Deleted Backlinks = Rise To Top and PR Increase

[Intrepreneur]

Here's something to think about and I've seen a little bit of evidence of this further afield than my own content. Anyhow it's actually very strange and something you could barely test due to it going completely against the tide.

The title of this thread says it all but I'll go into more detail.

I wrote some keyword loaded stuff. I did some backlinks to it. It moved up to the front page of Google for a little while. Then I backlinked some more and it disappeared.

But here's the twist..

I seen something ranking at the top of Google that caught my eye. It was ranking with zero backlinks (they had been deleted a long time ago).

Anyways so I went and deleted all my backlinks to this certain previously ranking content of mine. Low and behold it makes it to the front page of Google for even better keywords than I had started with.

It's a strange mysterious happening, it worked but I can't figure it out. Nor do I know how to keep testing it to see what happens.

What you think?

[TrafficMystic]

were the links from a link farm type of site? or a blacklisted site?

[Intrepreneur]

Originally Posted by TrafficMystic

were the links from a link farm type of site? or a blacklisted site?

No the links were just normal ole methods, nothing unusual. Until I delted them and watched the content rise to the top again.

It's something worth looking at me thinks.

[Andy Fletcher]

Originally Posted by Intrepreneur

Here's something to think about and I've seen a little bit of evidence of this further afield than my own content. Anyhow it's actually very strange and something you could barely test due to it going completely against the tide.

The title of this thread says it all but I'll go into more detail.

I wrote some keyword loaded stuff. I did some backlinks to it. It moved up to the front page of Google for a little while. Then I backlinked some more and it disappeared.

But here's the twist..

I seen something ranking at the top of Google that caught my eye. It was ranking with zero backlinks (they had been deleted a long time ago).

Anyways so I went and deleted all my backlinks to this certain previously ranking content of mine. Low and behold it makes it to the front page of Google for even better keywords than I had started with.

It's a strange mysterious happening, it worked but I can't figure it out. Nor do I know how to keep testing it to see what happens.

What you think?

How were you checking what links the site had? Google's "link" command is pretty much worthless when it comes to seeing what links a site has.

Also, keep in mind that just because a link no longer exists doesn't mean Google isn't still recording them. Just deleting the page it is on doesn't mean Google instantly finds the page is missing and removes the backlink from its records.

[tjcocker]

Dogs and cats living together, mass hysteria!

Please let this be a one-time fluke. I can see people racing to delete all their links as we speak. And then the questions, "why is my 0 link site outranked by my competitors 0 link site???"

My brain already hurts enough.

[Intrepreneur]

Originally Posted by Andy Fletcher

How were you checking what links the site had? Google's "link" command is pretty much worthless when it comes to seeing what links a site has.

Also, keep in mind that just because a link no longer exists doesn't mean Google isn't still recording them. Just deleting the page it is on doesn't mean Google instantly finds the page is missing and removes the backlink from its records.

I don't want to go digging up all that I seen that encouraged me to do this. It's some person livelihood I was rummaging through. I just wonder what it is that I did discover if anything at all...

[InternetMarketingIQ]

Who knows what really happened. But recently BING has come out and stated they will devalue excessive blog comments. So just having backlinks can work against you if they trip a filter that is not favorable to the Search Engine Algorithm. Linking is s two sided sword it appears.

[TKO]

LOL

So you've deleted your backlinks and your site made it to the first page of google.

What was your competition? I'm guessing it was for a word that had none.

So your advice is? Delete backlinks? Please I hope your joking. You've tested this once and I'm guessing you pulled it out of your arse (lucky-no offence).

On the other hand 1,000 upon 1,000's of warriors backlink and succeed.

"Statistically" talking you would be labelled insane.

[Intrepreneur]

Originally Posted by TKO

LOL

So you've deleted your backlinks and your site made it to the first page of google.

What was your competition? I'm guessing it was for a word that had none.

No this is the thing. This thing couldn't have any more competition. There are people constantly battling for this one and still are, as far as I can see.

Certainly not weak competition, that's what mistyfies me about it. But I'm also thinking... is caffiene already in action?

[4morereferrals]

Where you per-chance logged into your google account by accident whilst checking your SERPS that day?

Originally Posted by Intrepreneur

No this is the thing. This thing couldn't have any more competition. There are people constantly battling for this one and still are, as far as I can see.

Certainly not weak competition, that's what mistyfies me about it. But I'm also thinking... is caffiene already in action?

[Intrepreneur]

Originally Posted by 4morereferrals

Where you per-chance logged into your google account by accident whilst checking your SERPS that day?

No I'm making money from this ranking now. So it's not that. Come on guys gimme some credit.

[secretjustin]

When you go against what everyone believes to be concrete, you will be labeled crazy by the closed minds of the Dark Ages.

Before people stopped believing the world was flat, many had already been murdered for thinking and studying such things...

There could be a lot of different reasons for your recent situation. I think it will be hard to figure out at this point. Maybe if someone else has another similar experience, we can put a few more pieces of this puzzle together.

Until then, let us know if something changes or If you decide to change something about it.

I like when interesting things happen.

"Currently" - Caffine results seem to be alive here ->

widget - Google Search

It seems you might have to press search 3 or 4 times before it kicks in. Watch the results.

-Peace

[Intrepreneur]

Originally Posted by secretjustin

Caffine results seem to be alive here ->

widget - Google Search

It seems you might have to press search 3 or 4 times before it kicks in. Watch the results.

-Peace

Aha I see the caffiene now.. Google will be thanked for this WorldWide.. Giving a more equal opportunity for everyone.

As for the backlink thing. I did say it goes against the tide.. only I wish I could test it more thoroughly and see what happens.

Maybe it's just a speculation.. maybe it's real. Who knows just yet :-)

[Jerry Mcvictor]

There likely are other factors in play here. Did you make changes to your site/page? Did you add new content? While you were deleting links did you get any "natural" links? Did your domain recently had it's birthday? What links did you delete(after all, not that many links can be deleted - I'm guessing forum sig links?)?

[Intrepreneur]

Originally Posted by johan

There likely are other factors in play here. Did you make changes to your site/page? Did you add new content? While you were deleting links did you get any "natural" links? Did your domain recently had it's birthday? What links did you delete(after all, not that many links can be deleted - I'm guessing forum sig links?)?

They were links I could delete. It wasn't my own site either but where the content was placed was a total island. No internal links pointing to it. And now, zero external links pointing to it.

[jaiganeshv]

Its actually the change in backlinks created a fluctuation and that fluctuation made it rank higher..

Pls compare the results after a stable period of time and let us know if it still exists in the same position

Thank you
Jai

[MarkAse]

My initial thought was that you found a site that was using a 301 redirect from an older site. Under that scenario, would those links show up?

[WebWorks73]

I operate a medium sized classifieds page in Germany. We are ranking well for some very popular keywords. We have many Backlinks. Since mayday and the loss of long tail traffic our income went down 80%. A result is that I cancelled all our backlinks.
I can tell you in a couple of month what happened to the page.

[thebitbotdotcom]

Originally Posted by InternetMarketingIQ

Who knows what really happened. But recently BING has come out and stated they will devalue excessive blog comments. So just having backlinks can work against you if they trip a filter that is not favorable to the Search Engine Algorithm. Linking is s two sided sword it appears.

Can you provide a link to this information? No pun intended...seriously.

[2dragonsltd]

You know, even Google may have miscoded something and what you saw indeed worked, but I doubt it is what is meant to happen.