Backlink results

[caravan]

Hi,

I've been putting together a monthly report for some clients regarding their optimisation progress. In order to track the number of backlinks I use linkpopularity.com but over time I've noticed the results can wildly differ from month to month. Is this normal? Is there a definitive way of getting an accurate indication of the number of backlinks to a site? Would you recommend using some linkbuilding software to help manage the link tracking process?

Andy

[meinking22]

Not sure what you mean by "definitive," but I personally use the link:[domain] command in the search field of http://www.alltheweb.com to get a solid tally of backlinks when researching websites.

Steve

[Janna122003]

I check my link popularity everyday. Every hour or should I say every minute number of backlinks change.

[DrTandem1]

Such services are dependent upon the data center they happen to hit when they are checked. As you may have noticed, search results for the same SE using the same terms, computer, LAN and browser may have vastly different results from one moment to the next. This is because not all of the data bases are updated at the same time. It is an ongoing process.

[kevinper]

All I know is I can find my site more in search results (linked from different sites) than I can using the link: command in the search engine.

[seojoe]

there are different factors that affect link popularity that can be out of your control. Many different things can happen to your link on a particulare website. PR can go down, the link can be removed, the page can be remove, the website can be removed, the domain expires, the domain gets banned. these items can all have an affect on your links. I am sure there are some other circumstances that I cant think of at this moment.

[lorio]

I have seen the question posted on this forum so many times! It is a common inconsistency with any backlink reporting for all the reasons stated above. The important thing is for you (or your clients) to not get caught up on the actual backlink numbers. Backlinks are just a fraction of all the different aspects of SEO. It is fine to use as supplemental information, but that is just about all you can do with it, since it is so inconsistent.

Instead of focusing on how many backlinks are out there (because once out there they are out of your control, and so is the data), you might change your reporting to list how many backlinks you have added/pursued in your SEO efforts for your clients. That way you are accountable to your clients for the things you have some control over, and not trying to explain numbers to them over which you have no control.

[incrediblehelp]

Originally Posted by lorio

I have seen the question posted on this forum so many times! It is a common inconsistency with any backlink reporting for all the reasons stated above. The important thing is for you (or your clients) to not get caught up on the actual backlink numbers. Backlinks are just a fraction of all the different aspects of SEO. It is fine to use as supplemental information, but that is just about all you can do with it, since it is so inconsistent.

Instead of focusing on how many backlinks are out there (because once out there they are out of your control, and so is the data), you might change your reporting to list how many backlinks you have added/pursued in your SEO efforts for your clients. That way you are accountable to your clients for the things you have some control over, and not trying to explain numbers to them over which you have no control.

Well said.

[thegypsy]

Originally Posted by incrediblehelp

Well said.

Agreed IncredibleH (How R U?)

There is little 'given' to us. For me one established a baseline (YaH or Live etc..) and use it as such. A formal number is not needed. Simply a baseline figure to guage one's efforts against...

[caravan]

Thanks for the advice and viewpoints inparticluar Lorio. I think you've hit the nail on the head.

At the beginning of our optimisation work for clients we run a baseline report on our selected keywords/phrases, how many backlinks the client currently has and cross match this with their competitors.

Each month we log and report the keyword rankings, number of backlinks and activities we've undertaken for the client. This sounds in line with Lorio's comments. We are setting a baseline mark for future gains and then report the ebb and flow of backlinks and rankings as well as the work we have undertaken that month.

[Steven1976a]

If your running reports for clients have you tried Internet Business Promoter to help you prepare the reports. I dont know about the back link analysis as I dont use it myself but I would imagine you can run reports through it as well as lots of other reports to show how they are ranking. If your preparing the reports manually now Im sure it will save you a lot of time each month