[TUTORIAL] How To Be 100% Sure Google Counts Your Backlinks

[tiiberius]

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I'm sure if you've been doing SEO for a while you sometimes notice "weird" behavior of your backlinking campaigns.

The reason behind this behavior might be that you are building links but Google doesn't see/count them.

One reason is indexing itself but there is another, more subtle reason which is trickier to debug.

A quick tip that might help you figure out why this can be.

Especially useful to PBN users and those doing outreach on aged pages.

Check Google's cache.

Google cache is a "backup" version of the current page. AKA what Google last saw when it visited your website.

Is your link visible in the cached version of the page? If not, then it most likely doesn't count.

EXAMPLE:

1. You publish a new post on your PBN.
2. Google indexes the post no problem
3. You receive no movement whatsoever for weeks

What probably happened here is that Google indexed the post but hasn't re-crawled the homepage of the PBN site. You know, the page with all the juice.

So PA 0 page was indexed but it means nothing in terms of power (unless you interlink smartly).

Checking the cached version of the homepage will show you that your link is not visible there and you should ping the engines.

Same thing when adding the link on any aged page for example when doing outreach.

Ok so HOW to actually do it...

1.

a) Insert full URL you want to check into Google. Then navigate to arrow next to it and click Cached.

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b) Alternatively, you can visit the cache Google link directly:

https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:your-url.com

This sometimes doesn't work as Google adds variables to the cache URL.

2.

Check the page and see if your link is present there.

Also, make sure to check the date of the last crawl.

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Works for Yahoo and Bing as well.

So what to do once you find out this is the case?

You must let the engines know of your updated content. Be very specific about the URL.

Your safes bet is to submit a sitemap. Even better a video sitemap.

Once they re-crawl your page the cached version will get updated.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

It takes some time (usually a few days) for Google to update the cached version of the page. Remember Your link might be counted in the meantime.

When you are adding new content and last cache date is 2+ weeks. Then you have a real problem.

 

[MisterF]

Nice share as usal mate.

Google cache can help when a site's not found on Webarchive too.

 

[BobbysBurgers]

It's pretty easy to do the same with bing. However it feels to me that bing picks up links faster most the time.

 

[JohnStone1]

Great read thanks

 

[ches32]

Good share! How do you submit sitemap of say PBN? Do you actually connect all your pbns to search console?

What do you mean by video sitemap when it comes to contextual backlinks like on a PBN?

When you are adding new content and last cache date is 2+ weeks. Then you have a real problem.

Can you elaborate on this one?

 

[tyvm-yw_]

When you are adding new content and last cache date is 2+ weeks. Then you have a real problem.

may it means google is'nt crawling page no more?
do tell would like to know aswell

 

[leon0021]

Remember not to leave any easy footprint when manually caching the link page.

 

[THUNDERELVI]

Good share! How do you submit sitemap of say PBN? Do you actually connect all your pbns to search console?

What do you mean by video sitemap when it comes to contextual backlinks like on a PBN?

Can you elaborate on this one?

Don't put your PBN-s on the console, only the money sites. To re-crawl PBN links, just send some social signals to them, especially G+ votes/shares, that should do the trick pretty quick as Google owns the platform.

 

[TheVigilante]

I am bookmarking this!

 

[Hiobot]

This is so helpful.

 

[tiiberius]

Good share! How do you submit sitemap of say PBN? Do you actually connect all your pbns to search console?

What do you mean by video sitemap when it comes to contextual backlinks like on a PBN?

Can you elaborate on this one?

I don't use WMT at all.

Yes, video sitemap is best submitted via a WP plugin (imo). There are other way to do it tho.

may it means google is'nt crawling page no more?
do tell would like to know aswell

Yes, you're submitting new content but Google doesn't care. Which is a bad thing. So you should force a visit and see what happens.

If you are using WP I suggest you use plugin like Stats that shows you robot visits.

If Googlebot visits you but cache remains the same, site might be in trouble.

Remember not to leave any easy footprint when manually caching the link page.

Didn't quite get this. What footprint do you mean?

 

[GeoSurf]

Google URL Changes:​

• ':' equals %3A
• '/' equals %2F

Sometimes it helps to speak Google's language

 

[tiiberius]

Google URL Changes:​

• ':' equals %3A
• '/' equals %2F

Sometimes it helps to speak Google's language

What are you referring to my friend?

 

[rajathe]

this is really helpful. I just started link building process. I will update the details.

 

[thescrrr]

great share mate^^

 

[TheGreene]

Tiiberius did it again, Great post!

 

[jakubsas]

Great post, thanks.

 

[andywang]

nice tip, thanks for sharing

 

[Masood]

Always impressed with your answers.
It's also really helpful thread.
Thank you man.

 

[tiiberius]

UPDATE:

Looks like Google's move to Mobile First is really messing things up and tons of cache URLs are 404.

I'm sure this will stabilize later on.

I have been contacted by a few clients panicking. Let me clarify.

What cache URL 404 is NOT:

• end of the world
  
• a penalty (most likely)
  
• reason for low rankings