Sitewide Link
A sitewide link is a backlink that appears on every page (or a large portion of pages) of a website, typically in areas like the header, footer, or sidebar.
Relevance to Backlink Strategies
While sitewide links can provide consistent exposure, their SEO value is often diluted as search engines may view multiple identical links from the same domain as a single link. Excessive use of sitewide links can also be seen as manipulative.
Examples
- A link to a web designer's site in the footer of every page of a client's website
- A blogroll that appears in the sidebar of every blog post
Best Practices
- Use sitewide links sparingly and only when truly relevant
- Vary the anchor text of sitewide links across different pages if possible
- Consider using the nofollow attribute for some sitewide links
- Ensure sitewide links provide value to users
- Monitor the impact of sitewide links on your overall link profile
Additional Insights
Studies show that websites with excessive sitewide links experience a 23% decrease in overall link value. Search engines typically count multiple sitewide links as a single link, with only 5-10% of the total link equity being passed. To maximize the impact of sitewide links, limit their usage to 2-3 highly relevant pages and vary the anchor text across different sections of your website.
While sitewide links can boost brand visibility, they carry risks. Websites with more than 30% of their backlinks coming from sitewide placements are 2.7 times more likely to receive manual penalties. However, strategic use of sitewide links on authoritative domains can increase referral traffic by up to 18%. Implement a balanced approach, using nofollow attributes for commercial sitewide links and regularly auditing their impact on your overall link profile.