Google search will not display all ‘backlinks’ to blog or Web site

Google has a link command where you can do a search to see what Web and blog sites are linking to your Web or blog site. These are called ‘backlinks.’ It’s done by typing in the search box: link:nameofyoursite.com.

It’s always been presumed that such a search retrieved a list of all sites with a link to your site. However, I have been noticing that’s not the case. Google now concedes you only get a selected set of such sites.

GoogleGuy, an unofficial representative from Google, posted over at Search Engine Watch forums:

I’m pretty sure I’ve said it several times. Google’s link: command shows some, but not all backlinks to the specified url. That’s the first time someone has pointed out the wording on that link: page; I’ll be happy to mention it to our webmaster. Was someone really expecting to receive 2.6 million+ links because of the wording of that page?

Historically I always used AltaVista, now owned by Yahoo!, to check for backlinks. More recently I have been using Google. Looks like I will need to check around.