Hot Linking

[ep2012]

They both have merit. If you're talking strictly about SEO purposes, the text link is better, obviously because it has text which is searchable/indexable. A bot cannot parse nor see any text that's part of an image so they are useless as far as that's concerned.

A banner will get someone's attention more quickly and could warrant a click-through. And if they are used (as Clay mentioned) you should use the alt="" and title="" attributes because they'll have some SEO use.

If you can, use both. If you can only use one, then use a text link and be sure the link text is very descriptive with your search words in it.

As far as HL'ing is concerned, if bandwidth is a problem you should get a host with unlimited bandwidth (and space). Most have that these days and don't usually cost any more. If you can't or don't want to move, the site which links to you should copy and upload your banner to their server and link to it that way.

Where ever your images are found, regardless of it being your site or another, each time the page is viewed that size of your image(s) is added to your monthly bandwidth.

Ok, what is the title for? The main string of kws that deal with our business? Like in WP, the title?

And should the alt tag be the name of the company or more kws?

So what is the difference between hot linking (someone stealing your traffic) & banner link exchanges? I'm confused. I wouldn't think that banner exchanges is hot linking.

Thanks


Michelle

[claybutler]

So what is the difference between hot linking (someone stealing your traffic) & banner link exchanges? I'm confused. I wouldn't think that banner exchanges is hot linking.

Hotlinking is not "stealing" traffic in your case. What you're doing is similar to an affiliate program. You're supplying code, that they insert, that calls your graphic. This is very common. This allows you to change the graphic on every site instantly. It's a legitimate way to go. You obviously set it up this way for some reason. When my client does banner exchanges we host each other images (no hotlinking)

[deepsand]

And if they are used (as Clay mentioned) you should use the alt="" and title="" attributes because they'll have some SEO use.

If you can, use both. If you can only use one, then use a text link and be sure the link text is very descriptive with your search words in it.

As the alt attribute is intended as text to be displayed by a text only browser, or spoken by a reader for the visually impaired, one should take care to not use this attribute for keyword stuffing purposes.

Reserve alt for its intended purpose, and use title alone for SEO.

[williamc]

As the alt attribute is intended as text to be displayed by a text only browser, or spoken by a reader for the visually impaired, one should take care to not use this attribute for keyword stuffing purposes.

Reserve alt for its intended purpose, and use title alone for SEO.

I agree with what the alt tags usage is actually for, however IMO the alt tag does carry far more power as an images anchor text for ranking purposes. So using the title 'instead' aint happening anytime soon. I do however use both generally

[Clint1]

Ok, what is the title for? The main string of kws that deal with our business? Like in WP, the title?

And should the alt tag be the name of the company or more kws?

The alt tag is only supposed to be for accessibility, such as screen readers for the blind. It should simply describe the image. The alt tag (hover pop-up) doesn't work in FireFox, only works in IE (I don't know about other browsers).

The title tag is where you want a full description of the image. It's used more for SEO purposes, but they both help. It's shown in both IE and FF upon a hover. I started out only using the alt tag, and those images do awesome in G image searches. What works the best, is when you use both tags, and the image is also linked.

So what is the difference between hot linking (someone stealing your traffic) & banner link exchanges? I'm confused. I wouldn't think that banner exchanges is hot linking.

Clay answered that. Technically, hot-linking is one server linking to something on another server. This can be by your permission as it is in your case--which you are essentially giving them permission to use your bandwidth, or just plain stealing the image along with your bandwidth without your consent.

[deepsand]

The alt tag (hover pop-up) doesn't work in FireFox, only works in IE (I don't know about other browsers).

That's because, unlike alt, it has no defined event attribute.

I agree with what the alt tags usage is actually for, however IMO the alt tag does carry far more power as an images anchor text for ranking purposes. So using the title 'instead' aint happening anytime soon. I do however use both generally

The alt tag is only supposed to be for accessibility, such as screen readers for the blind. It should simply describe the image.

The title tag is where you want a full description of the image. It's used more for SEO purposes, but they both help.

Actually, unlike alt, the specification for title is quite ambiguous.

And, it is frequently possible to use alt for its intended purpose and still get some SEO juice out of it.

For example, the alt text for the picture on the home page of the site in my Sig. line reads

Steve Keesey, with his distinctive Penn State Ticket Man van and duster coat, as seen about State College and at Penn State Nittany Lions Football games.

Technically, to comply with the official spec., that should be prefaced by "A picture of."

[Clint1]

And, it is frequently possible to use alt for its intended purpose and still get some SEO juice out of it.

Yeah, 2nd paragraph, post #15.

Technically, to comply with the official spec., that should be prefaced by "A picture of."

But that seems rather redundant. Everyone knows it's "a picture of...." (or image) since the alt is being used, and it's used for images/pictures.

[deepsand]

Yeah, 2nd paragraph, post #15.

Hm-mm; not really.

My point was that it is sometimes possible to comply with the standard re. alt in a manner that brings an SEO benefit.

But that seems rather redundant. Everyone knows it's "a picture of...." (or image) since the alt is being used, and it's used for images/pictures.

The user of a text only browser or a reader does not know what it is, because they don't see it.

[Clint1]

Hm-mm; not really.

My point was that it is sometimes possible to comply with the standard re. alt in a manner that brings an SEO benefit.

You said "it is frequently possible to use alt for its intended purpose and still get some SEO juice out of it" and I said in the earlier post "I started out only using the alt tag, and those images do awesome in G image searches", indicating that it does indeed have some SEO benefit.

The user of a text only browser or a reader does not know what it is, because they don't see it.

They don't see the image, no, but they see the alt attribute which is only used in images. So they know it's an image without having to actually call it an image or picture. Or does it just appear as text as any other text on the page without knowing it's for the alt use?

[deepsand]

You said "it is frequently possible to use alt for its intended purpose and still get some SEO juice out of it" and I said in the earlier post "I started out only using the alt tag, and those images do awesome in G image searches", indicating that it does indeed have some SEO benefit.

That alt can be misused for SEO purposes, so that it fails to comply with its intended use, is not the point.

Alt can sometimes, but not always, be properly used and gain an SEO benefit.

They don't see the image, no, but they see the alt attribute which is only used in images. So they know it's an image without having to actually call it an image or picture. Or does it just appear as text as any other text on the page without knowing it's for the alt use?

They only physically see/hear the result of the action triggered by alt.

And, they've no way of knowing that what they're reading or hearing is not normal body text that everyone else sees.

I.e., they do not know that it's alt at work.