I stumbled upon an interesting post at Dean Hunt’s blog about PageRank. Yes, I’m way too late to be one of the readers since it is posted more than a year ago.
He is in fact a famous blogger but I’m not aware of his interesting blog until early this week, thanks to my inbound link analyses on one of my competitors. PageRank has always been a big story in most of webmasters forums. It was exhilarating watching them talking about updates and the Do’s and Don’t's to increase the PageRank on the next ‘Google dance’.
I was once a PageRank enthusiast, I was eagerly waiting for the updates and hoping that all of my sites will get some juicy PageRank. Not to say that I have totally expelled PageRank on my daily online routine, but I’m a bit “slower” now on PageRank, and concentrate more to connect with bloggers like Mostly Lisa 
. I do have my personal opinion about this issue (whether PageRank is important or not). I think it depends on situation and it can be classify as important and it can be not important.
What is PageRank?
Google describes PageRank as:
PageRank relies on the uniquely democratic nature of the web by using its vast link structure as an indicator of an individual page’s value. In essence, Google interprets a link from page A to page B as a vote, by page A, for page B. But, Google looks at more than the sheer volume of votes, or links a page receives; it also analyzes the page that casts the vote. Votes cast by pages that are themselves “important” weigh more heavily and help to make other pages “important”.
Google assign a number from 0-10 to websites according to their “important” level. The higher your PageRank number, the more important your site in the eyes (yes, they have huge eyes!) of Google. Keep in mind that PageRank is only for Google, other SE do not apply PageRank.
It was developed by Larry Page (that’s why they called it PageRank) at the Stanford University. You can read more about the history of PageRank at the wikipedia. When it first introduced, Larry’s creation produced enormous buzz in Google-addicted-society.
PageRank and SERP
SERP is an abbreviation of search engine results page,
A search engine results page, or SERP, is the listing of web pages returned by a search engine in response to a keyword query. The results normally include a list of web pages with titles, a link to the page, and a short description showing where the keywords have matched content within the page. A SERP may refer to a single page of links returned, or to the set of all links returned for a search query.
So, does PageRank affects our ranking position in the SERP? Will a higher PageRanked website rank higher in Google compared to a lower one? I compared this blog with another blog for the keyword make money online to see whether PageRank is directly proportional to the ranking in the SERP or vice versa. At that comparison period, this blog (with PageRank3) was on the 6th page of Google SERP and the other blog (www.gurucreation.com – Pagerank 2) was on the 5th page of Google SERP.
It is way ahead of me even though it has a lower PageRank compared to mine. To get this more clear, I attach 2 images for you to see, you have to click the image for a larger view.
gurucreation.com on SERP for “make money online” keyword
norhafidz.com on SERP for “make money online” keyword
Through this comparison, I believe that the position on SERP does not rely on PageRank entirely but the on page and off page optimization of that particular website.
Why PageRank?
Theories in search engine optimization said that high PageRank inbound links will lead to a higher ranking in SERP (only on Google), and this has always been proven to be true. That is why PageRank is being worshiped by a lot webmasters.
It can be manipulate to generate money and huge traffic. I remember when John Chow and Ades from adesblog.com gave away their PR7 link-juice to bloggers who review their blog with certain keywords acted as anchor text. They didn’t make a lot of money, but they sure made a lot of new readers and skyrocketed their traffic.
When PageRank is Important and When it is Not?
It is important when you are running a blog/site that has a purpose of generating money. Advertisers (that are targeting for Google SERP) are always looking for a high PageRank blog/sites for links. A lot of advertisers are targeting to be top-ranking on Google since it received much more traffic in many countries than any other search engines.
In addition to that, most paid reviews ad network, such as Sponsoredreviews.com and other look-alike-ad-networks still weigh PageRank as one of important criterion for publishers. The higher your PageRank, the higher your chance of getting dollars from the advertisers.
And PageRank is garbage and not worthy when you are running a personal blog/site that has no purpose of making money.
Would you die for PageRank?
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I would still give it a yes! Afterall, if you are looking to sell private ads, thats a big thing that people look at right?
Ben
@Ben: Yes, PageRank is important when the purpose is money.
before reading this, i thought PageRank is everything..
budeens last blog post..A Balance Resolutions For 2009
If you want to rank with ease get a keyword domain I am #1 for my name
home businesss last blog post..Happy New Years Busby SEO Testers
I don’t say no to pagerank, it is very very important
Great post and thanks for the info.
Andrews last blog post..The Mystery Domain Auction
@budeen: Yea, I know that feeling, been there done that.
@home business: Yes sir, totally agree on that one but factors like competitiveness of certain keyword might brings some change
@Downloadic: I guess you must have earned a lot with PageRank
@Andrew: No problem pal, I hope it helps.
STUMBLED!
I just wrote a post about the same thing, I have personally given up on PageRank, for now at least.
Geoservs last blog post..Where’s my Pagerank?
I’ve been away for PR long way back. Not because I don’t believe of it but to me it’s a waste of time actually to monitor the PR rating… People should always update their site or be die…
I lose my PR due to paid post. But after i read a few entry about PR, I realize that traffic is king, focus on that. Just keep on writing.
I still got on first page of google search for tunemoney even my PR is 0
lankapos last blog post..D-Link Modem and Aztech Wireless Broadband Router :IP Conflict
Page Rank is very important and maybe it was a a mistake that you happened to be below another blogger
Hi Norhafidz, I just finished a post on PR and how it can mean a lot to some people and how if you are doing PaidPerPost or TextLinkAds Google can penalize you and some bloggers will stop doing PPP for awhile and then the PR goes up then they start PPP again. Of course if you have a higher PR you get paid higher on your PPP . I stayed the same this round, I know my TLA are part of my problem. For now the money I get from them is pretty good so I’m going to continue with TLA and maybe try to post more and see what happens. Great post as usual!
jj-momscashblogs last blog post..Give and You Shall Receive
Dat is true pagerrank is very important in seo.
I really don’t concern much on PR now, my PR4 disappeared since middle year of 2007. Until now, there is no place for my site in PR. Google sometimes too much treated us with that PR. So, let focus on link building and increase our visitor.
PR is good for SEO..
but my PR only 2..
Inventory Management Softwares last blog post..Inventory Management Software For Proper Demand and Supply
PR just a part of SEO. thanks
Page rank is only one of several factors that google uses to determine a pages value.
pr is not as it was
trust rank is much more now
Hi,
I try much for my site Info4shopping.com to get better pagerank at google. When I’m read this article I wonder if I’m in the right way now. I try bold in improves my pagerank not serp..well confuse..
Is pagerank everything after read this article?
PR is something to strive for. It is not the be all end all. It does matter though.
The Blogger Sources last blog post..Go Back And Link Old Posts
@Geoserv: Thanks pal! I just did the same – getting out of Pagerank-waiting-blogger
@cencurut: Yes, it’s sexy though to see how pagerank create a tremendous buzz in webmasters community.
@lankapo: Yes, true indeed.
@Little Joe: It may be very important for some people, but to be honest, they are not worshiped by a lot of people too.
@jj: Congratulations to you on your TLA earning my friend. I hope it will expand in the future.
@catzer: Agreed, traffic is much more important than that ‘greeny bar’
@jammer: Hello there! Interesting view, probably you can tell us more about trust rank?
@kohvenk@onlineshopping: Well, I don’t know exactly how those magic algorithm works but from my observation above, Pagerank doesn’t influence our ranking in SERP.
@The Blogger Source: In my honest view, it does matter if the purpose is money
even without pagerank, my blog still can make money. But if my site have great pagerank, its bonus to earn big money. Haha..
I think PR is important. It’s really hard to compete with sites with big PR in established niche.
By the way, did you know that it could be faked? I just recently found out that and it blew my mind. Some people who sell links do that.
Webkinzs last blog post..Webkinz Jr. Releases by Ganz
I don’t think most people worry much about PR anymore. Almost everyone is more concerned with where they rank in SERPs.
I agree page rank is less important for me now. Its still important but more of an indicator.
PR is great and you should strive for it however it is not the be all end all.
PR will not increase your rankings for a specific keyword. Only anchor text will.
I agree with everyone who say that PR is important. Better PR is better earning.
There’s nothing wrong with the pagerank itself. The problem starts when people care about PR more than they care about their readers. And unfortunately too many people have an attitude like this.
>I believe that the position on SERP does not rely on PageRank entirely but the on page and off page optimization of that particular website.
My understanding is Google looks at content (on page optimization) first to match to the keywords being searched. Then where equal pages are ranked is by page rank. So a low page rank site can easily rank higher in the search by being a better match or better on site optimization.
PS: you comment thank you is a nice touch!
Ned Careys last blog post..How to Negotiate a $1.5 Million Home
My pagerank is only a 1, but thats alright, I’ll just keep blogging hehe
I have always focused way more attention on the traffic into my site and not the PR. I have actually had sites in the past that had great PR and the traffic was minimal. Your keyword selection and the traffic on the server are better at determining if you are having any success.
Tracys last blog post..The Birthplace of Impressionism
ermmm… google PR is a lame actually..
Melayu Bolehs last blog post..Melayu Boleh Tomok Juara One In A Million
It depends on what your aim is. You can gain page rank many different ways, and it takes time. For instance Google said…..”Votes cast by pages that are themselves “important” weigh more heavily and help to make other pages “important”.” Interviews are considered more important to Google go go get some interviews. You can acquire them via email. Makes for good content as well.
I did read this recently in a blog, can’t remember where but this is not an original thought of mine!
Is a lower or higher page rank better? For instance, which is better PR5 or PR 8?
Please dont go all into the algorithm stuff; Wikipedia already confused the hell out of me
Thanks!
I really don’t have any clue when it comes to page ranking and other stuff. I am even wondering why there is a need for pagerank at all.
Page rank is a very good measure of your site in the eyes of google. It depends on many factors like how many quality backlinks your site have, how old your site is, are you regularly updating your site, how much effective your site content is etc. So you will need to consider all these factor for achieving a high page rank.
Sometimes we have to see the page rank for some purposes. However, we also need other information about the blogs to know how good the blogs for increasing the number of backlinks.
I do care about pagerank, it’s one thing that can be considered element in succesful blogging…just a humble opinion..
Interesting reading