A footer link is a hyperlink placed in the footer section of a webpage. Since footers typically appear on every page of a website, footer links often become sitewide links, appearing across hundreds or thousands of pages.
How Footer Links Work#
Standard Footer Content#
Website footers commonly contain:
- Copyright information
- Privacy policy and terms links
- Contact information
- Site navigation
- Credit links (designed by, powered by)
- Social media links
Footer Link Characteristics#
Footer links are:
- Located at the bottom of pages
- Often repeated sitewide
- Less visible to users
- Lower in the page hierarchy
SEO Value of Footer Links#
Google's Approach#
Google treats footer links differently than in-content links:
Consolidated counting: Multiple footer links may count as one Reduced weight: Generally pass less equity than contextual links Spam signals: Excessive footer links can indicate manipulation Context awareness: Google understands footer areas are template-based
The Devaluation Factor#
Studies and patents suggest:
- Footer links carry approximately 20-50% less value
- Position on page affects link weight
- User engagement likelihood factors in
- Editorial context is limited in footers
Types of Footer Links#
Natural Footer Links#
Credit links: "Website by [Agency Name]" Platform links: "Powered by WordPress" Partner acknowledgments: Legitimate business relationships Navigation: Helping users find key pages
Potentially Problematic Footer Links#
Paid SEO links: Links placed purely for ranking benefit Keyword-rich anchors: Over-optimized anchor text Irrelevant links: Links unrelated to the site's topic Excessive links: Too many external links in footer
Footer Links and Link Schemes#
What Google Says#
Google's guidelines specifically address footer links:
- Credit links with optimized anchors are link schemes
- Paid footer links without nofollow violate guidelines
- Widget/theme footer links should be nofollowed
Historical Context#
Footer links were once heavily abused:
- SEO agencies required footer links from clients
- Theme developers embedded links in templates
- Widget makers included hidden footer links
- Link networks created massive footer link schemes
Google's algorithm updates specifically targeted these practices.
When Footer Links Are Acceptable#
Legitimate Use Cases#
Design credits: "Designed by [Company]" with company name as anchor Business relationships: Legitimate partner acknowledgments Required attributions: Open source or licensing requirements Navigation: Internal links for user convenience
Making Footer Links Safe#
Use branded anchors: Company name, not keywords Apply nofollow: When in doubt, nofollow external links Limit quantity: Don't stuff footers with links Ensure relevance: Only link to related, quality sites
Footer Link Best Practices#
For Website Owners#
Audit your footer: Review all external footer links Check for spam: Look for links you didn't add Update old links: Remove outdated or broken links Use nofollow appropriately: For paid or uncertain links
For Link Builders#
Don't seek footer links: Focus on contextual placements Decline footer placements: Request in-content links instead Evaluate existing footer links: Assess if they're helping or hurting Consider removal: Footer links from low-quality sites may harm you
Footer Links vs Other Link Types#
Comparison#
| Link Type | SEO Value | Natural Occurrence | Risk Level | |-----------|-----------|-------------------|------------| | Contextual | High | Very natural | Low | | Footer | Low | Common but risky | Medium | | Sidebar | Low-Medium | Common | Medium | | Comment | Very low | Common spam | High |
Why Contextual Links Win#
Contextual links:
- Have clear editorial endorsement
- Sit within relevant content
- Are more likely to be clicked
- Appear natural to algorithms
Managing Footer Links#
Auditing Footer Backlinks#
- Export backlinks from SEO tools
- Filter for footer placements
- Assess quality and relevance
- Identify potentially harmful links
- Request removal or disavow if needed
Common Footer Link Issues#
Agency credit links: Often keyword-stuffed Theme links: May come from low-quality sites Old partnerships: Outdated links to defunct businesses Hacked sites: Injected footer links
Summary#
Footer links are hyperlinks in website footers:
Key points:
- Appear at page bottom, often sitewide
- Carry less SEO value than contextual links
- Can be manipulated or appear spammy
- Google specifically watches footer link patterns
Best practices:
- Use branded anchors only
- Apply nofollow to external links
- Don't build links through footer placements
- Focus on contextual link opportunities instead
Footer links have legitimate uses but are poor choices for SEO-focused link building.