Why Isn't There an Accurate Total Number of Backlinks of a Website?

airmbul · 10-28-2011, 02:52 AM

Hi, I know I've come to the right forum about this. I've been doing a research on measuring the total number of backlinks of a site using the following methods:

1) Manual google search of the domain name without www, only "mysite-dot-com" – just list number of occurrences of the website name at the top of the first page of the search result.

2) Yahoo Site Explorer

3) Backlinkwatch

4) A free tool like at Open Site explorer

The results are obviously varied. Now I'd like to know why they all have different results and why the difference? Why does google hide the real results? Is there a tool that shows results that is a nearly accurate count of the total number of backlinks of a website?

DaveWildash · 10-28-2011, 04:33 AM

If you want to get an idea of backlinks to sites you don't own you'll have to use online resources or software that access those online resources.

In answer to your questions:

The usual reason that Google seem reluctant to reveal the full details of backlinks is in case it gives too many clues as to how to 'game' the system, gain an unfair advantage and climb up the rankings. They are very protective of their algorithm and withhold information to protect it.

Yahoo Site Explorer is on the way out. I believe it has been downgraded since March of this year and is due to be discontinued in the New Year.

Yahoo says it takes up too many resources for too little return and they are now recommending that you sign up with Bing Webmaster Tools. Webmaster Tools - Bing

Open Site Explorer gets its information from SEOmoz, a different source from the others.

Backlinkwatch once used the Yahoo Site Explorer database. I don't know if it still does. I have noticed it does not show the same number of links as Yahoo Site Explorer. I've also heard the results you get from Backlinkwatch are sensitive to whether you enter http://www.domain.com or http://domain.com, though I've not tested this.

As for the best one to use, I have heard that Majestic SEO is good Majestic SEO: Site Explorer, though I'm not sure there is any one resource that gives a complete picture. It's probably a case of using several resources and trying to piece the jigsaw together.

10-28-2011, 02:52 AM	#1
airmbul Warrior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: P.O. Box 1044, Magnolia Houston TX.77355 Posts: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Social Networking	Why Isn't There an Accurate Total Number of Backlinks of a Website? Hi, I know I've come to the right forum about this. I've been doing a research on measuring the total number of backlinks of a site using the following methods: 1) Manual google search of the domain name without www, only "mysite-dot-com" – just list number of occurrences of the website name at the top of the first page of the search result. 2) Yahoo Site Explorer 3) Backlinkwatch 4) A free tool like at Open Site explorer The results are obviously varied. Now I'd like to know why they all have different results and why the difference? Why does google hide the real results? Is there a tool that shows results that is a nearly accurate count of the total number of backlinks of a website?
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10-28-2011, 04:33 AM	#2
DaveWildash Active Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: South East England Posts: 72 Thanks: 5 Thanked 10 Times in 9 Posts	Re: Why Isn't There an Accurate Total Number of Backlinks of a Website? If you want to get an idea of backlinks to sites you don't own you'll have to use online resources or software that access those online resources. In answer to your questions: The usual reason that Google seem reluctant to reveal the full details of backlinks is in case it gives too many clues as to how to 'game' the system, gain an unfair advantage and climb up the rankings. They are very protective of their algorithm and withhold information to protect it. Yahoo Site Explorer is on the way out. I believe it has been downgraded since March of this year and is due to be discontinued in the New Year. Yahoo says it takes up too many resources for too little return and they are now recommending that you sign up with Bing Webmaster Tools. Webmaster Tools - Bing Open Site Explorer gets its information from SEOmoz, a different source from the others. Backlinkwatch once used the Yahoo Site Explorer database. I don't know if it still does. I have noticed it does not show the same number of links as Yahoo Site Explorer. I've also heard the results you get from Backlinkwatch are sensitive to whether you enter http://www.domain.com or http://domain.com, though I've not tested this. As for the best one to use, I have heard that Majestic SEO is good Majestic SEO: Site Explorer, though I'm not sure there is any one resource that gives a complete picture. It's probably a case of using several resources and trying to piece the jigsaw together.