When is a backlink not a backlink?

[bridgells]

I'm confused. My site has been up and running for about a week. On day 3 it picked up a backlink from a keyword related forum. By the evening it had gone and yet the link is still there on the forum. I know of two other links to my site (by two people recommending it I hasten to add!) and yet they don't show on MS.

Is there something I don't understand about how backlinks work?

Thanks

Bridget

[DeanRichards]

Ah yes, the infamous disappearing back links.

The honest truth is that "reported" back links come and go. All of us who track everything have seen that this happens all the time. It's all part of the Google dance. There is nothing you can do about it.

We know for a fact that back links help us rank, so we build them the best that we can and hope for the best possible outcome.