Good Day skip9801,
There are two types of links to other web sites:
1. You can link to a web site for the purpose of loading it into the
same or new browser window (i.e.: Your personal web site talks about
your newly purchased vehicle from a Toyota dealership. You are so
please with the service, in your web site article you provide a link
to the dealer's web site)
2. You can link to a web site for the purpose of using it's content on
your page (i.e.: You are so excited about your newly purchased
vehicle, you want the whole world to see it. You add an image of your
new vehicle to your web site, but rather than downloading it into your
web space from the dealers web site you create a link reference
instead. Every time the image is requested for loading on your web
site, the picture is fetched from the dealers web site.)
The first example is fully acceptable. The dealer will be pleased that
you are giving them free exposure and a means for potential new
clients to find their business. Ethically speaking, you do not need to
notify the dealership you have provided a link to their web site.
However, it can benefit everyone if you do notify the dealer of your
addition. Maybe the dealer will be so happy, they will add a link to
your page from their’s under customer testimonials: "Another happy
customer, skip9801. See his web page about his experience in
purchasing a vehicle from our dealership".
Also, the dealership would probably like to know where their customers
find them. Maybe all their TV advertising money is getting them less
business than making sure that each and every customer is 100%
satisfied.
In the example #2 listed above, you are stealing an image and
bandwidth. This is VERY unacceptable behaviour. If the copyright
allows it and you have acquired full permission, you may use the image
by downloading it into your web space, not directly linking to it in
someone else's web space.
In short, linking to pages is fine. Linking to images is frowned upon.
Before you go and add a link of another page to your web site, make
sure it rates well on the PageRank scale. What is the PR scale? Read
about it at Google:
URL: ://www.google.ca/technology/index.html
In short, page rank decides how valuable a web site is (the criteria
for this is described in the above link). Linking to pages with high
PR can improve your web site's PR. Even more important is having web
sites with high PR linking to your web site.
For quick access to a web site's PR value, head over to
http://toolbar.google.com/ and download Google's Internet Explorer
Toolbar addition. The toolbar will display a web site's PR in the
toolbar.
A high PR means your web site will be listed higher in the search
results when multiple matches are found. Your web site is considered
more valuable.
I hope you will find this information valuable and that it answers
your questions in full. If not, please do not hesitate to ask for a
clarification.
The above information is a quick summary of what I have learned on
this subject during my ongoing career as a web developer. No search
strategy was used.
Regards,
slawek-ga |
Request for Answer Clarification by
skip9801-ga
on
23 Jul 2003 21:38 PDT
Slawek-ga,
Thanks for your quick and detailed response. But, would like to get
clarification on your example #1 (where you link to a site for
purposes of loading it into the same or a new a browser window).
I can appreciate that if the target of the link is flattered with the
link, they would not object.
What I'm wondering is what happens if, for whatever reason, they don't
like being linked from your site. Will you get into any trouble
without previously recieved an okay to link to their site? Is there
any legal requirement?
Thanks.
|
Clarification of Answer by
slawek-ga
on
23 Jul 2003 22:08 PDT
Good Evening skip9801,
Taking into consideration the very slim possibility that a web site
does not wish to be linked to, you are still within the law if you DO
link anyway.
Unless there is a clear legal notice stating "Do not link to this page
for ANY REASON", you are safe. Even in the event that such a
disclaimer was posted, you could not be charged with anything. In that
sense, the web is public domain.
Linking with the purpose of doing harm is the only time you might get
into trouble, but on different grounds. For example, developing a
children's web site and placing a disguised link to hate content might
get you in trouble on moral grounds. Still, unlikely.
In the case you are describing the worst that can happen is the web
site owner can send you a message asking that you remove their link
from your web site. There is no law that says you have to obey such a
request, and you have broken no law if you disregard the request.
If you are still unsure, and feel that maybe my answer does not apply
in your scenario, can you maybe post the web sites you wish to link
to, and in what context (what is your web site about, for what purpose
are you linking)?
Hope this eases your mind. :)
Regards,
slawek-ga
|
