Text linkback vs Image linkback

Do they have the same value?

[Vis3R]

Hello,
I can get image links, linking back to my website from other websites (on-topic content). I know it's going to do only good if the sites are on-topic and good websites, but I'm wondering if there's a big difference between a text link back with a keyword in the anchor text or an image link back with a keyword in alt.

[pshea]

Hi Vis, someone asked this question the other day and still no replies to it. I feel badly this topic has been left alone so here is my turn at bat. There is always a value in getting an on-topic link of any kind to a page on your website. As long as it is a true link, PageRank will pass to your page regardless of the type, image or text. But since search engines use words in a larger proportion for their ability to analyze and deliver results, a text link is going to have more overall value to you every time -- as it relates to the technicals of the search. But if the New York Times offered me a spot on their homepage above the fold next to Tiffany's and the Trump Palace, I'd go with the graphic.

[pageoneresults]

I think it has always been a given that a text link carries more weight than a graphic link because of the anchor text. But, that is not to say that you can't fully optimize a graphic link to get the most bang for your buck. A title attribute on the a href for usability and an alt attribute on the image for identification.

And then, you can do the double whammy...

<a href="" title=""><img src="" alt=""><br />
Anchor Text</a>

In the above example I've used the title attribute on the a href for usability. I've got my alt attribute on my linked image. And then I have my anchor text. ;)

P.S. You can do all sorts of neat things with images and text links using CSS. Floats, padding, borders, etc.

[chinaeguide]

pageoneresults, this is what i am going to say.

Text link is always better, but you can find a way to optimize the image link

[neyaz]

Text link is better because your keyword is directly targeting your site by anchor text, by adding more image on site then will be take more time to downloading

[ZydoSEO]

I've seen Mr. Cutts respond to this several times (in casual Q&A back of classroom/hallways at Pubcon, video, maybe even blog - don't remember). According to him text links are always preferable, but image links are good, too. By the way he answered it, I was led to believe that they are not 'drastically' different in the amount of juice they pass (i.e. I doubt text links are 5x or 10x better), but there is a noticable difference. Of course, no specifics... just generalities.

Like P1R says, you can still optimize even the image link. And any link that passes you juice from a relevant site is better than NO link at all.

[edited by: ZydoSEO at 2:44 pm (utc) on Feb. 27, 2008]