Does varying anchor text on different pages make a difference?

using keywords in your clients site credit link

[DXL]

On almost every site I do, I have a credit that appears on the bottom of every single page reading "web design by My Company" with the link inserted into my company name.

When I first realized how much a difference anchor text plays, I went to a few client sites and changed how my site is linked just on their homepages (inserting my link into target keywords), and noticed improved ranking for those keywords. Does it make a difference that I only did that to the homepage (PR5), and not all interior pages? (also PR 5). I'm trying to figure out if it would be better for me to make that change to every single page on a site, and if its wise to make variations on the anchor text from page to page (linking "web design" on the home page, but "custom web development" on the services or about page).

[sugarrae]

IMHO, there is nothing wrong with a little variety. If you have specific services/pages to link to and it is ok with the client, I can't really see why not.

[DXL]

My clients would all be okay with it, not that any of them would ever actually notice such a small variation.

But what if a site has 10 pages, and in the site credits of all 10 pages, a link to my company site is inserted into the keywords "web design." Will that help me in Yahoo and Google for those keywords more than a site that only has that applied to the homepage but not any other pages? I'm trying to determine if I should go back and change how I'm linked in old site credits, if it even matters to Yahoo and Google.

[CainIV]

I wouldn't place a link to my design site from every page on their site.

I would simply place one link from the homepage.

At the homepage, I would change the anchor slightly over time, while trying to still keep your keyword, or a variation of it, in the anchor.

[sugarrae]

I'd also leave it to just the homepage. (My response above was on varying the anchor.) But, I'm not a huge fan of widespread ROS.