How Many Links Does Google Read?

[Jeff Casterline]

How many outbound links does Google actually read on a given page?

Thanks

[kid disco]

Depends on the page.

[Jeff Casterline]

What do you mean? Could you give me some examples then? Thanks.

[RESteve]

Didn't Matt from Google say that it's best to keep the on-page linkage to under 50? I'll have to look up where I read that, but I'm sure it was one of his posts at his blog.

[Jeff Casterline]

Thanks Steve,

That would be very helpful.

[RESteve]

Ah, I found it. Back during the big fiasco with penalties, there was a long discussion and a commenter on his blog said that they spoke with him and asked him what was acceptable. Direct quote:

At the 2005 Pubcon conference I and several other agents personally asked Matt about reciprocal linking at a spur of the moment brainstorming session that started in the hallway and attracted so much interest it had to be moved to an empty conference room. At that session Matt said that there was nothing wrong with reciprocal or home page linking as long as it was not “excessive.” We even asked him outright if 50 home page links was too many (trying to get some gauge to go by) and he said no, though he would NOT advise doing more than that. (If this has changed, a heads up would sure be appreciated, Matt!) - Matt Cutts Blog Comment

[Jeff Casterline]

Thanks, but isn't there a limit on how many are read by the bots?

[RESteve]

Not sure on the answer to that particular question, unfortunately, or how one would know that without a direct quote from Google.

[darrenwoodard]

I don't think that there is any answer to that one. I guess it matters on how strong your site is and how many visits you get.

[ericbadgley]

Can you clarify? I don't understand your question.