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: September 18, 2025

Sep 18, 2025 - 10:00 am
Google

Google Search Anti-Scraper Job Now Closed

Sep 18, 2025 - 7:51 am
Google

Google Kinda Comments On Search Console Impressions Dip

Sep 18, 2025 - 7:41 am
Google

Google AI Mode Ask About Any Item

Sep 18, 2025 - 7:31 am
Google

Google Announces Top Quality & Store Widget Again

Sep 18, 2025 - 7:21 am
Google

Official: Google Discover Rolling Out Follow Feature & Creator Content

Sep 18, 2025 - 7:11 am
 
Previous Story: Google Code Snippets Now Available in Universal Search