Lately there seems to be a lot of controversy around selling links in the footer of wordpress themes you have created. Ultimately it is up to the designer what they choose to do with the theme they have designed and coded, but here is a few pro’s and con’s of buying these links.
Although I refer to buying links, you could also design and code the themes yourself if you have the skills which would be a much cheaper and probably better option as you won’t have your link next to other buyers.
Control over anchor text
The main advantage of buying links through any method is that you have better control over the anchor text than a natural link, this can be helpful if you are specifically targetting a certain keyword, I have seen great results from people sponsoring themes with a targetted anchor text and deep link.
Relevant links
If you run a website about motorbike and some offers you a sponsored link on a theme based around motorbikes then there is a big chance that motorbike blogs will use it, which means highly releveant links for you! Of course the odd non-motorbike may use it but we’re talking about the majority.
One-off cost
When buying text links from services such as text link ads, or even from individual bloggers you will usually be charged on a ‘per month’ basis. If you sponsor a wordpress theme then you are potentially recieving permanent links from bloggers who use the theme.
Sitewide links
Some people believe that a sitewide link holds less value than a link on a single page so this could be a positive or a negative point depending on what you believe. One thing for sure is that the link will be on all the strongest pages of the website which is a plus.
Themes get rejected
A downfall of having sponsored links on a theme is that some of the largest theme directories will not accept your theme, why they have rules like this I don’t know. To me selling sponsored links is a way of rewarding designers for releasing their themes for free, and encourages more free themes.
People remove links
Most people who start a blog are savvy enough to remove footer links from their blog, as it can look strange having links to a loans site from your gardening blog! A way to reduce the removal rate is to encrypt the footer which prevents beginners from removing the links although intermediate and above webmasters will still be able to remove the links.
Footer Links are devalued
It is a common thought among the guru’s in SEO that links in the footer are devalued by Google and the other search engines. This seems like a no brainer really as not many people click links in the footer area.
Your thoughts?
Have you sponsored any themes? Did it work for you? Let us all know in the comment section!
{ 1 trackback }
{ 23 comments… read them below or add one }
I would have to say that sponsoring themes is not worth it at all. This is one of the thinhgs that got many people slapped by Google.
David hobsons last blog post..Wordpress Theme Based Ultimate Contest
This is an interesting topic that I’ve actually never seen in a post before. I think it’s sound like a great way for theme designers to get good links and it’s also good that we have designers making the themes for free.It seems like a good fair trade to me. In the motorcycle niche example that would be a very powerful link.
SEO Tips Blogs last blog post..5 Free SEO Tools You’re Probably Not Using Yet
I’ve tried sponsoring a couple of inexpensive themes with moderate success. I think the key is choosing the right theme. The more people use it the more links you get, so a good choice can have a big impact.
Mike Collinss last blog post..Why Do You Blog?
I don’t think it’s not. To tell it honestly, whenever I use a free wordpress theme, I used to delete those sponsored links like casino link. The best way to do link building in wordpress themes is that you buy a unique theme then release it for free and put only your link no other more.
Husseins last blog post..Why Do You Do Blog Commenting
Interesting post.
The official Wordpress theme directory has cracked down on sponsored themes. They are not allowed to be listed in the directory.
Google does not like encrypted code. A blog’s PR will suffer if a theme containing such code is used. aside: Anyone who uses a theme with encrypted code should give their head a shake – the majority of people don’t know what is in that code or what info it could be sending.
Whenever I pick a theme, the very first thing I do is to remove all do follow links from the footer
I should say I am obsessed with these backlinks and ads in the footer area as well as on some widgets! 
Cheers,
Ajith
(Came here and subscribed to your feed as per Hussein’s reference. Your blog is excellent!)
I have sponsored one theme, but don’t feel it was worth it actually. The theme never got really popular, and only got downloaded around 100 times as far as I can see. Have not found one site using the theme with my links intact.
This could be a good way if you can find a good theme, that you know for sure would be popular.
VikingBloggers last blog post..Advanced Segments Added to Google Analytics (New feature)
I think they are a great way of making money in the short term, but I agree there is a risk of people removing the links, as well as people ‘disliking’ the theme. I think its all about the type of theme you decide to ’sponsor’, and not just randomly buying them up!
Dans last blog post..Saturday News Update
Again, why anger Google unnecessarily? Greed? Please.
Dennis Edells last blog post..2 NEW BLOGS Unveiled! FINALLY!!
I did not dare to sponsor a wordpress theme because I find them ineffective. Also, I do not want to see my site’s name next to the words How to loose weight link or burn fat easily.
If I were to use a free wordpress themes with those links, I would be turn off no matter how lovely the theme is
Blogging from scratchs last blog post..Case Study: Increase your blog statistics through blog contest 4
If you’re sponsoring a wordpress theme because you want to get backlinks from the footer than its a bad idea.
1. Most proper webmasters never leave the link intact, its either removed or they add the nofollow.
2. Google gives less prominence to footer links.
If you are a creator of a wordpress theme, then you might be in better shape since you will have quite a few and over time might build up a bit of a following.
Dennis, Dennis, Dennis. You must remember that we don’t work for Google, and to be honest they are not to great at catching paid links, if your not silly about it.
I personally haven’t sponsored any themes, mainly because the amazing ones are out of my price reach, but I don’t see where greed comes into it.
I think I already covered both of those points in the article, if you are a creator of themes then you can definitely yield good results such as the revolution themes.
Danny my boy,
As I am trying to capitalize on this market I am going to say link sponsoring is great and that everyone out there should spend $100.00++ on the links for my theme that will be out sometime in November.
But in reality the links on a free theme are going to be off topic, low on the page, and maybe to dense to help out a a lot. However if a theme becomes moderately popular you can receive thousands of keyword specific back links and that is bound to help but it might eventually cost you in google.
You need to look at the risk to reward ratio and see if this is the right fit for you. You can make out like bandit or get punished by Google.
It isn’t a method for everyone.
Adam
Adam – Creadiv.coms last blog post..Are you Blogging like a Pop Star or a Street Busker?
I have read that the whole “theme sponsorship” idea is old school and that the search engines are actually penalizing links in the footer.
My site is a living testimony to that. I had a PR 5 thanks to footer links in my client’s sites. Now, my site is down to a PR 3. OUCH! Time for a new link building strategy.
Kathy @ Virtual Impaxs last blog post..When You Hear Hemp, Do you Think “Rope” or “Dope”?
I think that sponsored Word Press themes have their place despite some of the negative opinions that may surround their use..
It did a pretty good job getting the Bankaholic.com site (supposedly sold for 15 million dollars) ranked for some choice keywords in the banking and finance sector – as well as links to the main page.
Just to this “Prison Break” link below and look at the footer. You will find a link to Banaholic.com link there..
Prison Break
This is just one example of the many themes Mr Wu has sponsored..
While this was not his only linking method he employed – starting a blog in 2006 – sell it – in 2008 for a sum thats great – “took some skills that paid the bills”.
Anyway, despite my affinity for bad rhymes, I don’t think this method is all that “old school”. It still works….
Rant over..
Robert – The Wholesale Guy
As someone who has sold many sponsored links on different Wordpress themes, I can personally say that it seems to be a very profitable business, as there must be a reason that so many buyers are interested.
As Robert pointed out, the method still works and is being used for successful entrepreneurs everywhere, so why not?
Tushar Dhoots last blog post..td.NOV – The Ultimate Blog Contest
Thanks for the good work guys,i am glad to see finally what you have been working on all these months
Nice post. I heard that parasite sites do give good ranking, is it true?
Just found your site by accident. Excellent content here. Will be back for more!!!
now in my rss reader)))
————————
my blog: http://semev.ru/
This method does work. Who says it doesn’t work?. I’ve seen some people spend few thousands of dollars a month they’ve been sponsoring themes over the years, if this doesn’t work why they spend? Do you think ,they spend thousands of dollars just for the fun? Actually it does work for me. I got my site from PR0 to PR2 just within one google update, the only thing I did was sponsoring themes. 90% percent of the themes I selected are currently used, I got few dozens of backlinks, also it heavily improved the SERP. However this method totally depends on your theme selection.
I gotta to say I concur with most of what is being said here. I am gonna have to have to grab the rss so I can keep tabs. on what