This factor reports the count of educational (.edu) backlinks that Majestic attributes to a result URL, delivered through the DomDetailer client. It is a provider-supplied number, and a known key-capitalization mismatch in the current client can leave live data unread and return 0.
| Factor ID | RG-BLK-002 |
|---|---|
| Family | Backlinks & authority |
| Measurement | Provider-supplied count |
| Measured zone | Off-page URL/domain data |
What it measures
This factor is intended to report Majestic-linked educational backlink data returned through DomDetailer — a count of references to the result URL coming from educational (.edu) domains, as Majestic records them.
How RankGear measures it
RankGear reads the dd_majesticRefEdu value stored for the exact result URL. When provider data is missing, the factor returns 0. Note a known caveat: the current DomDetailer client writes the API response under a differently capitalized key, dd_majesticRefEDU, so live data can fail to reach this factor and produce a 0 that reflects the mismatch rather than an absence of links.
How to optimize it
Earn legitimate educational references by publishing original research, useful resources, datasets, tools, or expert material relevant to those institutions. Never manufacture .edu links. Because the reported value is provider data subject to coverage gaps and the key mismatch above, treat this count as an observation of what Majestic currently attributes — not a target to game.
Important considerations
- Current zero values can reflect the
dd_majesticRefEdu/dd_majesticRefEDUkey mismatch rather than an absence of links. - Provider coverage and freshness vary, so the count is only as complete and current as Majestic’s index.
- Educational domains are not automatically authoritative or relevant to your topic.
- Evaluate link quality individually rather than treating the raw count as a quality score.
- This is a prioritization signal that relates to position within a measured result set — correlation, not causation. A higher count does not make a page rank or guarantee any position.
Related factors
Part of the Factors reference · how RankGear measures · glossary.