Total Backlinks vs Referring Domains?

Daddykins

Daddykins

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Which number should I focus on more? Referring Domains or Total Backlinks? I see some sites with 9k total backlinks, but only 150 referring domains ranking top 3.

Do they buy the same backlinks, what is the point of this, does it help rank better to have more total than referring?
 
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Personally, I think referring domains work better for better rankings.
 
It would be better if you had more referring domains compared to your total backlinks. Go for trial and error. I think the same will manifest.
 
Referring domains. Always.
 
ton of backlinks and not many referring domains, your backlink profile is not good ,referring domains work better for rankings.
 
Referring domains. In my experience, if the number of total links is way higher than referring domains, then there's spammy backlinks in the profile... not always the case tho. But high total links to ref. domains means there's site-wide links and they're usually not that good.
 
A single blog comment can get counted as 100,000+ backlinks if, for example, Brian Dean can't set a canonical tag.
 
Referring Domains is what you want to be looking at. A high Total Backlinks amount could simply mean a sitewide footer link on a big bloated spam site - not something you really want in a backlink profile.
 
Short answer - referring domains

Long answer - well think about it this way, if a link you bought brings in good traffic (and say some sales as well) would you buy it again? yes? google works in a similar fashion. Whats happening in seo terms is getting 'contextual links' from 'authority sites'. Rest is just noise.
 
The question you need to ask is why Referring domains is more legit. I mean just think about it.

One link with 10 domains referring to it, shows that the link has much authority. Trust flow / great content is all is there.


Whereas 10 links, but NO domain pointing to it, goes to show that these links are not worth referring to it. It may not be spammy, it could be just the content is not good enough.


So always go for RD first, and then QUALITY BACKLINKS. Not QUANTITY
 
JimR said:
Wait how does this work? Never knew this
Click to expand...
Things like URL variables in the example below mean that even though there's really only one article (the official or https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/139066?hl=en version), a robot might think that these are all distinct pages, since they are technically distinct URLs.
  • https://www.example.com/some-blog-post
  • https://www.example.com/some-blog-post?ref=12345
  • https://www.example.com/some-blog-post?ref=12346
  • https://www.example.com/some-blog-post?ref=12347
  • https://www.example.com/some-blog-post?ref=12345&source=twitter
  • https://www.example.com/some-blog-post?ref=12345&source=facebook
  • https://www.example.com/some-blog-post?ref=12345&source=whatever
If you set a canonical tag, it will prevent this kind of issue. But if you don't, it can confuse robots and cause backlinks to be counted multiple times. Specifically, Majestic and other backlink checkers will often count these multiple times. Google is generally pretty good about figuring out what the real/main page is even if there are a bunch of technically-different URLs like this, even if you don't set a canonical tag. The point being, this is mostly an issue with backlink checkers giving you inaccurate data rather than some kind of trick to get extra links/power from one backlink.
 
ZhenSEO said:
The question you need to ask is why Referring domains is more legit. I mean just think about it.

One link with 10 domains referring to it, shows that the link has much authority. Trust flow / great content is all is there.


Whereas 10 links, but NO domain pointing to it, goes to show that these links are not worth referring to it. It may not be spammy, it could be just the content is not good enough.


So always go for RD first, and then QUALITY BACKLINKS. Not QUANTITY
Click to expand...

I think you might be confusing what a backlink is.. You can't have 10 backlinks and 0 RD and you can't have 10 RD and 1 backlink..
 
MatthewGraham said:
Things like URL variables in the example below mean that even though there's really only one article (the official or canonical version), a robot might think that these are all distinct pages, since they are technically distinct URLs.
If you set a canonical tag, it will prevent this kind of issue. But if you don't, it can confuse robots and cause backlinks to be counted multiple times. Specifically, Majestic and other backlink checkers will often count these multiple times. Google is generally pretty good about figuring out what the real/main page is even if there are a bunch of technically-different URLs like this, even if you don't set a canonical tag. The point being, this is mostly an issue with backlink checkers giving you inaccurate data rather than some kind of trick to get extra links/power from one backlink.
Click to expand...

I've never looked into it but that seems pretty stupid if Majestic or Ahrefs would treat UTMs as a different URL. Wouldn't that be an easy fix for them?
 
JimR said:
I think you might be confusing what a backlink is.. You can't have 10 backlinks and 0 RD and you can't have 10 RD and 1 backlink..
Click to expand...

No im not confused. When i say backlink i meant the backlink from the domain itself. Probably you need to comprehend what is the context of the entire content first before you reply.
 
ZhenSEO said:
No im not confused. When i say backlink i meant the backlink from the domain itself. Probably you need to comprehend what is the context of the entire content first before you reply.
Click to expand...

Explain how you have 10 links and no domains pointing to it? You mean 0 RD on all 10 of your backlinks?

Not trying to be a dick here just genuinely curious what your'e talking about here
 
JimR said:
Explain how you have 10 links and no domains pointing to it? You mean 0 RD on all 10 of your backlinks?

Not trying to be a dick here just genuinely curious what your'e talking about here
Click to expand...

Dear Jim,

I believe you know what im trying to get at. But in anyways for the benefit of your doubt let me explain. If you use AHrefs on and search for a domain you will see exactly how many Referring domains is pointing at it. Could be 59, could be 100, could be 1000. Who knows?

For the benefit of the poster who is genuine eager to learn i have quantise it to 1 and 10 so it is easier to comprehend.

What i mean was you could get

10k Backlinks with like 2 RDs on probably each of them,
Is still not as powerful as 2k backlinks with Each 2000 RD on each. or 200RD each

I think the main point is dont take things so literally. Sometimes is about simplifying things so is easier.

Overall im trying to emphasize on quality.

Haha is my example really that bad to comprehend? probably i need someone to teach me how to rephrase.

lol:D
 
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