Search Engine Ranking Question

Does the amount of external webpages linking to a particular webpage have to do with how high it appears in search engine results?

Yes.

Generally, the more pages linking to a page, the higher it ranks in search engine results. (There are many other factors involved too. For example, the Page Rank of those linking pages.)

Regards,


David

That said, it's _quality_ websites that link to you that matter. Link farms may hurt you. There is debate on the subject.

I dont think they hurt , unless they are reciprocal

Yep, David you are right. PR is generally depends on backlinks. If your backlinks are more & relevant, with good quality then those backlinks are more useful in getting high PR.

I agree. Google has said in the past nothing external to your site can hurt your ranking. I.e. your competitors can't sign you up to a link farm and make your ratings bomb. Although if you put a link on your site to the link farm then that's when your ratings will take a tumble.

If you're looking for more inbound links, try www.link-vault.com

hi,
what you have written is absolutely correct that link farms may hurt you. link farms can not hurt you unless until they are reciprocal.

cheers
rudradatta
http://www.purebathrooms.net

So reciprocal means it links to you and you link back? Eee does that mean when you submit your site to a directory that makes you link back to them it hurts you?

I actually signed up a lot of link farm although it increased my pr at the SERPs sometimes they are above me ,, but believe me google'll pull the rope (around their neck) of some soon

Reciprical links will not hurt providing the target is a legitimate directory, enabling users to find sites based on categories. Relevant Business directories are often a good source of highly relevant traffic and worth submitting to, even with a reciprication policy.

Check out the PR of the directory and category you want to be included in first, if it's a zero be a little cautious about linking back but if the PR is good then the chances are you will be fine.

I have used this approach and seen steady traffic with no ill effects on site rankings.

hi,

you say rightly the amount of external webpages linking to a particular webpage afect the page rank of that particular pge. generaly links come to page from many sources. but your pagerank depends upon the number of qulity inbound links to that particulr page.