Badges - Using CSS Image Replacement

Link buiding campaign using badges, with CSS image replacement

[mgSEO]

Hi All!

I would appreciate some input here. I was given the task to come up with the code to give out to those participating in our "Sites we Love" Program. Basically, we are going to give them the badge, which they are going to display on their sites and link back to us (so far so good!). Well, they don't want to do this the traditional way using href, instead they want to use CSS image replacement.

Can anyone explain to me which is the best way to build the badge using this technique?

Thanks
MG

[topr8]

i'm probably missing the point here,

but how can you have a link without an <a> tag?

css image replacement has got nothing to do with links.

[robzilla]

So far so good, indeed, and welcome to WebmasterWorld.

I'm not sure I understand either. Are you looking to replace anchor text with an image through CSS, so that the end-user sees the badge (the image), whereas search engine spiders (or users who have disabled the stylesheet) see a text link? If so, then your question probably belongs in the CSS forum [webmasterworld.com].

I assume you're interested in doing this because anchor text is supposedly more effective than image alt text? You might ask yourself if those who will be displaying your badge on their site are willing to insert the extra in-line CSS into their HTML code, instead of a simple <a><img></a>. Also: you would have to be very careful to write the code in such a way that these sites run no risk of being penalized by search engines (due to hidden text, for example).

I'll send you a sticky with a link to an article about a seemingly successful implementation of this method.

[Lame_Wolf]

mgSEO, personally, I wouldn't bother. You may fool a few unwise people, but any webmaster worth their salt will see it as a way of gaining an IBL. (Normally from their homepage).

I remember a number of years back when a friend had the chance of putting a similar thing on her site. She was over the moon that someone thought her site was the bees knees. Then I told her what she was doing (giving a homepage link to someone with no authority etc) and she promtly removed it.