Why don't some external links "count"?

[TheOptimizer69]

A car-dealer client advertises through DexKnows, and the entry includes a link to the client's website. That link is not listed as a linking domain through OpenSite Explorer for the client's site. A competing car dealer also advertises through DexKnows, but that link is counted as a linking domain for the competitor. Why the difference? (I'm new and still learning -- linkbuilding appears to be my weakness.) Thank you!

[danatanseo]

Hi The Optimizer, Have you checked your link at DexKnows to make sure they set it up right? The reason I asked is that you made me curious. So, I went to DexKnows for Tacoma, WA, clicked on the "Auto Dealers" link (http://www.dexknows.com/local/automotive/vehicle_sales/auto_dealers/geo/c-tacoma-wa/) and was taken to a page listing a bunch of dealerships. I clicked the "Website" icon for the very first dealer on the list (Austin's Pro-Max Automotive Repiar Centers)and I received a 404 error. Either their link wasn't set up right, or they don't have a Website.) If your situation is similar, this would explain why your link isn't showing up in your reports.

I hope this helps!

[TheOptimizer69]

Thanks for the answer!  I did check it, and the link from Dex goes right where it's supposed to.

[danatanseo]

Hi again. I did a little further investigating. It appears that nearly all links that go out to business Websites from DexKnows are "no follow." This means you aren't going to benefit from them as inbound links. However, I discovered that the links to a company's Website inside the company's Mobile site profile are followed.  It appears your client's competitor has figured out where the followed links are. There may be other places, but there is definitely that one.

Does you client have a mobile site and have they completed their Mobile site profile in DexKnows? If not, I'd recommend it so they can get that inbound link.

[TheOptimizer69]

That helps a lot! Thank you! Do you mind me asking, how did you know that Dex links are "no follow"? Or is that one of your trade secrets?

[danatanseo]

Good question!   I use a browser extension in Firefox called SEO for Firefox. It's free and one of the many things it will do is highlight "followed" and "no followed" links in different colors so you can quickly see which is which. I highly recommend it. It also will catch broken links. It's very handy!

[TheOptimizer69]

Thank you thank you thank you! I think something SEOmoz has does that, too, but in my brain-overloaded state, it didn't occur to me how to use it. I feel so enlightened -- you have made my day!