Link command v/s search results

Hi everbody,

Please let me know if link:www.example.com is the correct way to find the total search results generated for a site. As far as I know I always used this command to find the backlinks.

What is the correct method to find total search results generated for a site in google?

What do you mean with "total search results generated for a site"? The number of sites indexed? Therefore use the site: command.
But for both commands it is recommended to use Google webmastertools to get better results.

I meant the total no results for a site google is displaying

I think you need to explain your question better, as to me it sounds like what you are asking is what the site: command will provide.

Try and explain more.

I was using site command to get the total search results for a site, thats the page indexed for the site, and links to get the backlinks towards the site.

I had an argument with one of my team members regarding total search results for a site? I said its by using site command while she emphasized on link command for the same? If I am wrong for my definition of total search results for a site on google then I am really sorry to create confusion.

But what do you exactly use to find total search results for a site?

site:domain.com to find total number of pages of that site indexed in google

link:domain.com to find list of webpages that have links to the specified site

ask your TM to read from http://www.google.com/help/operators.html

This is not that confusing guys, I know it is poorly worded, but here is the explanation.

Link: command does not show you many, if any, of the search results for your site. What it does show you are the OTHER sites that are linking to you. This is also known as backlinks.

Site: command will give you the best ESTIMATE of the total number of pages that you have in the index that are searchable. There are millions if not billions of different "search results" that you could be in and I think that is where your question confused some people.

The best way for you to find the total number of searchable, indexed pages is for you to use Google Webmaster Tools and it will tell you the total number of pages in Google's index.

So the short answer is that you were correct, and link: command is the wrong answer... Hope this helped

if you do link:... in Google it will show you a limited number of backlinks. Google does not show all indexed backlinks. Get a webmaster account if you do not have one. It also features a number of useful monitoring and SEO tools.

Will using the site: command show you supplemental results also?

Thank You!

site:www.domain.com --> Shows the number of pages you have in the index of Google

Search with "Keyword/keyphrase" (note the quotes) in Google and you'll find the exact number of competitors for that Kwd/keywphrase in Google.

site:www.domain.com/& --> Will show the pages that you have in the supplemental index.

I guess the answer to the question is within these 3 commands. Please pardon me if I am wrong

Hi,

When we have to check the back links of a site, we normally use link:www.example.com, but when we use link: www.example.com, the results are different. Refer it:

link:www.microsoft.com - 994 linking to www.microsoft.com
link: www.microsoft.com - 1,850,000 for link: www.microsoft.com

My question is that what is the criteria Google take in consideration in both commands?

Thanks in Advance,
Khali

link:www.domain.com --> Shows a random number of backlinks in Google

link:<space>www.domain.com --> Displays pages which contain both the word "Link/links" and your URL

Thanks Mate

site:www.domain.com Gives the no of pages of domain.com indexed in Google.

link:www.domain.com Displays the random number of backlinks of domain.com.

site:www.domain.com/& Displays the no. of supplemental pages of domain.com.