How Google determines "links to" my site?

Why isn't Google registering all incoming links?

[blastboy88]

I have noticed in Google that my site has 54 incoming links (using link:www.widgets.com). However, when I search for www.widgets.com in Google, I've found hundreds of other sites with links to my site that aren't being counted as "links to" my site (as per Google).

I can see no difference between the links on these pages and the ones that are actually counting as links to my site. Why don't these pages show up when I use link:www.widgets.com?

Sorry if this question is rather basic, I am new to optimizing my site for Google.

[anandus]

If Google would count all links as links, then links in signatures would count as inlinks.

I reckon Google weighs te PR of a page, to count or not count a link?

[BigDave]

Google is registering them, they just aren't reporting them with the link: command. They never have.

[blastboy88]

So if Google is registering them but not reporting them (in link: command), do they count towards my position in the SERPs? I thought that only the pages in "links to" count towards my site's link popularity.

[bether2]

So if Google is registering them but not reporting them (in link: command), do they count towards my position in the SERPs?

Yup, I think that's the general consensus - as long as it's a straight link and not a redirect.

I thought that only the pages in "links to" count towards my site's link popularity.

The sites listed using the "link:" command in google are a "random sample" of your backlinks. IMHO, very little relation to what google counts when determining your PR.

[blastboy88]

If "links to" doesn't include all of my incoming links or at least most of the good ones, what is its purpose? Is it simply broken like PageRank in the Google toolbar?

Perhaps I am placing too much emphasis on the link: command and its value to me. I'd be curious to know what other people are doing or using to evaluate their incoming links.

[GranPops]

Try
allinanchor:www.yourtopsite.com
and
"www.yourtopsite.com" -site:www.yourtopsite.com

[cabowabo]

You must have decent reputation in order to be counted. That is what separates Google from the masses.

Cheers,

CaboWabo

[mykel79]

Actually cabowabo, that's not true anymore. It used to be that only link with a PR of 4 and above would show. Now, as someone before said, it's a random sample - so there are even pr 0 links in the mix.

[Oliver Henniges]

Try
[#*$!.com...]
for a list of your backlinks with PR of them linking sites.

[Oliver Henniges]

sry
still didnt find out about how to post urls
it is #*$! dot com

Oliver