Confusion over Google backlink numbers

[Nups]

Hi Everyone,

Please clear my confusion

When i check backlinks to my site in google using the following command
"link:http://www.example.com"
i see 10 back links

BUT...

when i check it with the command
"link: http://www.example.com" (notice the space after "link:")
i see 100 backlinks

Why is this difference and what does it mean

[edited by: phranque at 12:22 pm (utc) on April 9, 2008]
[edit reason] examplified urls [/edit]

[phranque]

welcome back to WebmasterWorld [webmasterworld.com], Nups!

first quick test i tried i got 4 different results for:
- link: http://www.example.com
- link:http://www.example.com
- link: www.example.com
- link:www.example.com

i haven't analyzed the differences yet, but i must admit i'm surprised by the results.

[tedster]

The term link: is a special operator, and you need to follow its syntax exactly - that means no space if you really want the operator function. When you include a space, you have turned link: into one of your regular search terms. You therefore get a higher number, because a true link no longer needs to be present - just the word "link" and the terms included in the domain name.

Here's the word from Google:

The query [link:] will list webpages that have links to the specified webpage. For instance, [link:www.google.com] will list webpages that have links pointing to the Google homepage. Note there can be no space between the "link:" and the web page url.

This functionality is also accessible from the Advanced Search [google.com] page, under Page Specific Search > Links.

[google.com...]

[Bewenched]

You'll also see differences if you put the operator in all uppercase as well like

LINK:www.example.com
vs
link:www.example.com

[Nups]

Dear All,
ok...this clears my confusion... thanks phranque,tedster & Bewenched.

[vancyborg]

>> first quick test i tried i got 4 different results for:
- link: http://www.example.com
- link:http://www.example.com
- link: www.example.com
- link:www.example.com

But, I tried these tests on my site. The following two commands are showing same results.

link:www.example.com
link:http://www.example.com

[phranque]

the test i made when i first posted, they were off by 1 or 2.
i just retested and they were indeed the same.
could have been a glitch or "data center inconsistencies"...