I agree. No follow if you are going to do it. I will also tell you that we get calls re specific sites we have built, and we do not use footer links. Do I think I could have missed a call because I did not, I would guess it is very likely.

Best,

Tim

I like your question because it is presented so honestly. Yes, many web design firms and SEO firms link to themselves from client sites. My parents would say, "If Johnny jumps off a bridge are you going to jump off the same bridge?" Of course I would say, Yes! But, the thing with footer links is they were so abused they no longer carry any weight for you. To some, that would mean, oh, put them somewhere else. To me, and this is my opinion, it is not a practice I want to engage in. I have links to some of our clients from our site(s), but I do not link back to our firm from client sites.

You are a good SEO firm and are trying to do things correctly. Keep it up and don't worry about how many links you have to your site. (I realize some will call that sacrilege) If you stay at it the links will come. Post good info re SEO, web dev, etc. and links will come. I have never ceased to be amazed by the links we get to some of the oddest things we have posted. We actually posted a pic with several screen types showing responsive design sometime a year or two ago that has gotten tons of links. Go figure as there are lot of pics like that on the web.

That is one man's opinion, I'm sure there will be others.

Best to you,

Robert

Great answer Paul.

Kimberly,

It can, but without which 5XX it is, it is harder to diagnose. (Is it an endless loop, or something else)

I would suggest (based on you trying to redirect what appears to be homepage whether or not the request is for asp or html) this help from Apache.  It is a bit deep, but you appear to want to do it yourself and this is a resource I would suggest.

If you look about a third down the page there is a content box that covers tons of variables.

Best,