I've had several people call me up because of my link on my client's webpage. Just curious to hear how you guys place your branding in the footer. Some times I used to have Design by:, but I don't have a steady rule for what to place. What kind of branding would be perfect in your eyes, and not be that long that the client will complain? Maybe just a hyperlink with the url

I don't.

 

Adding your branding to someone else's website is rude unless you have permission.

 

In any case it can be counter productive. They may changes themes, layout's content and images and make it look like a real dog's dinner - and your name is in the footer saying you built the site....

Take this scenario. You hire someone to build you a site then they don't take the opportunity to do a dab of free advertising.

 

1. Do you think they're being polite?

 

2. Do you think, "Right, what's wrong with the bloody thing?".

 

Most printers aren't known for being reticent at sticking their business name and number on the stuff they print. The only time they are cagey is if they think their might be any repercussions due to the nature of the material.

 

Would you buy a TV or a car that nobody seemed to want to take responsibility for making?

 

Some option if you don't want to put your name in a publicly visible place is to include it in a HTML comment or to provide a humans.txt file.

I'd ask the client. I recently got my first client - friend of a friend style, and I'm re-designing his website uber-cheaply - one of my conditions is a small link in the footer with my web design details - he was more than happy for me to do this.

 

I imagine other clients wouldn't be so chuffed with the idea. I'd never add it without asking permission.

Do Ford ask anybody's permission to stick their name all over your shiny new car, or do Nike ask if you would prefer to not have their logo and name on your new daps.

 

Of course not, in fact people pay exorbitant prices to wear certain branding and the name and logo is of more importance than the actual product and its quality.

 

If someone avoids putting their name to their work you have to consider

 

1. They are ashamed of their business and standard of work

 

2. They are ashamed of your business and standard of work

 

3. They are likely to take it on their toes and don't want to leave a paper trail.

 

I cannot understand why anyone would not want to take responsibility for the work they have carried out. Whether it means taking credit or taking heavy flak.