To be completely honest, I don't mind these URLs at all. For one very specific reason - no matter what the author is, what kind of business does he/she does - there is a theme submitted to the free repository and users can take advantage of that right.<div>
<br></div><div>Yet again, there is this point that says "no spam/seo seeded links" - and I can't tell what is spam and what - no. </div><div><br>As Chip said - personal blog is fine. But it could be entirely spam seeded (affiliate page) too. Or site with 'freeandpremiumwordpressthemesdotorg' which is (somehow) clean. </div>
<div><br></div><div>Also, if my company is named after "Free WP Themes" Ltd, so this means that everything is all set no matter of the site content. Or not? <br clear="all"><br>Mario Peshev<br>Training and Consulting Services @ DevriX<br>
<a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/mpeshev" target="_blank">http://www.linkedin.com/in/mpeshev</a><br><a href="http://devrix.com" target="_blank">http://devrix.com</a><br><a href="http://peshev.net/blog" target="_blank">http://peshev.net/blog</a><br>
<br>
<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Thu, Dec 22, 2011 at 2:39 PM, James Laws <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:jamielaws@gmail.com">jamielaws@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
I think that's kind of my thought in the end. The domain can't say it all on it's own. Even in the ultra spammy version you started this thread with:
<span>free travel website templates dot com, If this is the author URI and there business is specific to the travel industry than this is possible just a great domain for them. I wouldn't want it but it's their business.</span><div>
<font color="#222222" face="arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font color="#222222" face="arial, sans-serif">domain name + site content (Otto's explanation) = whether a domain or link is appropriate or not.</font></div>
<div><font color="#222222" face="arial, sans-serif"><br></font></div><div><font color="#888888"><font color="#222222" face="arial, sans-serif">James<br></font></font><div><div></div><div class="h5"><br><div class="gmail_quote">
On Thu, Dec 22, 2011 at 7:30 AM, Otto <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:otto@ottodestruct.com" target="_blank">otto@ottodestruct.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div>On Thu, Dec 22, 2011 at 6:14 AM, Mario Peshev <<a href="mailto:mario@peshev.net" target="_blank">mario@peshev.net</a>> wrote:<br>
> I've always found too blurry the area of SEO/SPAM related domains and links<br>
> in Author/Theme URI + footer credit links. Currently looking at a theme<br>
> linked to free travel website templates dot com - as author URI + footer<br>
> link. Is it subject to guidelines violation?<br>
<br>
</div>If you have to ask the question, then I would say that it is a violation.<br>
<br>
The page at the Theme URI should be about the theme, specifically.<br>
<br>
The page at the Author URI should be about the author, or their<br>
company, or their consulting service, etc. Leeway is allowed here, but<br>
the point is that the URI must be about that person who created the<br>
theme in some way. A personal blog is fine. A site advertising that<br>
person's business or company is fine. A site that guy built which is<br>
covered with affiliate links is not.<br>
<br>
Footer links must be one of the above, and not linked using misleading<br>
terms (seo link-spam).<br>
<br>
IMO, a site is spam when looking at it does not benefit the person<br>
doing the looking in any real way.<br>
<span><font color="#888888"><br>
<br>
-Otto<br>
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