We’ve covered the Link: Command as a
link popularity tool in other post on this website but there is one aspect that we need to cover in greater detail.
The Link: Command in Google, while providing a good insight, is to some degree flawed as it only brings back a sampling of the total number of links.
This is not to say that the Link: Command should not be used but with Google a good amount of lateral or parallel search for links should be used. Google Webmaster Tools will bring back a much larger sampling of results.
In the SEO world, where clients want to see the progress their SEO is making this has sometimes led to a potential area of conflict. The SEO sets off building links but the client can often be sceptical or concerned about the number of links that are being built when using the Link: Command in Google. The sampling is not indicative of the full number of links that exist.
Link: Command vs. Google Webmaster Tools
Taking The WebMarketing Group’s website as an example. If we were to use the Link: Command in Google as our exclusive gauge the number of links would appear limited, certainly not a true reflection of the number of links.
Using Google Webmaster Tools the number of links stands at the more realistic level, tenfold larger than the number the Link: Command brings back.
Why does the Link: Command not show a true reflection of the number of links?
Back in 2004, Google decided to “dumb” down the Link: Command results to only bring back a sampling but within that sampling there appears to be little consistency. Google decided to only show important links but these are highly random
Is there any order to Link: Command results?
Adding more confusion, there appears to be no logical explanation as to the importance or indeed order of the results the Link: Command brings back. The currency of the results through Link: Command are also debatable.
What is the ultimate way to find the number of links pointing to your website?
Here at The WebMarketing Group we are aware that the Link: Command in Google is not accurate and that a sampling of information is made available. We use in-house software and processes to find the realistic, up-to-date number of links. We use several search engines and the Link: Command to gauge the accurate number of links.
Not aiming to be overtly negative, “half empty rather than half full” we’d like to point out that the Link: Command in Google should not be used exclusively as a metric to measure SEO.
Analytics should form a key part of SEO but successful measurement of SEO ROI should use multiple tools and much deeper analysis. We’ve got it covered here at The WebMarketing Group and use the best tools, processes and analytical heads to make sure we can report on progress and let our clients know of the measurable results we bring to their online marketing.
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