As you undoubtedly know, Yahoo! and MSN recently agreed to a 10-year search deal (Search Engine Land breaks down the deal in simple terms, essentially pointing out the final nail struck in Yahoo!’s search coffin). Aaron Wall highlighted some SEO stuff that’s still hanging in the balance, such as the Yahoo! Directory and Yahoo! Site Explorer’s link data features. The Yahoo! Directory has been one of the web’s most valuable link directories, and Site Explorer is used by virtually every Internet marketer in our industry. Getting rid of (somewhat) reliable link data would make our jobs considerably more difficult…and here’s where Google should step in.
While Yahoo! and MSN are taking time to hash our their deal (it could take a couple years), Google should take the opportunity to really offer up some non-sucky link data. You can currently get a link analysis via Google using the link: command, but it returns a laughably small sample (Google Blog Search is considerably better with the command, though still only shows a sampling of links). I don’t know why Google’s been all butt hurt in the past about sharing some site information with webmasters, but now’s the chance to step up and rectify that. Site Explorer was pretty much the most useful thing about Yahoo!, and while Yahoo! and MSN are busy sitting around trying to divvy up their assets like a couple of kids swapping Pokemon cards, Google needs to put on their schmoozin’ face and win the hearts and loyalty of webmasters and Internet marketers.
“What about a third party tool?” you say. Well, with a third party tool there’s the inherent trust issue. If you don’t know the company or brand very well, you might not trust it to develop and put out a credible link analysis tool. Besides, this sort of tool would take an immense amount of data to pull off, and a lot of sites don’t have enough access to that sort of information like a search engine does, so accuracy comes into play…which then circles back to trust. If your tool has inaccurate or severely limited data, people won’t trust the information it spits out and won’t be likely to use it.
I’m sure that some Internet marketing and SEO sites could come up with a decent tool and it would get a considerable amount of adoption, but it would pale in comparison to the usage a major search engine tool would get. Google already has the brand dominance and has established a large amount of trust, and you know they’ve got the data. It’s time for them to fill the void if Yahoo! were to discontinue Site Explorer.
Even if Site Explorer doesn’t go away, Google can still take this opportunity to put out a link analysis tool that’s better than Site Explorer’s. Show nofollowed links, anchor text, redirected links, questionable/low quality links — if Google can offer this sort of data, it would make Yahoo!/Bing’s Site Explorer obsolete (I’m sure people would still use it for comparison’s sake, but there would still obviously be a dominant t00l).
That’s what I’d like to see emerge from this news — Google steps up to the plate and delivers some great new tools that help marketers and webmasters, which, in turn, would help the quality of Google’s index and search results. What do you guys think? What should Google do/how should they answer to the merge announcement? Should they do anything at all, or do you think they’ll keep doing what they’ve been doing since it seems to be working well for them thus far?
About the author...
Rebecca Kelley – who has written 31 posts on ShoeMoney.com.
Rebecca Kelley is the Director of Marketing for This or That, a user-generated comparison website. She also runs Mediocre Athlete, a hobby blog about exercising and training. In her spare time, Rebecca is a freelance blogger for hire, loves food and movies, and trains for marathons and triathlons.
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{ 103 comments… read them below or add one }
I think that would be awesome and I would definetly use it. Don’t like to use the yahoo site explorer because it only shows do-follow links
Who says that yahoo only shows do follow links. They also show no follow and they include in do follow links.
Yahoo shows all kind of links. But there is one major difference between Yahoo and Google is that Yahoo as on today ranking the websites which has Spammy onpage optimization, one of the most common thing using which you can achieve easy ranking in yahoo for any damn keyword..lol
Just because Google is viewed as the hardest search engine to manipulate, that does not mean that if you rank there you will also rank elsewhere.
ince many of those spammy sites were dominating Yahoo!, that meant that their rankings suppressed many garbage sites. Outside of having a ton of link equity or a killer brand, ranking across all the major search engines for certain keywords (especially in competitive areas) might be mutually exclusive.
Googles “link:” command use to offer all the data, it was removed to prevent SEO’s using it. By Yahoo closing Site Explorer its going to make Backlink Research much more difficult which is exactly what Google wants. So IMO it just ain’t gonna happen..
You can not beat BIG G ..ok dude
Matt Cutt clearly said that they do not want show the full list of links as this can tend to increase in spam by the competitor.
If you want to know your own backlinks than sign up for webmaster tool of Google and you will be able to see all your links at there.
But showing all backlinks of any website … I do not think that Google will start this kind of service.
Well i agree with zubin 100% about google have not time to do anything which is related to showing backlinks which is present on the internet. Any which ways google will not get affected by any kind of tie ups happening across the world.
Ricky … Here time is not the factor … They just do not want to show it and only reason which Matt states is to stop spamming.
And certainly Google will get effect. Bing already shows a positive sign.
Yes Zubin i agree with you that time is not important factor. Well i little disagree with your saying that google will get effect. Bing is doing well i can understand that but at the same time you have to also see that OLD MSN search engine is no more in to picture now. So we can say that traffic is diverted from OLD to NEW…
Before Bing I always searched for photos in Google Images but now I saw that Bing showing more relevant photos for my keywords.
Hence I shifted from Google Images to Bing so this is one visitor loss to Google and I do believe that there are many example of this kind.
If new things come to the market old things will feel the heat, directly or indirectly.
Backlink Research much more difficult which is exactly what Google wants.Don’t like to use the yahoo site explorer because it only shows do-follow links
Huh? Yahoo shows plenty of my no-follow links.
new author?
Jeremy so busy?
He is on vacation – http://www.shoemoney.com/2009/07/26/busy-week/
Well Jeremy is on Vacation until 4th of August 2009. You don’t know that ???
I think that Google does not want any SEOs to have this data, and I can’t see them ever relinquishing. The number of links is one thing, but the quality complement of Google’s equation will always be an unknown as I see it. Reportedly directory listings, blog comments, social bookmarking, article marketing, and true blog article content with a link all produce back links. Not all links have equal value and Google is not about to share that info.
Rebecca do you really think Yahoo and MSN can even give 1% competition to google as far as Search engine is concerned ??
I reckon Google will buff up the Webmaster section instead of making a public tool. Hope I’m wrong though
I’m all for google becoming even more of a one stop shop!
I’m not for Google becoming a one stop shop. The more space they own, the more they will own us as individuals. Competition is good.
Just wondering, why don´t you mention your old employer?
I’m sure Google will pull something out of their sleeve to offset that partnership. It will be just a matter of time until we see what it is.
We hope this will be healthy competition in which users will be the winner.
Its really a tasting time and coming few months will be interesting to see this.
Yes i totally agree with ZK that user will be the ultimate winner. Zubin you mean Testing ??
Hahahahahah! It could well be a tasting time! Savouring backlinks via Google.
Google’s Webmaster Tools already allows us to see all inbound links for our sites. You can even download the spreadsheet and report on the data any way you like.
What kind of tool are you asking them develop beyond this?
A tool that allows to see link data of third party sites.
Something which shows beyond webmaster tool which can also show Spam Links of your website, Bad Neighborhood links etc etc. Also a tool where you can see the Progress of your keywords from time to time as far as rankings are concerned and many more an i right Rebecca ??
sockmonkey-
This post is for internet marketers who build tools for competitive intelligence.
GWT is good if you own the site… but not if you want to find out about competitors sites.
Gotcha… I think I spend too much time in my bubble… need to get out more.
i am italian but i thing with blog is super!
I wonder how will google benefit helping the webmasters. I think they are already doing a great job enhancing search user experience.
There is always space for improvement and specially when there is competition.
Competition should be always healthy & honest. As far as improvement is concerned when 2 GIANTS are fighting it will come automatically..lol
Too true Ricky,
Once they start competing bigger and better will come automatically.
Google has been treating its customers like rubbish just because they knew that they had a monopoly in the market. But when they get to know that there is competition, then things will change and that will be in the benefit of the consumer.
Good post, I prefer google inlinks though
Now this is a minor testing time for Google. Even one percent loss to google because of this partnership can force google to think about it.
I am sure Google big think tank already started to build the strategy for the coming months.
What I like about Google is they always come up with the new products and ideas. And I think that one is their strong positive aspect.
Lets wait and watch … Time will reveal everything …
Perhaps I’m missing the point of this post, but why would Google create a tool that helps SEOs “game” their algorithm by gaining competitive data on who has what back links? I don’t see this happening anytime too soon. You’re probably better off to hope that Bing’s “decision engine” finally brings contextual search to a point that Google is forced to stop relying on backlinks as a primary indicator of what should be in the SERPs or not.
I do not think that Google searches based on only backlinks. Although this one is important ingredient but to give it(backlink) a perfect tastes there are more other factors as well which they consider like quality and reputation as well.
Err…I believe reputation comes from backlinks?
Reputation are also come from Original contents … and from relevant and good neighbour backlinks
Google’s main focus is the basic search experience. They don’t want to help SEO.
I agree with some that the revamp of the Google Webmaster Tools that their back-link tool is getting better but that’s only valuable to sites that you own or manage, NOT sites that you are researching and analyzing on a daily basis. Yahoo is great for that because it exposes some-what accurate data about your competitors. It would be nice to see Google launch a link tool similar to the Keyword External Tool.
I do not think that this is going to happen. Google will never saw such kind of data. Ultimately this kind of tool will make their task tougher.
You never zubin that might be possible.
“like a couple of kids swapping Pokemon cards”
Ha!
At least they have a hobby now.
Too funny, nice comment! I thing Google should step up, but that they are scared that Yahoo and Microsoft has joined forces but to keep a competitive edge above the rest!
coolll post here
Yeah that would be terrific if Google stepped up to the plate. Not sure if they will though.
Google being nice to internet marketers, that will be the day. I won’t hold my breath.
My money says Google will never cough up the competetive data, and i’;ve always assumed that’s exactly why the public link: command does so little. They’ve limited it for competitive intelligence…
I can’t agree with you more, Scott. Having said that, one of the only reasons for me using Yahoo! is to get information on the backlinks of sites,and if they discontinue that, they’re going to do themselves a disservice.
I guess you are absolutely right here buddy.
Google definitely need to release a decent link analysis tool. I for one would use it over Yahoo’s site explorer if it were available.
Google are not going to show backlinks … because for them this is just like giving data of websites to do spamming for link building.
Quite right, actually. Google really needs to step up to the plate as they have done with other solutions and offer a link information tool for grownups.
Competitive Intelligence….I like that…Thats totally an accurate way to describe it. I don’t foresee Google making that change at all. I’m not sure that Google sees sharing site information with web masters as profitable and can’t really see how the change would fit into the asset column….
Hmmm…How does providing site information to web masters improve user (aside from internet marketers) quality and/or covert to $$$$…??
Google show only links that have the following criteria
- natural links.
- from trusted sites.
- relevant industry.
Congrats on doing such a great job on your blog!
So Google would win the hearts of webmasters by showing all their links of to competitors? LOL! This article is a bit shifty. Yahoo Site Explorer is a liberty – it’s also an invasion of every webmasters privacy. Google restrict others from seeing these links for that very reason. This would seriously skew SEO up, cos it would take ppl 2 minutes to take this data and then go after the same links. This is why they keep the algo top secret and keep any rumours of the sandbox simply as that. Yahoo Site Explorer (alike Alexa) is a great tool, but it’s already pushing things as it is.:)
All of us webmasters sometime fall back onto something like a Yahoo Site explorer because I want to know about my competitors to win in the competition. But we are also outright in restricting the promotions of such services just because we do not want our data to be published.
I think if Google starts showing all the link information that they have in their database, somebody may figure out a large portion of their algorithm and try to game the system even more. I don’t know why Google has to win the hearts of the internet marketers? 99% people in the world use Google not for internet marketing. Though they generate lots of money from people engaged in PPC marketing, PPC marketers also don’t have any other option.
PPC is one of their biggest source of money and you can’t just buy the keyword, you also have to bid to the highest price and at least google should consider about your site traffic before accept your application
I think Google will step in with something this time. You never know what they are upto.
Let’s face it folks….I seriously doubt that Google will revert back to full backlinks disclosure, as they’ve already been there, and they do not like SEO’s.
A third party will step in, because there is a huge demand for this kind of information, but the days of free backlink checks and analysis seem to be drawing to an end here.
I agree with your views Jacques.
It seems Google is still in the sellers’ market era and in unaware that these days it is a consumer’s maket.
Some 3rd party like you said will take advantage of this and the dominant ones today will pay the penalty for it – Google in this case.
Google is full of surprises, so who knows…
Yep, Google is always full of suprises. Just check your web rankings, adwords and adsense accounts and you will see a nice suprise almost every day. It would be nice if they were a bit consistent instead of always messing with people.
Yes, google also surprised me last week by droping one of my tech site pagerank, just don’t know what was happened that they need to drop my site
Google can win the hearts of internet marketers by being transparent, meeting marketers expectation.
A valid point made. With the increasing size of Google, their services have deteriorated. I had started using Google about 5 years ago and their customer support and service then, is much different from what it is today. they treat their customers like rubbish and I chose to start using their competitors in Yahoo and Microsoft for my business. My ROI, since has become much better and I am not spending a fortune like I used to some time back at Google.
It seems that now Google is favorable only to the big business houses. Probably makes business sense that way.
Nice one..
Interesting post, while I must admit I’ve used yahoo’4 backlink pool to learn of new backlink sources, I doubt the will continue to keep it up. As for google “buying” it, I’m sure google could provide the same info and more if they thought it was benificial.change is good.
Thanks for the post we follow you on twitter.
Joe @ small business tips
The magnitude of a Google can only be visualized when you hear that Microsoft is running helter-skelter and doing everything that is mathematics to try to beat the.
Such the size of the search marketing business that even a Microsoft is hungry for a piece of it.
Having said that I wonder is ever Yahoo and Microsoft can put in a competition for Google. But there is also a story where a Google once beat an established Yahoo black and blue.
Interesting post though.
Kumar your saying makes lots of sense & i agree with your saying this time
To all those people who thinks that Yahoo will close site explorer … let me tell you that they are not going to close it. Because this is one place where yahoo is enjoying monopoly and they are not going to give it away.
And google is also not going to disclose backlinks of third party website publicly.
So that means everything will be remain unchanged …
Good news for me lol.
I also heard about that rumors before, what a ncie news for me today
This is not at all news this is my assumption and I think this is absolutely right.
I doubt that Google is even worried about the merger, and I think it is good to have two major engines because of the competition the level of quality apps and other thing are sure to follow.
Have you heard about myhpf.co.uk?
I heard this site was affiliate with yahoo to bring google down. As described on their site, they pay the people that invite friends, set their default search engine using this one.
Any comments?
I think the whole point of Google hiding link info was to stop sites from seeing (and copying) a competitor’s linking strategy.
They have no reason to reverse their original decision.
Google being a search mogul, really surpised me when I found out that they didn’t have any decent tools besides analytics which is also rather dissapointing at time.
Step Up G!
~Igor
Have you used their webmaster tool … I do not think so … your comments is saying so.
I agree, Google can always win, they’re well developed, always keep updating site’s data, really reliable, no wonder almost every internet marketer like it
Great observation!! If Google would develop a good link directory, then it would push MS/Yahoo back down, on-par with AOL!!
Thanks for the good read!
Lee
East or West – big G is the best.
From your keyboard to Google’s ears. Mostly I don’t think Google cares (though he should) whether online marketers needs are being met. But if Goofle won’t, I surely hope bing, picks up the ball.
There are exactly 2 useful tools in those engines.
1. yahoo’s explorer (which you mentioned)
2. bing’s image search … it absolutely rocks!
I think a 3rd party link tool would go over well but scraping the entire internet is a BIG challenge. It would end up being a subscription site.
The combination of the 2 engines will actually make their combined market-share drop like a rock. It’s a sad thing for the internet.
Yes i agree with your saying of end up being a subscription site.
It will go the subscription only route, and it definitely will not be a cheap service either. This will serve to make SEO the preserve of the elite crowd who can afford to purchase the correct software. The days of DIY SEO are surely numbered.
Lets be honest guys. Google is the search engine. I would not bother with any other because Googl’s alogarithms have to be the best to remain at number one. Every other se is just playing catch up
It is true that google is #1, but the real issue at stake here is the fact that they cloak important seo data, especially as far as backlinks are concerned. This means that the data provided by yahoo is used by search marketers to evaluate what their competitors are up to. Because of the yahoo & microsoft deal people are worried that this data will no longer be so freely available.
I don’t know if it would be a good idea if G launched a backlink tool checker. Everyone was crying out for G to launch a keyword tool. Well they obliged. However there many cases where this tool is extremely unaccurate. Personally I just use it for keyword ideas and nothing else. I fear the same would happen if they launch a backlink tool.
Im sure Google has the power to make some good marketer tools. A new site explorer from them would be really great. Especially if they want to compete against the new Bing
Yup I gree with Bidet
Google is working on many tools and they are on pipeline … even they will come with the live search results as well.
Wow that is something exciting about bing thanks for the info Zubin. I will try out that option and see if that works for me or not.
i have to check out Bing now…
Go ahead and they are showing more relevant results …
That is great info thank’s dude. i will keep it