ALT txt of link - how important is it

is the ALT as important as written text

[Aberdeen]

I want to link to some of my other sites using a footer on every page. My other sites are going after the same keyword, and so I dont want to write that keyword as a link, as it will confuse the visitor. So I was thinking a clear gif, with the key word in the ALT . Do these sorts of anchors hold the same amount of importance as normal txt in the anchor?

[rogerd]

Hi, Aberdeen. No, the alt text is not as potent as regular link text. Estimates here seem to range from no effect to a very mild effect. I would still recommend using alt text for any images, for accessibility, user convenience, and the remote possibility of a small SEO benefit.

[johnnydequino]

Personally, I feel the alt text is very helpfully with google. Don't stuff it with keywords, but make it nice and clear with a good description of the keyword(s) you are trying to list.

jd

[Aberdeen]

Well i thought it must have some importance because the ALT of my first picture appears in the description of my site in google, so therefore you would think it would carry some weight in an <A>. But you guys dont seem so sure.

[Marcia]

1.
>>I want to link to some of my other sites using a footer on every page. My other sites are going after the same keyword

2.
>>So I was thinking a clear gif, with the key word in the ALT

>>Do these sorts of anchors hold the same amount of importance as normal txt in the anchor?

Whichever way, and regardless of how much weight is carried, both of these could eventually lead to problems:

1. For excessive cross-linking if the other sites are linking back or to among each other on every page.

2. For using hidden text and invisible gifs.

Either one could get you snitched on as being a spammer.

[Aberdeen]

Cross linking, was my next question. we are building about 8 sites, 3 are established with PR4 and i planned to cross link them all with footers at the bottom of each page using specific key words. If its on every page will that be spamming. How many pages can i get away with? What if i use asp to have say 3 keywords, and each time it randemly chooses one. so the pages look different.

[rogerd]

Aberdeen, there are no hard & fast rules, but it would be best to avoid linking all sites to all the other sites. Some like pyramid or more random structures, and the consensus is that EVERY site should have plenty of external, independent links. The worst case is extensive crosslinking and few outside links.

Also, any links should be visible - invisible links will get you penalized if caught. I missed that part of your strategy on first reading. Go with text links for best results.

[Aberdeen]

Can someone give me an example of how they linked 10 sites together, how how extensive those links should be.

OK i dumped the clear gif link idea

[dirkz]

With 10 sites, I would recommend only one link per page to the page of another site, and only if it's related. It's ok for a green widgets site's page to link to another blue widgets site's page. Never link to another (external) page in some kind of menu which is there on every page.
As alternative, you could also dedicate one site as some kind of directory for the other ones, but don't forget to put content in that one also, and links to other sites as well. I personally haven't tried the last version.

[rogerd]

One key to avoiding penalties is a strong individual presence and external links for each site. I work with a large corporation which has three sites for different purposes. Each site has a large amount of unique content and plenty of external links. These sites do crosslink via menus and have never had a problem. I wouldn't try the same thing with three new, mostly unlinked widget sites, though.

[Aberdeen]

This is interesting, perhaps i should explain the situation a bit better.

We have ten sites all dedicated to the holiday weekends market. BUT 3 are towards the blue weekends market. Blue is very difficult with lots of competition, and the sites are coming at them from different angles. Then we have a 5 sites going for black, pink, red etc.. weekends. Finally we have 2 sites which are like rainbow sites which are going for all weekends, but in a different ways.

We have 3 sites up and running in the blue weekends section, all with a PR 4 .

So my question is what is the best way to link these sites together. Given that all are weekends sites, that should allow us to link on that theme. How many links should on site have to the others?