No this is not a request to cheat or perform black hat SEO.

I have some clients that don't want me to put a link back to my site on their site. I still want a way to put a link back to me so I can add the site to my portfolio and not have someone say I did not create the site.

Really I am open to any suggestions on the best way to handle this but the only way I could think of was to put a link that did not show up anywhere but in the code? Perhaps instead of an invisible link, one that is set so far off the page it does not display?

I don't want to get the site in trouble using shady tactics and that is why I am asking here. Does anyone have any advice or proper technique I can use to accomplish this?

Why does it have to be a link? Just put a comment in the code.

Thanks for the reply and I am considering that as a last resort but one other reason for the link is to help the link authority for both sites unless that is not practical or effective anymore?

Originally Posted by NullPointer

Why does it have to be a link? Just put a comment in the code.

Agreed. If the client doesn't want a visible link on their site, a comment in the code would be the next best option.

Originally Posted by earthrat

one other reason for the link is to help the link authority for both my sites

And so the real reason comes out.

It seems to me that if you are being paid for a service it's a little immoral to do something your client asked you not to.

That being said I'm not aware of any kind of 'trouble' the site can get into from having a link that isn't visible.

If they don't want link to their site then be it... you can use and rel no follow tag to so that it won't count as an out going links.

I am being up front with them and the current client says its fine to have the link just don't make it visible. Sorry you read into my question what was not there NullPointer. Becoming a judge should not be a considered profession for you NullPointer... My only concern is not that I am being immoral (immoral and concerned don't even belong in the same sentence) but to getting credit for the hard work I did. If that is considered immoral then perhaps I am asking in the wrong place? The biggest problem with asking on a forum is when the ones claiming to help make assumptions when there was no implication made.

Thanks for the feedback, I think just placing a comment in the header is the best solution.

You can use hidden div with link to your site.
Example:
<div style="visibility:hidden;"><a href="http://somesite.com">©</a></div>

Thanks ElmanF,

I like that idea...

@earthrat

I wasn't trying to be rude. In your first two posts you made it seem like the client had asked you not to place a link to your site, but you wanted to do it anyway and hide the fact that you did it by making the link invisible. At first because you wanted to be able to claim credit, and then because you wanted to 'help the link authority' of your site.

Sorry if I misunderstood your intent.

They are bad for Seo. Do not use them, site could get banned from google.

Yes that is one thing I am looking at seo.vijay. I don’t want to gig the sites in any way for SEO or for possible black hat tricks.

Sorry for the defense NullPointer, I can see how it could have looked from your end. I also thought about this type of topic being answered and used by the less scrupulous web masters for personal gain. For me it is a catch 22 and I am still just considering the possibility. My clients site ranking well and not getting banned are my first priority's over my showing credit for the work.

Put a meta tag in there:

<meta name="Author" content="Your Name and website" />

Ask your clients if you can put a "designer profile page" on the site.

That was the first thing I asked and they really don't want anything that is visible showing.

I also have several government sites that I can create the hidden links on but again nothing visible on the site.

Chris,

I am leaning towards edgray's idea with the meta tag as the best solution and not chance creating any issues with the site. All I need to do is give instructions to my potential clients in how to view the code and see I am the author. That is really all I need to do.

I have to say this is a great forum, thanks for everyones feedback.

Originally Posted by ElmanF

You can use hidden div with link to your site.
Example:
<div style="visibility:hidden;"><a href="http://somesite.com">©</a></div>

I would do:

<div style="visibility:hidden;display:none;"><a href="http://somesite.com">©</a></div>

to be 100% sure it's not shown :P

Thanks CMS, I think this is the best way to do this too.

BTW, that is a great blog you have, I will defiantly be bookmarking it!!!

You obviously have no respect for your clients if you are willing to go against their wishes AND deceive them by hiding links on their site!

Look, you designed it, they paid you...it's done. They don't want to link to you so forget about it. If you want to prove you designed it, list the company phone # as a referance.

Don't sell your work, sell your services and keep the rights to anything you create.

I normally inlcude a copyright notice as a comment in the header file. Most clients a happy for me to place a small link in the footer.