Linking domains vs Inbound Links

[PedroM]

Hello,

Whats the diference between Linking domains and Inbound links in Open Site Explorer?

And also with is most important to analyze?

Tks in advance!

Pedro Pereira

[Cyrus-Shepard]

As many as you can get.

Stay consistent. Keep a schedule and build up your links over time. Don't rely too heavily on directory links. Remember that the harder a link is to get, the more valuable it usually is.

[PedroM]

As always is a privilage to be in here in SEOmoz forum. This is like taking classes and learning from the best. Tks guys! It really helped!

One last Question Cyrus. How many links would you recomend to link to my site since it doesnt have many yet (www.digitaldiscovery.com.pt) using the SEOmoz tool of directorys?

[Cyrus-Shepard]

Casey got the definition of inbound links vs. # of linking domains right, so let me just add a couple of points.

If you look at correlation ranking factors, the number of linking root domains correlates higher to good rankings than the number of raw links. As our friend at Seattle Organic pointed out, it's much better to have 100 linking domains than 100 links from one site.

I wouldn't worry so much about the 1:1 ratio. That's a situation that will take care of itself as you build links.

Best of luck with your SEO!

[SeattleOrganicSEO]

Also, just fyi Pedro, but I think domains is more important of a metric in general from all the work I've done.  Each domain is a unique website and most likely a better vote than 100 links from the same website.  These days there are footer links or sidebar links in a lot of Content Management Systems (cms's) and they replicate multiple links from multiple blog posts or pages on the site.  So, you may seen 1000+ links from one website.  However, in my humble opinion and from what I've seen over many websites, google is counting the domains you're getting links from more than they are all the different links from the individual domains.

For example, let's equate links to fans.  If you had 100 fans, but one of those fans gave you 100 complements, how would an outsider take each of those complements.  I would argue the outsider (i.e., Google) would give credit to the one fan & not necessarily the 99 extra complements.  While it's great to see all the 100 complements from an outsider's perspective, most likely that outsider would give you credit for just the one fan complementing you.  Does that make sense?

[CaseyKluver]

Right, personally I have never seen a aged website with the same linking domains as inbound links.

I am not saying its bad, I just havent seen it and wouldn't recommend that because of that observation. Dont go crazy over it as obviously you cant get multiple links from every source you find.

[PedroM]

Hi Casey,

Tks for the aswer. One last question thow. Your saying to not keep doing link-building with 1:1 ratio. Does that makes Google wondering?

Tks in advance,

Pedro M Pereira

[CaseyKluver]

Linking domains is the total number of domains linking back to you.

Inbound links is the total number or links you actually have. Each domain could be linking to you from different pages on their site, adding up to the total "inbound links".

I think its important to have both. You obviously dont want 1 domain bringing you 1,000 inbound links. If you build up your linking domains, total inbound links will naturally rise. Just dont keep it at a 1:1 ratio