MSN Search disables link: , linkdomain:, and inurl: queries

Google some time ago crippled the link: query, probably partly to conserve resources as their index grew larger and larger but also at least partly as an attempt to discourage artificial link exchange schemes and what was called the webmasters' obsession with backlink counts and PageRank. Later, they did the same to the site: query, although there are some recent gains in recovering that function.

Now this from MSN Search, announcing similar measures:

We are flattered, but...
By msnsearch

 

Hi!

Yes I saw that, but I thought that was a FF or IE problem on my PC LOL

Jakomo

 

Should be back soon. They can't compete well with Yahoo + Google without it.

 

Uhhh.... Google pretty much did that about two years ago...

 

"Site:" still works for both Google and MSN, right? They've gotten rid of that in the past?

 

So does that mean that all the tools out there providing backlinks info will just spit out false results? Cause if i am not mistaken msn's link check was far superior than googles.

Or is this just an april fools hoax?

 

You can go over to hotbot.
(search using MSN)

it works for now.....

 

its been like that for i think a week now..

 

It works in Google but, at least for a while, was not giving accurate results.

Not an April Fool's hoax, no. As for external/third-party tools, they generally use the API - I don't know the extent to which this is affected.

 

Yep, I did this trick on my LinkPopularity tool.
Check for: Google,Yahoo!,MSN,Altavista,AlltheWeb,HotBot,Netscape backlinks and indexed pages. Also Alexa rank + Dmoz checking.
www.all4seo.net/link_popularity_checker.php

I wonder if you like it and should I sell the script. What the price should be?
Script is prepared for sharing to any website while search engine remain on your server. Similiar to iWebTool shared tools.
If you want to have a link on this PR5 page, you can submit PREMIUM BONUS link to the directory.

 

First there are already some free link popularity tools out there so to sell it you'd have to be offering something the others don't.

I like the layout and simplicity of your tools. I'd suggest that you keep them as free tools on your website to promote your website services and directory. I got there through your link and found several other things of interest - think of it as great advertising.

As a second choice, you could license the script for other webmasters to place on their sites but I'd recommend requiring a link back to you.

 

I didn't mean to sell it as a tool or service. I'm gonna keep it free on my website. Also can add more search results.

I thought of selling the script rather. Think many websmasters wish to have such script and offer the tool on their websites or even share the tool to the world with link back required as you noticed

Anyway thanks for nice opnion. Really appreciate it.

 

Sigh is there anyway to get this information? I have been trying to indentify how many links this one page has to it?

Is there any other backlink checker out there that people use other than what search engines have indexed?

 

When is the query for inbound links for MSN will be back?

 

What makes you think anyone outside of MSN would know this?

 

Just what I needed. Thanks.

 

interesting

 

Thanks for the explanation Minstrel -- I had seen the thread on here when the msn link: function had stopped working, but never found any explanation for the abrupt cessation of services. I'm bummed to hear the news, but the reason makes sense. Thanks.

 

That works! Thanks

IT

 

Seems it stopped work even via HotBot no matter if you make a query to ask or msn.
But there's still a way to CHECK and SEE msn/live backlinks results!
Don't you believe? Check my tool:
link_popularity_checker
Don't forget to check for advertising or directory submission.