The demise of the Wordpress theme Sponsored link?
At last someone agrees with me regarding sponsored themes – before I carry on, just let me say that I don’t mind 1 or 2 links to the designers sites.
I think this is at least what we should offer someone who has given up their time for free, and without these designers, we’d all have boring looking blogs.
What is a sponsored link?
It’s a paid link that the designer has sold and placed on the theme – initially we saw just 1 or 2 sponsored links, now we are seeing themes, with 5 or 6 links, which is crazy. Anyone who reads Matt Cutt’s blog will know that Google frowns against paid links as this is tricking the system as such.
I’ve ranted how I disagree with adding sponsored links on themes, anyway I read the weblogtoolscollection.com blog today, and was surprised but pleased to read they will no longer be promoting Wordpress themes that carry sponsored links.
What’s your opinion on this subject?
Edit: Interesting post on Lorelle’s Wordpress blog, confirming that Wordpress will be removing all themes with sponsored links by the end of July from it’s official theme viewer.
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Filed under: Blogged Out, Wordpress News on July 12th, 2007
That is there choice to remove themes that are sponsored, but it is unfortunate for the blog designers, that help to pay for the cost of their work be selling those links. Other websites will start up that will allow those themes to be posted.
As for Matt Cutts “paid links as this is tricking the system”. Google can frown on paid links as much as they want, but Google still does not own the internet. Yes they are the top search engine, but paid links have been around a lot longer than they have and will be around long after Google goes the way of the dodo. If their algorithm can not handle what people do then perhaps they need to look at changing the way links are weighted in their system. Changing the way things are done to fit the machine is not an acceptable solution. The machine needs to change.
Some very good points LGR, especially about Google now owning the internet. I agree, but, whilst Google are the dominent player in the search engine industry, us bloggers and webmasters will have no alternative but to ‘watch our backs’
We shouldn’t rely on the search engines [read my dont put all eggs in one basket post] but Google brings in the majority of visitors to any of my blogs.
I am all for sponsored themes. As you point out - these guys are giving up their time for free otherwise.
Maybe they need to add a disclaimer page or something to the template and only have a single link back to their site (instead of sitewide) which would be equally effective.
I guess they could just go down the route of selling everything which would be a shame.
James.
I agree, that it would be a shame if theme designers designed only paid themes, because a high percentage of bloggers aren’t in it for the money, they just do it because they enjoy writing.
If people stuck to 1 or 2 sponsored links nothing would of been said, but people have got greedy, and when you started to see 5 or 6 sponsored links, you knew it wouldn’t be long before something was done about it.
Frankly Google sucks at the moment. Laying down it’s laws, taking the earning opportunities away from others whilst plastering it’s own ad network on as many webpages as physically possible (mine included)
I guess that template designers could just go down the “no-follow” route but just add a HUGE banner for each of it’s sponsors instead to guarantee;
a) Visibility
b) Traffic
But that’s not really progress is it?….
Cool blog.. very interesting… I was wondering if you would be interested in allowing me to post your feed on my news page at my webmaster website
Oznew, I don’t have any problems with that providing you use an extract and link back.
Good points James, and I can understand your frustration, but love or hate them, they are the search engine that provides us webmasters with visitors, so we have to grit our teeth a little.