.edu and .gov links, what's the truth?

[A Bary]

Hello Warriors,

Upon checking my competition today using Market Samurai, I discovered that the top 10 or sites have a gigantic number of links from .edu and .gov sites, some of them have more than 3000 links from these type of sites!
I browsed the WF for information about .edu and .gov backlinks, I've got confused, some warriors devalued this type of linking and admitted it didn't help them that much, some are saying it's doing well for them, and some stated with complete confidence that this type of linking is no more valued by Google and other SE.

For those who know something about this issue:
-What do you think about the value of .edu and .gov links RIGHT NOW, not before.
-How these sites I mentioned got these huge numbers of links from such sites? is there a software or something similar that automate such a process?
-Will this affect my ranking? I'm working on a new site and want to decide about my linking priorities, where do you think I have to place this type of linking?
-Any resources/services/software recommended for this issue

Thanks

[vpgemini]

So you can get backlinks from .edu and .gov even though its not in your niche and you still get link juice?

[carlocab123]

It's widely accepted that .edu and .gov links give more link juice but I've also read from some authoritative SEO gurus that it doesn't make a difference.

As for personal experience, it has worked well for me. Actually, it's still part of my checklist when building links to a site.

Self promotion aside, I think this post would be helpful:
69 Ways To Build Backlinks (kinda huge)

[FredJones]

AFAIK, it does not matter what your domain is. The only theory that holds is the PR of the site giving the link. Absolutely nothing else is equally important and many of the so-called important things are often not what it is in reality.

So,while it is good to have .gov and .edu links since they usually carry high PR, never believe them to be the holy grail.

[flaminjo]

i was also under this impression that google crawler loves .edu & .gov link. and i was focusing a lot on getting links from such sites.. but this thread has been an eye opener. i guess i will have to stop looking for such links and concentrate on gettin glinks for aged and good PR sites

[kkchoon]

Google loves high PR sites, they crawl it once every hour, even minutes! .educ & .gov usually is high PR site, as high as 8 to 9!

Just get as much high PR Links and you should be able to compete...

[Terry Kyle]

Also, when you are checking a competitor's backlinks in say, Yahoo Site Explorer, don't be intimidated if at first you see a LOT of "Inlinks" (Yahoospeak for backlinks).

Check if a lot of inlinks are coming from the same site/s.

If so, their value will be much much lower to Google and that keyword could be vulnerable.

In one niche I'm active in, one competing Ezine article has tens of thousands of Inlinks BUT most are from just 2 or 3 sites and that's why my GoArticle with a few dozen IP Diverse backlinks is sitting next to him on Page 1, or just below and climbing.

[ChrisBa]

Google loves edu and gov links - not because they are gov and edu but because of high PR, etc..

[Steven Carl Kelly]

Google doesn't give any special consideration to .edu and .gov links, it's just that those sorts of sites happen to fit the profile of the types of sites that get good weight with Google.

[Tom Brite]

.edu and .gov backlinks for me have given me a big push. But then ive never compared them exactly to the same PR sites with a .com extention.

However still they are very powerfull hence why those top sites have them and i highly reccomend using them yourself

Tom Brite

[kkchoon]

High PR links, especially 7 - 10, absolutely Gold...

[game]

What .edu, .gov websites that i can get backlink High PR?

Thank you.

[Zootriot]

I think that edu / gov links are worthwhile, just a lot harder to get. It could also be observer error, perhaps the value is in the fact of things like older / aged sites or less outbound links from them.

[Tom Brite]

Originally Posted by game

What .edu, .gov websites that i can get backlink High PR?

Thank you.

You will be very lucky if people give these to you for free.

They are gold!

Tom Brite

[MakeMoneyTutor]

The domains you mentioned like gov, org are treated differently by Google. com is the best.

[Steven Carl Kelly]

Originally Posted by MakeMoneyTutor

The domains you mentioned like gov, org are treated differently by Google. com is the best.

No, they aren't treated differently. It is a mistake to lead people to believe that.

[4morereferrals]

I am not sure - but certainly far from convinced google adds weight to these tld extensions / sites.

It is rather interesting though to NOTE ... that several prominent SEO tool focus a great deal of effort in "tracking" those sites and competitors that DO have .edu .gov backlinks.

Are they just giving the people what they want [ perception is reality? ]

Originally Posted by Steven Carl Kelly

No, they aren't treated differently. It is a mistake to lead people to believe that.

[Kurt]

IMO, .gov and .edu used to be favored by Google.

However, due to SEO exploitation I don't think that's true today.

Either way, balance is good. It doesn't hurt to get a few .edu and .gov links, I just wouldn't spend more than 5-10% of my linking effort doing so.

[ggoddi]

Originally Posted by vpgemini

So you can get backlinks from .edu and .gov even though its not in your niche and you still get link juice?

yeep it is also my worry
google thinks high of these sites but what if not relevent
google thinks high of relevancy too, right?

[Jenie0109]

Originally Posted by ggoddi

yeep it is also my worry
google thinks high of these sites but what if not relevent
google thinks high of relevancy too, right?

then consider the relevancy and if it is highly visited site

[kkchoon]

2 Type of sites Google give higher credit to your targeted keywords:

1. Highly Relevant site with Highly relevant topic and anchor link to your page.
2. High Authority sites with anchor link to your page.

You can get the first one from service like Linkvana.
You can get the second one from WSO like:

1. Backlink Goldmine 4 (I love it!)
2. Angela & Paul Backlinks
3. Mine, see my signature.

Use both types of linking and you should be able to rank well with your keywords!

[Steven Carl Kelly]

Originally Posted by 4morereferrals

It is rather interesting though to NOTE ... that several prominent SEO tool focus a great deal of effort in "tracking" those sites and competitors that DO have .edu .gov backlinks.

Are they just giving the people what they want [ perception is reality? ]

I think they're just feeding off something that is consider a fact by far too many, simply because it has been perpetuated for so long. The problem is that when a myth gets to be that widely accepted, when you go opposite of it people tend not to believe you. I run into the same sort of thing all the time when tutoring folks on KW research.

Originally Posted by 4morereferrals

I am not sure - but certainly far from convinced google adds weight to these tld extensions / sites.

What you and I both know is that Google favors sites with high PR, informational content, that are generally non-commercial, have lots of inbound links, possess strong authority, and domains that have been around a long time. And there are lots and lots of .GOV and .EDU domains that simply fit that description.

[HCLee]

In an interview with Matt Cutts this is what he said:
"
Matt Cutts:

.....edu or .gov links are good - and when there are good links, .edu links tend to be a little better on average; they tend to have a little higher PageRank, and they do have this sort of characteristic that we would trust a little more. There is nothing in the algorithm itself, though, that says: oh, .edu - give that link more weight.

[Tom Brite]

Originally Posted by kkchoon

2 Type of sites Google give higher credit to your targeted keywords:

1. Highly Relevant site with Highly relevant topic and anchor link to your page.
2. High Authority sites with anchor link to your page.

You can get the first one from service like Linkvana.
You can get the second one from WSO like:

1. Backlink Goldmine 4 (I love it!)
2. Angela & Paul Backlinks
3. Mine, see my signature.

Use both types of linking and you should be able to rank well with your keywords!

Please refrain from promoting your own product! If its that good then other people will promote it for you

Originally Posted by HCLee

In an interview with Matt Cutts this is what he said:
"
Matt Cutts:

.....edu or .gov links are good - and when there are good links, .edu links tend to be a little better on average; they tend to have a little higher PageRank, and they do have this sort of characteristic that we would trust a little more. There is nothing in the algorithm itself, though, that says: oh, .edu - give that link more weight.

Thanks for that quote HClee. Straight from the horses mouth so to speak too!

Tom Brite

[Kendoboy]

.gov and .edu makes elevation Pr more or less.

[Tom Brite]

Originally Posted by Kendoboy

.gov and .edu makes elevation Pr more or less.

Really don't understand your question??

Tom Brite

[tdave]

I think dot com carry greater resell value,in terms of link juice,there are not much difference.