As a web design agency, we have numerous clients who link to us in their footers with a "Designed by XX" credit. We are considering whether to retain the links in the footer, mark them as nofollow, remove them altogether, or just keep a mention in the homepage footer. What would be the best course of action?
There is no consensus on the best course of action for footer links, as opinions vary. Some believe that keeping the links as-is (follow, site-wide) has no negative impact on ranking and can even help Google understand your niche. Others suggest that site-wide links may not be valuable and focus on a single branded follow link on the homepage. It is also noted that Google seems to prefer brand links and reduce the value of multiple links coming from a single domain.
For those concerned about potential risks, removing or modifying footer links gradually is recommended. This avoids a sudden change that may appear suspicious to Google. If you are concerned about being linked from compromised sites, consider removing links from clients whose sites have been hacked.