How does Google treat multiple backlinks on the same page?

[DerekM88]

Hello mozCrew

Just a quick yay or nay. We have an embeddable code on our site for customers who want to post our link on their website listed here: http://www.accupos.com/etc/embed-code-restaurants.php

But in our link, there are actually 2 separate links, one branding link that says the name of our company, AccuPOS, and another link which targets a specific target keyword "Restaurant POS Software".

My question is, does Google only give credit for the branding link, since it is listed FIRST? Or will we get double credit? Is this a good or bad practice, and what would you recommend?

Thank you!

Derek Moore

[lethal0r]

i believe only the first link is counted

[riplash]

The second link will count in the example you linked to, as it's to a different landing page, and in this case, with different anchor text, too. If, however, it linked to the homepage twice instead, even with different anchor text, only the first link/anchor text would count.

[RuthBurrReedy]

In a post-Penguin world, I'd be leery of this kind of automated anchor-text-rich link building.  If you continue with this approach, make sure you're also getting plenty (i.e. a majority) of links without keyword-rich anchor text.  Otherwise, yes, they will both count as they are to different pages.

[DerekM88]

What do you mean by links without keyword rich anchor text? Do you mean bulding branded links? Or use links like click here? and those sorts...?

[RuthBurrReedy]

When thinking about links without keyword-rich anchor text, think about how people are linking to you on their own, without your actually building the link.  They're more likely to link either with your main brand name (AccuPOS), your domain name (AccuPOS.com) or text like "read more" "click here" etc.  That's one reason that Penguin has targeted keyword-rich anchor text links, because they aren't "natural" - i.e. it's unlikely someone would link to you with "Restaurant POS Software" unless you specifically ask them to.  So when building links it's helpful to have a good mix of these other less-specific anchor texts, to appear more natural.  If the link appears on a page that is talking about your keyword, there's some evidence to suggest that that semantic info might help in a similar way to keyword-rich anchor text.