Yahoo Site Explorer

[John Allen]

I just read Rand's post over at SEOmoz about using Yahoo site explorer.

seomoz.org/blog/how-much-do-you-know-about-use-yahoos-site-explorer-and-link-research

He has some excellent advice and ideas for using this robust tool. It is worth a quick read.

[AustinReilly]

I just read the blog on site explorer and agree with author's issues with the tool.

The biggest weakness is the tragic lack of crucial data pieces, including:

Ordering - the links are given in "no particular order" according to Yahoo!'s public representatives, though SEOs generally believe that they tend to show more important links before less important links (but certainly not in order from most to least valuable/popular/important/etc)

Anchor text - no anchor text is provided to show the linking term/phrase/alt tag that pointed to the page

When I use site explorer, I see hundreds of links randomly posted but i have no way to sift through the information or make use of it. Are there tools you can purchase that do a better job of monitoring your links?

[scalistri]

Yahoo Site explorer has a long way to go to start competing with google. I personally do not find it very helpful.

-Sheila

[Scott.Hack]

Are you kidding? Yahoo site explorer is the best tool I've found for back links.

[DallasFamilyHomes]

@Scott - Ditto here.

Google (unless you have webmaster tools access to the site) won't give you much about other websites.

Plus the quote from Rand finding the fault in the yahoo tools is really him to trying to sell his new linkscape product. Which, to be fair, really aint that bad. Buggy and incomplete right now, but will come along in the future I suspect.

[jvdigitalmedia]

Rand knows what he is doing. Would definitely listen to him.

[DallasFamilyHomes]

Rand knows what he is doing. Would definitely listen to him.

No doubt he knows how to sell a product and create UGC on his site. He keeps the better information for his paying customers, and the best information to himself. Linkscape is most definitely an ambitious project, and he deserves much kudos for that and for what he has accomplished. For my money though, I'm a huge Danny Dover fan. That kid has only been in the industry for a short while and his posts are spot on and backed up with research. Also check out Danny Sullivan, Jill Whalen and Ann Smarty.

I'd really listen to everybody. No one person really knows how to rank #1 organically. Not even Matt Cutts. Take all information you can and try it out for yourself.

Some other places to check out: try webmasterworld.com (been around for MUCH longer than seomoz) searchenginejournal.com (again longer than smoz) and recently found some gems on searchgeeks.org (new forum that just popped up).

[Miami Beach Condo Expert]

i think the yahoo explorer is a pretty good tool considering it is from Yahoo!

[Miami Beach Condo Expert]

Can you guys suggerst a good tool to visualize sites interlinking (link neighbors)?
i cant find anything reliable.

thanks

[bonhamsurf]

I find that yahoo site explorer to identify my inlinks is the most accurate tool. It is what I base the links to my old site and new Honolulu Real Estate website.