Definition
Sitewide links are links that appear on all or nearly all pages of a website, typically placed in the header, sidebar, or footer. A 1,000-page site with a sitewide link generates 1,000 backlinks from a single referring domain. This property was massively exploited in SEO. Google has adapted its algorithms to treat sitewide links differently from unique contextual links. Since Penguin, Google consolidates sitewide links: instead of counting 1,000 individual links, the algorithm treats them as a single link from one domain. Additionally, Google can devalue or ignore clearly manipulative sitewide links. A sitewide link is not inherently bad (for example, a footer link to WordPress is normal), but using it to manipulate rankings is considered a link scheme. Best practice is to use rel='nofollow' or rel='sponsored' for any commercial or partnership sitewide link.
Key Points
- Google consolidates sitewide links: 1,000 sitewide links count as one domain link
- Sitewide links with optimized anchors are a strong manipulation signal for Google
- Any commercial or partnership sitewide link should carry rel='nofollow' or rel='sponsored'
- Unique contextual links in content have far more SEO value than a sitewide link
Practical Examples
Legitimate sitewide link
An e-commerce site using Shopify displays 'Powered by Shopify' in its footer across 500 product pages. This link is normal, expected, and not manipulative. Google consolidates it as a single link signal.
Manipulative sitewide link
An SEO negotiates a link with the anchor 'best insurance comparison' in the footer of a 10,000-page news site. This link artificially generates 10,000 backlinks with a commercial anchor. Google detects the manipulation and devalues the link or penalizes the target site.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, sitewide links are not automatically penalized. Google consolidates them and gives them less weight than a unique contextual link. However, a sitewide link with a clearly over-optimized or topically irrelevant anchor can be considered a link scheme and lead to devaluation or penalty.
No, it is the opposite. A unique contextual link in a relevant article has much more SEO value than a sitewide link. Google understands that sitewide links are structural, not editorial. A single editorial link in a quality article equals the SEO impact of thousands of sitewide links.
Go Further with LemmiLink
Discover how LemmiLink can help you put these SEO concepts into practice.
Last updated: 2026-02-07