Banners as a backlink?

Does google see this?

[weblamer2]

If i have a banner ad on a website, does google consider this a link to be counted as a backlink, or does google only consider text links?

[steveb]

Banner links show up as backlinks.

[bull]

Use appropriate alt-Text.

[oodlum]

Is there a consensus as to whether the alt text of an image link is as effective as (or the equivalent of) anchor text of a text link?

[ukgimp]

Is there a consensus as to whether the alt text of an image link is as effective as (or the equivalent of) anchor text of a text link?

No way Jose. :) Recent event should guide you to the idea that you need varied links.

[bull]

Is there a consensus as to whether the alt text of an image link is as effective as (or the equivalent of) anchor text of a text link?

Though alt-Text is indexed and shows up in the SERPs if the link is image-only, I don't think it counts as anchor text.

[tribal]

Sure does! Don't think it is ranked much lower than a normal text-link.