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Webmaster Tools: Links To Your Site - Don't Despair

By
Industry Observer

If you have a Google Webmaster Tools Account, you might be looking too frequently at the stats for "Links To Your Site".

Too frequently?

Unlike AR and a lot of other places that either update real-time, or nightly . . . the "Links To Your Site" might not catch up with new links for weeks after the links went into place.

webmaster tools links

 

Here is an example:

  1. You decide you need more backlinks because without backlinks, you'll get nowhere in the SERPs
  2. You comment like crazy on sites all over the place
  3. You guest blog
  4. You write articles for article directories
  5. You write AR post after AR post, and link back to your own site's content

Yet, the links don't show up in your Webmaster Tools Account.

You get depressed and stop gunning for back links.

And then POP! A few weeks later, the number of backlinks reported in Webmaster Tools suddenly triples!  Whoo Hoo!

Moral of the story: sometimes it takes a while to see the results.

Keep up your backlink campaign and sooner or later, some of them will "take" and you'll start to see them grow organcially, without your help.

The more you have out there, the more other spiders and people can find your site and put in backlinks to your content without additional work on your part.

Like everything, it just takes time and consistent action.

Peggy Hughes/pha logistix, inc.
pha logistix inc - San Francisco, CA
SF NYC LA

Thanks Alison.  I'm still learning about all this stuff and your explanation about timing of back links is very helpful.

May 26, 2011 04:58 PM
Allen 2222
Austin, TX

Hi Peggy - for those of us that are missing the "patience gene", it helps to know what to expect! :-)

May 26, 2011 05:59 PM
Allen 2222
Austin, TX

Even knowing this, I still have a hard time not checking constantly for new links!!!

Jun 09, 2011 05:12 AM
Debbie Gartner
The Flooring Girl - White Plains, NY
The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers

Thx Allsion. Yes, I need to get back on track w/ these b commenting on other WP blogs.  I'll have to set a goal for each week.  I actually should check my google websmaster acct more often (i don't go that often) and my google analytics less often.

Jun 17, 2011 03:43 AM
Allen 2222
Austin, TX

Hi Debbie - this is one of those where it can be really hard to keep up the motivation. Kind of like going for a run at 5am - we know it's good for us, but man oh man, sometimes it just doesn't make the list! :-)

Jun 17, 2011 04:52 AM