking.
Q.2. Is it ok to just link out to a site without their permision just as a link to a site with more info on the subject?
Q.3. And also some sites don't want others linking to them. What could happen if they don't want you to link to them and you do link to them not knowing this? Possibly court, or filing suit against someone?
>What do you guys do for outbound links...just link without asking?
Here's an example link:
Article: Widgets.
blah...blah...blah...Other sites offer info on widgets.
Here's a link with some info...
<a href="xyz.com/xyz.html">xyz</a>
>Is this above text in the paragraph and the link a ok way to link?
Well...Thanks for your input guys:)
frenzy77
Its better if you seek permission before linking.
Though, the sites you want to link with will have their guidelines as to how to proceed with the same.
Thanks
Sarika
Its better if you seek permission before linking
I don't agree at all.
Link because the target is useful and relevant to your users. It really is not your business to follow anyone's guidelines about how to do it, such guidelines are little more than wishful thinking.
If someone has a page publically on the Internet it is available to be linked to and no permission is required, provided there are no legal issues with the article from which you link - it's not defamatory or libellous or something like that.
Link to the best sites you can find, in moderation, and I'd say AOK. -Larry
Go ahead and ask permission by all means! But not so much for the permission itself.
98% of webmasters will say Yes! (unless they are a bit goofy or paranoid)
What this does is advise the sites you benefit that you did so.
They might not notice this for months or years otherwise.
The possible benefit to you is that they might link back.
If somebody says "no", respect their wishes.
Maybe they want to dye their beards entirely green,
and hold so large a fan that they cannot be seen. -Larry
Linky linky away!
>>>And also some sites don't want others linking to them
Ok, I'll bite. Send me a sticky of sites who tell you not to link to them. I've only ever seen one in the years and years I've been doing this. I'm interested in knowing if there are more.
>>>Its better if you seek permission before linking
Totally disagree. Mega portals don't do this. Big directories don't do this. Huge information sites don't do this. If they find a site worth linking to, they do. And I'd bet 99.6% of the time, the webmasters being linked to are fine with it. What some may not want are scraper site links - but people making those aren't likely to care about link etiquette in regards to them anyway. ;) So, link away.
You'll spend way less time removing an oddballwhoiscomplaining's link after the fact then you will requesting permission first from every other site in the world.
But thanks for your info:)
Q.1. One last thing, can you be filed suit against if they complain? Or will they just ask you to remove the link?
Also thanks to everyone who responded:)
I appreciate your input.
frenzy77
<SNIP>
...so I cant post their link here ;)
[edited by: martinibuster at 4:30 pm (utc) on Sep. 1, 2005]
[edit reason] PLEASE DON'T REFERENCE SPECIFIC SITES. [/edit]
just link away, anyone with half a brain will appreciate the link.
Exactly, anyone with half a brain would. I've had all sorts of problems.
- one firm's solicitors sent me a letter through the post stating that if I didn't remove their trademarked name from my site they would begin court proceedings.
- another firm said that they would only "allow" me to link to them as long as I didn't link to any of their competitors from the same page.
- I used someone's logo to link to them once (as they have a very recognisable logo and loads more people would click on it if I used the logo instead of text) and they complained that I was using their logo without their permission.
and so on. It seems as though the legal departments of these firms aren't as "internet savvy" as the businesses their supposed to be protecting.
Maybe its just the opposite. These lawyers are keeping themselves busy (and paid) by 'protecting' the interests of the naive business owners..
Q.3. And also some sites don't want others linking to them. What could happen if they don't want you to link to them and you do link to them not knowing this? Possibly court, or filing suit against someone?
In all the 8 years I've been working on websites, I've only ever had one webmaster email me and ask me to remove a link.
MJ
That specific example put aside, I would agree that linking to another site can be done without prior approval in 99% of cases.
You can link to whoever you want to on your site, and I'll link to whoever I want on my site. Plus, I'll say whatever I want to about that other site (as long as it is not libelous and does not tread into copyright infringement areas).
If anyone knows of any sites that really put some effort into stopping others from linking to them, please let me know. I ain't scared. I would actually love to be sued over something like this. Think about how many links I could get from newspapers alone!
Disclaimer: The laws may be different in China or BFE, wherever you are from. The freedom of the press and the freedom of speech are protected where I am (well, where I am most of the time).
I'll pay $50 to anyone who can give me a site that will sue me for linking to them, payable after the suit is filed.
