A SitePoint Forums thread asks, as links get older, to they loose their power? Here is the exact question:
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.
It is a very good question. In fact, I wrote a post a while back named The Life Time Value of Links Based on Google Webmaster Central. In that write-up, I tried to look at Google's Webmaster Tools and see if there is any valid evidence to prove that links, as they age, are worth less or not? I was not able to come up with such a conclusion.
The question of aged links is a good one. On one hand, some people feel Google only values links that have aged. On the other hand, people say fresh and new links are more valuable than older links. Which is it? Of course, you can then say, fresh links on established and aged domains are worth the most. Or is it older links on established and aged domains worth more?
I figured I poll the audience and see which type of link you would prefer. Of course, there are many variables, but keep everything consistent and equal, except the variables mentioned in the poll:
Forum discussion at SitePoint Forums.
