How does Google view multiple backlinks from one domain?

Hello all, I’d really appreciate your precious input regarding how Google views multiple backlinks coming from a single domain.

For example, I’ve placed a backlink on the footer of a pretty large website that consists of around 20,000 pages (blog posts, archives, normal pages, etc.).

Since the footer gets displayed site-wide, the backlink appears site-wide as well. This means that this single domain generates around 20,000 backlinks to my own domain (also confirmed via a Semrush).

Let’s say that the backlink has an anchor text “Shoes” and is do-follow.

Does Google consider this a single backlink or 20,000 different do-follow backlinks with a “Shoes” anchor text?

I thank you all in advance for your help!

Harry

This feels risky since you have chosen a somewhat optimized anchor text. Footer links are a bit old school - I would say more powerful to have a homepage link above the fold with desired anchor text. If you can only have footer, I would change the anchor text to your website name. Much safer.

Xaric said:

For example, I’ve placed a backlink on the footer of a pretty large website that consists of around 20,000 pages (blog posts, archives, normal pages, etc.).

Click to expand...

Generally, links inside posts content have much more value than footer, sidebar links.

So you're hurting your SEO by adding your link to the footer of the website. Having multiple links from a site doesn't mean you'd get multiple authority passed. In your case, you might even get penalized.

You should make your link appear on a single page, rather than appearing in footer of all pages. However, google most probably would rank you down for unnatural link-building as your current link-building process can be termed as spam.

They probably view it as a single link nowadays

Back in the day it used to work, then it didn't, then it got you penalized, then they just ignore it

As a single link IMO.

I remembered google said they can detect nav links, sidebar links and footer links long time ago. The footer links will be no better than an average link.

Such a large number of links from one domain will not add any value to your website. This can result in your site getting penalised by Google.

Thanks a lot for all the help and suggestions guys!

The link is technically a paid ad and hasn't been placed there by me but by the paid ads team of my client. Unfortunately, it can't be removed since it generates a somewhat surprising amount of sales.

What I'm trying to do here is understand how Google views and handles such links, in order to ensure that it doesn't negatively affect my client's SEO.

After taking a look at the site's GSC, I found out that Google is currently taking into account around 2000 out of those 20,000 backlinks. I'm not sure whether all backlinks carry the same weight or if every additional one has diminishing returns.

I'll just no-follow the link and change its anchor text to branded or organic just as kontentdruid suggested, just to be sure.

If someone happens to come up with more insights or maybe a different approach, I'd love to hear all about it.

Thanks a ton again for all your help!

Harry

ITs a way of building links that would leave a large foot print while targeting single keyword within a domain, I wouldn't recommend that.

Google tends to consider them as part of a broader pattern rather than counting them as completely independent links.

Probably not the right way to do it
Focus more on internal links (2 links per post will do)