Why isn't link velocity in the 2011 Ranking Factors?

[SteveOllington]

How come there's no reference to link velocity in the Search Ranking Factors, 2011 or prior?

We know that we have to continue building links for a client even if they're already doing well, not just because of the competition nipping at their heels but because if we stop they slip down anyway, so we know that stopping link building will often times have an adverse effect... meaning link velocity right? So how come there's no mention of it?

Just curious

[TomCritchlow]

Hi, Tom here - I helped put together the ranking factors this year and you'll find that link velocity is included in the domain level link metrics section:

http://www.seomoz.org/article/search-ranking-factors#metrics-1

It actually rated pretty highly!

[SteveOllington]

Ah lol... thanks Tom. That's the best news ever. The reason I posted that question was that I was in a bit of a debate with a friend at work about the impact of link velocity, and I was sure I'd seen it on there before and said so, but then he brought it up on the screen and proved me wrong... but clearly the version we were looking at then wasn't the full one. This means I can go back to him tomorrow and win

I owe you a beer I think!

[TomCritchlow]

Heh - beers away! Happy to help