What would you do with this opportunity

several sites open to your linking desires

[TomJones]

So, I do a lot of designing for free (anyone else feel the same?). In return for that, I have free use of the pages I create to put a few links in. As long as it is not distracting from the main theme of my clients sites, they are OK with it.

I am currently trying to establish my new site. If you were in my shoes, what would you do? Do I place a link on every page I can, even if that would mean 10 links to my site coming from 10 seperate pages of my clients' site? Are there any dangers in having multiple inbounds from the same site to me or my clients?

I have decided, at this point, to place links to different pages on my site. So, the 10 inbounds hit different pages of my site, each page focusing on a different keyword. Any opinions on this approach?

[chiyo]

the idea is good. the only thing is i would make sure is that you dont have TOO many incoming links from the same site, especially if they are on a good proportion of pages on the incoming site. Peronally i would have a max of 3 links, preferably from a site 100 pages or more. Make sure you have one to three links from a variety of other sites you have designed, and make sure one site does not dominate your spread of incoming site links.

[mil2k]

Having various sources of inbound links is helpful. However I have not seen any site getting penalized for one way links. But if you want to be absolutely cautious then restrict the no. of incoming links to not more than 5 per site.

I have decided, at this point, to place links to different pages on my site. So, the 10 inbounds hit different pages of my site, each page focusing on a different keyword.

Your idea of distributing links to different pages of your site is also very good. IMHO its a very good idea . HTH :)

[fathom]

Since "quality" is more important than "quantity" post a profile page at each location about you, your portfolio, etc.

Link (if possibly) all pages at each location to this profile (also have a link back to their mainpage (say at the bottom) and have this "1" link at each location pointing to you.

Remember that "people rarely go to a shoe website, dog website, or jewellery website, etc., looking for website design (free or otherwise) thus this is not an extra click issue, it's a quality buffer! :)

[rogerd]

Hi, TomJones. I'll add to the chorus of "don't overdo it" recommendations, although I really don't think a footer link on every page would be penalty fodder. (Note that this site links to its web host on every page, and any number of sites have "Web Design by ___" links on every page.) Fathom's idea of creating an internal page on the other sites with strong linkage is an interesting one, and has the appeal of letting you do some credibility building, too, for the occasional surfer who finds it. I've occasionally followed "designed by" links on sites I liked to see what else was in their portfolio, although my visits were out of curiosity as opposed to a desire to buy services.

[TomJones]

Interesting thoughts and ideas, guys. I was worried about overdoing it. Not that concerned about that, anymore. You've given me some interesting ideas. Thanks!