Are Mobile Backlinks important?

[forexoon]

Of course every quality link counts, but imagine the following scenario: One receives a backlink from an important relevant homepage. The backlink is present on the website's desktop version, but not on their mobile version. Does this make a backlink less important?

[PathwayIns]

That's a really good question, any opinions?

[tstolber]

The weight of a link is the same regardless of whether it appears on a desktop version or a mobile version - Googlebot is neither of those remember. Of course if the link was shown to certain types of user agents but not Googlebot (which is called cloaking is a violation of a search engines terms of service) then that would be a different story.

Summary: Link weight is platform independent.

[forexoon]

Summary: Link weight is platform independent.

If that is true it would leave the gate wide open for manipulation. I don't believe Google would like to see that. Just my two Cents.

[realityhack]

The weight of a link is the same regardless of whether it appears on a desktop version or a mobile version - Googlebot is neither of those remember.
Summary: Link weight is platform independent.

I am not sure that is 100% correct. IIRC Googlebot does fetch pages as a mobile device for mobile search results, and with growing mobile search they might count mobile site to mobile site links more heavily in mobile search and less heavily in desktop.

Either way I wouldn't count on it remaining as is for long. Google is going to be trying all kinds of things to get solid mobile results.

[ferminbee]

Summary: Link weight is platform independent.

Very much this one. This summarizes the answer you would need for this thread.