Google Helps Find Missing Links

WebProNews - Google Helps Find Missing Links October 18, 2008 http://www.WebProNews.com====================================================================Give Your Customers Payment Options. From credit, debit, gift cards,checks, and more, give your customers the options they demand.Click Here to Sign Up with FirstData and Get a $50 Gas Card!http://aj.600z.com/aj/63644/0/cc?z=1&b=62683&c=63633====================================================================Google Helps Find Missing LinksJason Lee Miller Staff WriterLike finding change in your couchIt's been said links are the currency of the Web, and anhonest-gotten inbound link is like a tip for good work. Locatingbroken inbound links, then-links attempted but because of an errordon't connect with a page on your site-is like an opportunity tolocate missing money.Google recently introduced a feature to its webmaster portalthat can be like a metal detector on the beach. The tool allowswebmasters to view a list of 404 errors generated from brokeninbound links.====================================================================ThePlanet Alpha Dedicated HostingSave BIG $$$ on these incredible server dealshttp://aj.600z.com/aj/63644/0/cc?z=1&b=63302&c=63635====================================================================Obviously, fixing these links can help improve your ranking inthe search results. The Googlebot tries to crawl those linksfrom other sites, but when it arrives it has no where to go, andyou don't get credit for that link. Plus, visitors get a badexperience with your site, also something you don't want.Matt Cutts gives a nice tutorial about how to reclaim those lostlinks, beginning with how to download a list of 404 pages andlinks to them through the webmaster portal:"It would be trivial to mail some of these people and say 'Hey,I noticed you linked to my site (thank you!) but the link isbroken, so users will get a 404 page. Would you mind changingyour link on page A to point to the right page, which is url B?'When the other site fixes their link, their visitors find yoursite directly, plus all search engines can follow those linksand give you credit for them. Converting 404 links to links tothe right pages converts sucky links to free direct text linksfor all."====================================================================Extend your reach with web-based meetings - Free eKit DownloadDownload the Free eKit Now!http://aj.600z.com/aj/63644/0/cc?z=1&b=63426&c=63637====================================================================In the comments, someone asks about 301 redirects, which Cuttsdoesn't seem confident in recommending. He replied, "Ipurposefully left out the '301-to-the-home-page' issue frommy post, because there are pros and cons. The pro is that youdon't have to ask other people to fix their links (and as longas you're doing this in a normal way, you shouldn't run intoproblems with Google), but the downside is that it's a reallyweird user experience for your visitors."If you know the intent of the link, though, perhaps you could301 to the intended page, or even, though it's more work, createnew content for that erring link.However you deal with the problem, it's definitely like findinga $20 bill in a coat you haven't worn since last winter.====================================================================Finally! Local, online video advertising you can afford.Special for WPN Subscribers, Spend $250 and we will match you!http://aj.600z.com/aj/63644/0/cc?z=1&b=63638&c=63640====================================================================Google Warning Sites About Security IssuesDoug Caverly Staff WriterMessage Center "hey, you!"sLike a stranger who follows you for 16 miles to let you know ataillight's out, Google's got webmasters' backs. The search giantplans to start telling some individuals about potential securityproblems with their content management systems and publishingplatforms.Patrick Chapman explained on the Webmaster Central Blog, "We willbe leaving messages for owners of potentially vulnerable sites inthe Google Message Center that we provide as a free service aspart of Webmaster Tools." An old version of WordPress will getsingled out in a first test involving five or six thousandwebmasters.====================================================================Linkscape: Making Valuable Link Data Available - Check it out Now!http://aj.600z.com/aj/63644/0/cc?z=1&b=63648&c=63649====================================================================Here's the really interesting part, though: "If you manage awebsite but haven't signed up for Webmaster Tools, don't worry.The messages will be saved and if you sign up later on, you'llstill be able to access any messages that Google has left foryour site."So we wind up with unsolicited advice that's stuck in a timecapsule. This seems a little Big Brother-ish of Google, butit's hard to argue with something that improves sites' security.As most experts will agree, security tends to become more of aproblem with every passing month.Check the Google Message Center as often as is convenient, then,and perhaps save yourself an odd encounter by inspecting yourtaillights, too.====================================================================Accepts credit cards online with Intabill in real time and openyour business to a global customer base!Apply for a Merchant Account Today! 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