9306 inbound links but onle 143 root domains?

[fun52dig]

I need help with my link building efforts so I have started to search around for companies and/or freelance contractors to hire.  I always ask for examples of sites they are working on.  In many cases the number of inbound links are high (9306) compared to the number of root domains that are linked to (143).  Or as in this sample (120792) inbound links compared to (157) linking domains http://www.shortsalesafe.com.  How can this be?  To me the only logical answer is "link farms" or some other form of black hat magic. Am I right in my assumption, or is there another logical answer for so many links with so few linking domains.?

Thanks

Gary

[KeriMorgret]

Hi Gary,

One answer would be footer links. It looks like there are links to that site in the footer of http://www.newportoc.com/ that could account for thousands of links but be from only one root domain.

[fun52dig]

Thanks Keri.  Makes sense.