SEO vs. Marketing

I'd like to hear some thoughts about the comparison in value between a link campaign that uses text links to enhance SERPS or Image links that increase brand name recognition.

Also - can image alt text make up for the loss of the link text that would have been used to link back? Any other ways to get the same power of a link text for SERPS while using an image?

(I realize not all sites offer image links- but for those that do which should we prefer??)

let me know what you think...

You will find your answer here:
http://www.internet-marketing-resea...e_meta_tags.php

well, you can use CSS Image replacement to make a text link w/ an image background, and get the best of both worlds. but this way there's no img tag, so no alt tag.

I would think branding w/ images would only be the way to go if you eventually expect people to search for the brand name itself, or if you are doing more marketing off the internet. Otherwise it would be hard to get enough exposure to cement the brand.

Surely that is ALWAYS the goal!!!

I say use both. Three to five words and a nice image / logo will be a win-win situation. I am constantly confused by the need to choose in situations like this, and the arguments clients throw at you are just so lame. Do both, how easy is that??