Google Page Rank: Who Cares?
For the past week or two, I’ve seen quite a few posts about Google Page Rank, and the hit that many popular blogs took this go around. It was first reported that two ultra-popular blogs that I regularly read, Copyblogger and Problogger, went from a PR6 to a PR4. This past week, it seems that they have recovered. Problogger is now a PR6 and Copyblogger has actually gained rank landing at a PR7.
The apparent reason the Page Rank of so many sites took a turn for the worse, is based on the sites having paid links. Not sure how this will affect services like Text Link Ads, but I’m sure it’s not good news for them.
I’ve never had paid links here before, mainly because I didn’t qualify back when I applied for TLA. At the time, my blog had a Page Rank of 3, and I think a PR4 was required before your site was considered established enough to be profitable. With this update, seems I’m a PR5 now. Although I’ve placed ads on this site from time to time, I’ve never really set out to directly monetize it. What money I have made from it has been in more of an indirect way(WP design/customization), not through ads.
Why does it matter?
So the golden question is, how important is the Page Rank of your site? Maki, from popular money-making blog, Dosh Dosh, says it doesn’t matter. He makes the point that that what Google does is completely out of anyones control, and bloggers/siteowners don’t need systems that use Page Rank as a metric for measuring comparative value.
If your ad revenue is affected just because PageRank changes, then you’re not doing something right. Not exploring the right monetization options. Not having a long term business plan. Not making full use of the traffic you have. Not getting the right advertisers who know the value of your site.
While I agree with him, I must admit that I get a big chunk of the traffic on this site through Google. Ad revenue aside, if Page Rank determines how high on the list your site is, then you can’t deny it’s somewhat important. Especially when you consider that Google is seemingly taking over the world…
Hey Anthony,
I noticed all the buzz about pagerank lately.
The bottom line in my mind is, if Google is a great partner for what you’re doing, then playing by their rules makes sense. If they’re not, and there are a number of better opportunities elsewhere that don’t adhere to Google’s TOS, then so be it.
That’s a good point. It’ll matter to some more than others. Maybe it just depends on what you’re trying to accomplish.
I have to admit that Maki from Dosh-Dosh is correct. When something isn’t working right, then then you’re not doing something right.
There are always options out there to change this …and to do it right……if you serch long enough.
I don’t look to directly monetize my blog either really, I’ve got other sites to do that on.
I think Page Rank will still be important somewhat, but you need find other ways to diversify your traffic.
Right.
I’m thinking that site owners will always *want* their site to have a higher Page Rank, but the fact is, there are a lot of different tools and techniques to building a high traffic website……..especially when it comes to blogs.
Site owners will always want to have as much traffic as possible (that is one of the main goals when building a site - no one , I guess , wants to build a site and have no traffic for it !) , so they will always do their best in learning SEO tricks…if that will improve PageRank, and indirectly, traffic.
I’ll take a Digg frontpage and 50-100 new rss subscribers over a PR point any day
Christian - you’re right. It’s all about traffic. I’m trying to discern for myself just how important PR is for a blogger such as myself. I really don’t think it matters, especially considering I’m not really trying to monetize this site. But it seemed like I read tons of posts about the anticipation of PR updates. Then when Google updated the PR, and so many sites lost rank, now nobody thinks it’s important.
Jon - You wouldn’t be bragging a little would ya? j/k. Congratulations on all your success lately. I know Freelance Folder has hit the front page of Digg quite a few times in the past month, so keep up the great work. You done a great job assembling good writers. I definitely would agree with the subscriber comment…
Still, if you write something, you probably want that somebody reads ypor posts. So you need some traffic. That get me thinking that you need some PR…..the more the merrier !
The only thing I see page rank good for is credibility, people put more weight on a blog that is PR 4 than a PR0. Plus it has a good effect on the 45n5 Top 100 blogs!
ProBlogger is one of my favorites too. It’s sad to see that Google can’t differentiate between the good and the bad. But as you correctly quoted, who cares? I’ll read it anyway, whatever Google does.
Hi thanks a lot for this article
can i ask question?
Please why my page rank in my site is ZERO!!! although i have a good number of visitors??
& Can u tell me how to improve the page rank?
thanks really waiting ur reply ASAP!
Q8iEnG,
From my understanding, it largely depends on how many incoming links you have. Here’s some info straight from the horses mouth, so to speak.
thanks a lot
Can we do Links Exchange?
You’re welcome. I’m afraid I don’t do link exchanges. You’ll notice I don’t keep a “blogroll” in my sidebar. The reason is, I don’t do links just for the sake of links, as it clutters up the site.
The only time I link to other sites would be within the body of a post, when there’s something on that site that I feel backs up a point I’m trying to make or provides additional information.
as u like bro
I just want to be friends through sites
if u want anytime u’ll find me
thanks anyway