FreeLance Question - Site credits or Not?

[vfaulkner]

As Carju1 said : On the few sites I have done its in the contacts page with just an e-mail address on the principle that if someone has a complaint about the site design (or heaven forbid a compliment) or if there is a problem then I'd rather they contacted me so I can discuss/fix it rather than the client.
I have done the same and it seems to benefit all, me, the clients,and the customers to have an open line of communication available.

[cyanide]

yes we add a small link.
It's usually included in the contract.

I only had 1 client that ever mentioned it and in the end allowed it
with no hassle. Most people seem to think it's the norm anyhow.

[wetchman]

We will only put a site credit on donated or extremely discounted work, and the arrangement is made ahead of time. When a graphic designer does an annual report, brochure, or business card, they don't add a "designed by" reference to every page, or even any page. It's not appropriate for web designers, either.

The folks who have said the referrals will come if you've got satisfied clients are correct: You'll get a lot more leads that way than any other.

BUT - we do include our info in the appropriate META tags, as well as an invisible, 1 pixel image linked to our site so that those who are looking can find us, and in hopes of better search engine relevance/crawling.

[J_Paul]

I like the 1x1 px idea. Never thought of that.

[chyann]

I view branding a website with someone else's name as I view branding my clothes with someone else's name; no, no, a thousand times NO!

I am designing my own site but IF I get good enough to do this for others, I would expect word-of-mouth advertising--not a 'sign' on someone's front page. If your client likes your workthey should brag about it, not you. Of course I would put you on my 'favorite links' page. Why not suggest that to your clients, isn't there a business equivalent???

[wpwdmama]

We always put a small logo (link) at the very bottom of the home page. It's in the contract, and I've never had a client object! By the time their site is done, most clients have referred at least one new lead. The majority also request that we put a link to our site on their links page, no matter what you title it. If nothing else, it gives people an easy way to refer people when they're out.

Elaine Jordan
Wolfpack Web Design
http://www.wpwd.net/

[hs4u]

I have designed many sites for small businesses and some for barter work. My clients want my name on them as it shows they took the time to hire someone to do the site, not homemade. I have only had one client not have me put the link on the site (and that was very fine with me! He wanted to give his public the impression he has the skills to do this work himself), but others I work with want it there. They also use the link to get ahold of me easily as well!

I think it is a client decision and my clients seem to think it lends to a professional attitude for their sites. That they will be around for a long time.

My humble opinion!

[RJH]

Firstly you never see on TV adverts who made the advert but... Double standards you will cry... It's in the designers interest to put the link in as not only many they get referrals but (and arguably more importantly) it may help with the link popularity game.

I always get it agreed at the quoting stage of the project - that way theres no surprises for anyone..

[Peter]

Id say that putting meta tags is fine and doubt anyone would object to it.
As far as the link to designers site, as long as the link is recipricol then in theory I can see no problem with it.
However some of these design companies have really "creative" names that just doesnt fit the image of the site they have created.

[LorraineH]

We include in our contract that we reserve the right to place a small text link "designed by .." on the site. This is a link in small text usually underneath the clients copyright notice at the bottom of the page.

We do also link to our client's sites from our own web site.

Of course should the client wish us to design a site which we were unhappy with we would not include such a link nor would we be inclined to link to their site from our own.

If a client were to object to this clause in the contract because they did not wish such a link to be placed on their site, we would have no problem not including it. However, we've never had a client object to this.

Publishers pay authors to write books and yet the copyright is transferred from author to publisher and the publisher owns the finished work. However the books still carry the name of the author so why shouldn't a web site carry the name of the designer?