Does the Google link: Operator Choose the Ordering by Relevance?

Apr 7, 2008 - 9:59 am 4 by

If you were ever to perform a link: query on Google, you'd be presented with a lot of links. But are they ordered in any such way that authoritative links are listed before any other links? Nobody knows for sure, but some people have seen some experience to indicate that the link: operator only shows higher quality links. However, they also note that in the past, Google has changed this policy because it was a great way for competition to try to score some "higher quality" links.

Tedster reports that the link: operator is merely a sampling of what really exists out there. Similarly, you're only seeing a sampling of your links when you do a link analysis on Google Webmaster Tools.

Nobody believes that the results are randomized. One forum member reports that the link: operator shows basically the same results every time. There's some order, but it's hard to say exactly what it is.

Forum discussion continues at WebmasterWorld.

 

Popular Categories

The Pulse of the search community

Search Video Recaps

 
- YouTube
Video Details More Videos Subscribe to Videos

Most Recent Articles

Search Forum Recap

Daily Search Forum Recap: April 25, 2025

Apr 25, 2025 - 10:00 am
Search Video Recaps

Search News Buzz Video Recap: Google Earnings Report, Ranking Volatility, AI Overviews Harm Clicks, Search Ads Grow & More

Apr 25, 2025 - 8:01 am
Google Search Engine Optimization

Google: Image Streaming Is Not SEO Friendly

Apr 25, 2025 - 7:51 am
Google

Google Mobile Tests Search Snippet With Blue URL & URL / Site Name Switch

Apr 25, 2025 - 7:41 am
Bing Ads

Microsoft Advertising Suspends Client Connection Requests Temporarily

Apr 25, 2025 - 7:31 am
Google

Google Search Behind The Music Generative AI Section

Apr 25, 2025 - 7:21 am
Previous Story: Google Code Snippets Now Available in Universal Search