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Zealus.com · Jan 18, 2008, 13:11

This is something I have noticed couple of times in the past - it "feels" that old backlinks expire or loose value over time. Mostly for Google, although I can vouch for other search engines, since I've been monitoring this behavior on Google only. I know for sure that certain links do exist, but Google either discounts them or gives them less value with each PageRank update. Those links slowly disappear from back link search results.

Am I right or just being too paranoid?

I posted this question on another forum, but crowd there isn't sure either. Any input would be appreciated.

stymiee · Jan 18, 2008, 14:31

As long as that link exists it has some value. That value will change naturally as factors surrounding it change. The page context may change. The page's PR may change. The value of the page it is on may change.

This is the kind of stuff that is nice for a fun chat but never should be much of a thought n anyone's mind. Not only can't you tell exactly what is going on, but you can't control it even if you did. Just be happy you have the link.

Zealus.com · Jan 18, 2008, 14:39

I am happy, for some time I though I had a base to build upon. Now turns out the base is sort of... sinking with time

stymiee · Jan 18, 2008, 16:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zealus.com

I am happy, for some time I though I had a base to build upon. Now turns out the base is sort of... sinking with time

There's no evidence that older links are devalued so don't be so sure of that.

Zealus.com · Jan 18, 2008, 16:16

I sort of did this unintentional experiment - I had a lot of links from some web sites to one of my blogs. I stopped building back links at some point and site just dived down in number of backlinks as well as search results. Number of backlinks in google was decreasing, even though when I manually checked for "non-existent" links - they were there.

Kind of weird if you ask me

stymiee · Jan 19, 2008, 08:29

How did you check the backlinks? Did you use the link: operator? Did you verify those pages didn't add nofollow? Did you verify those pages were still indexed?

Zealus.com · Jan 19, 2008, 12:21

Yes, that's how I did check for backlinks. If there is any other way - please let me know, I'll keep it in my toolbox. I know there are some "scripts" that check for back links, but I haven't seen them yet.

Yes, I did verify that. That would be too obvious to miss.

Yes, they were indexed and links were present both on the page and in the Google cache.

As I have said - it could be that I am unlucky

, could be that some data centers weren't available at the moment of check, could be dozens of other reasons as you have stated yourself. I am just trying to figure out if that is a common notion or just a coincidence.

stymiee · Jan 19, 2008, 15:18

The link: operator doesn't return all backlinks Google knows about so it is a very unreliable method to check the backlinks of a site.

smikkel · Jan 19, 2008, 16:37

As far as I can see : older backlinks raise in value (if the page retains it's old rank/status)

Zealus.com · Jan 20, 2008, 10:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by stymiee

The link: operator doesn't return all backlinks Google knows about so it is a very unreliable method to check the backlinks of a site.

Yeah, I am aware of that (read somewhere about it). But it shows less and less links over time - that's the problem.

stymiee · Jan 20, 2008, 12:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by smikkel

As far as I can see : older backlinks raise in value (if the page retains it's old rank/status)

That's not true either.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zealus.com

Yeah, I am aware of that (read somewhere about it). But it shows less and less links over time - that's the problem.

You can always get a Google Webmaster Tools account which shows more links. Or use Yahoo instead.

Zealus.com · Jan 20, 2008, 13:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by stymiee

That's not true either.

I second that

Quote:

Originally Posted by stymiee

You can always get a Google Webmaster Tools account which shows more links. Or use Yahoo instead.

Yahoo reports back links better? Hmm, I didn't know that

petertdavis · Jan 21, 2008, 08:04

As stymiee points out, we can't know how much of an impact the age of links will have in the search engine's algo. What I can say fairly certainly is that if you've built up enough links today to be at top for your industry, and it's a competitive industry, and you stop building links, you're going to eventually be knocked off that top position and it's not because your links have less value it's because your competitors kept building links when you stopped. Even if you didn't stop building links, it could be that your competition is just doing it better/faster than you currently are and it may have the appearance of your links becoming less valuable but it's really only that your competitions is out-pacing you.

Rebirth Studios · Jan 21, 2008, 11:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by petertdavis

As stymiee points out, we can't know how much of an impact the age of links will have in the search engine's algo. What I can say fairly certainly is that if you've built up enough links today to be at top for your industry, and it's a competitive industry, and you stop building links, you're going to eventually be knocked off that top position and it's not because your links have less value it's because your competitors kept building links when you stopped. Even if you didn't stop building links, it could be that your competition is just doing it better/faster than you currently are and it may have the appearance of your links becoming less valuable but it's really only that your competitions is out-pacing you.

My thought exactly, it's not about the age, it's about the relevance.

The internet is so organic in its geometric growth, that if you don't foster your website's development by adding consistent relevant value to the viewer, other website's could overtake you and steal away users and links that could have been going to your website.

bigalreturns · Jan 21, 2008, 16:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by petertdavis

As stymiee points out, we can't know how much of an impact the age of links will have in the search engine's algo. What I can say fairly certainly is that if you've built up enough links today to be at top for your industry, and it's a competitive industry, and you stop building links, you're going to eventually be knocked off that top position and it's not because your links have less value it's because your competitors kept building links when you stopped. Even if you didn't stop building links, it could be that your competition is just doing it better/faster than you currently are and it may have the appearance of your links becoming less valuable but it's really only that your competitions is out-pacing you.

To borrow a phrase from evolutionary biology - "You have to keep running to stand still."

rcj662 · Jan 21, 2008, 17:03

Some of the links might be devalued by google. Yahoo shows most links no matter what they are.

stymiee · Jan 21, 2008, 17:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcj662

Some of the links might be devalued by google.

Why would you say that?

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcj662

Yahoo shows most links no matter what they are.

That's why you should get a Google's Webmaster Account

Jan 18, 2008, 13:11	#1
Zealus.com Non-Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: New York Posts: 19	Do backlinks expire from Google? This is something I have noticed couple of times in the past - it "feels" that old backlinks expire or loose value over time. Mostly for Google, although I can vouch for other search engines, since I've been monitoring this behavior on Google only. I know for sure that certain links do exist, but Google either discounts them or gives them less value with each PageRank update. Those links slowly disappear from back link search results. Am I right or just being too paranoid? I posted this question on another forum, but crowd there isn't sure either. Any input would be appreciated.

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Jan 18, 2008, 14:31	#2
stymiee He's No Good To Me Dead Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Slave I Posts: 24,095	As long as that link exists it has some value. That value will change naturally as factors surrounding it change. The page context may change. The page's PR may change. The value of the page it is on may change. This is the kind of stuff that is nice for a fun chat but never should be much of a thought n anyone's mind. Not only can't you tell exactly what is going on, but you can't control it even if you did. Just be happy you have the link.

Jan 18, 2008, 14:39	#3
Zealus.com Non-Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: New York Posts: 19	I am happy, for some time I though I had a base to build upon. Now turns out the base is sort of... sinking with time

Jan 18, 2008, 16:16	#5
Zealus.com Non-Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: New York Posts: 19	I sort of did this unintentional experiment - I had a lot of links from some web sites to one of my blogs. I stopped building back links at some point and site just dived down in number of backlinks as well as search results. Number of backlinks in google was decreasing, even though when I manually checked for "non-existent" links - they were there. Kind of weird if you ask me

Jan 19, 2008, 08:29	#6
stymiee He's No Good To Me Dead Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Slave I Posts: 24,095	How did you check the backlinks? Did you use the link: operator? Did you verify those pages didn't add nofollow? Did you verify those pages were still indexed?

Jan 19, 2008, 12:21	#7
Zealus.com Non-Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: New York Posts: 19	Yes, that's how I did check for backlinks. If there is any other way - please let me know, I'll keep it in my toolbox. I know there are some "scripts" that check for back links, but I haven't seen them yet. Yes, I did verify that. That would be too obvious to miss. Yes, they were indexed and links were present both on the page and in the Google cache. As I have said - it could be that I am unlucky , could be that some data centers weren't available at the moment of check, could be dozens of other reasons as you have stated yourself. I am just trying to figure out if that is a common notion or just a coincidence.

Jan 19, 2008, 15:18	#8
stymiee He's No Good To Me Dead Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Slave I Posts: 24,095	The link: operator doesn't return all backlinks Google knows about so it is a very unreliable method to check the backlinks of a site.

Jan 19, 2008, 16:37	#9
smikkel SitePoint Enthusiast Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 35	As far as I can see : older backlinks raise in value (if the page retains it's old rank/status)

Jan 21, 2008, 08:04	#13
petertdavis Intoxicated with the madness Join Date: May 2002 Location: New England Posts: 8,834	As stymiee points out, we can't know how much of an impact the age of links will have in the search engine's algo. What I can say fairly certainly is that if you've built up enough links today to be at top for your industry, and it's a competitive industry, and you stop building links, you're going to eventually be knocked off that top position and it's not because your links have less value it's because your competitors kept building links when you stopped. Even if you didn't stop building links, it could be that your competition is just doing it better/faster than you currently are and it may have the appearance of your links becoming less valuable but it's really only that your competitions is out-pacing you.

Jan 21, 2008, 17:03	#16
rcj662 SitePoint Wizard Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 1,207	Some of the links might be devalued by google. Yahoo shows most links no matter what they are.