Is Page Rank Important?


A couple of days ago, the topic of page rank came up in one of my threads. This thread picks up that topic, and asks the question, is page rank important?

First, let me explain exactly what page rank is:

Google Page Rank (or PR as it is often referred to as) is simply an indication of the number of websites that link to a specific website. It also attempts to indicate the quality of those links. PR ranges from 0 to 10 (with 10 being the 'best' PR and 0 being the 'worst'). The vast majority of small business websites will usually find they have a PR of between 0 and 5.

To calculate a websites PR, Google uses a fairly complicated algorithm based on the number of web links that link to a particular site. This algorithm will also take into account the PR of the page that is providing the link, thus a link from a web page that has a PR of 7 will be considered more valuable than a link from a page with a PR of 4.

Here's my question, guys. Is page rank important?

If you do a search on Alexa, you'll see many high-ranking sites that have a PR of 0.

Based on the success of my own website, which is new, and has a PR of 0, I have to wonder, just how important is page rank?

In my opinion, it's not very important. I mean, I'm doing just fine without a page rank.

What do you think?

Also, rumor has it that Google is considering phasing PR out or modifying it in some way. This is pure speculation, but it wouldn't surprise me in the least. PR is easily manipulated (for example by purchasing links.) and Google doesn't like to have their search results manipulated in any way. It stands to reason that they will be looking at ways of preventing this.

Your thoughts on this?

Dale King

Well, I guess I got my answer!

Dale King

As I understand it, a higher PR will place you above lower PR sites when doing an organic search on Google. So yes, I would say it's important to a degree. But I don't think it's something to worry greatly about. There are lots of other ways to get qualified traffic to your site besides organic searches. But yes, it adds to the mix.

Also, most people, when searching for something, don't go to Alexa. We marketing and SEO types do, but the average Joe will still go to Google, MSN, Yahoo, or AOL.

Just my observation.

John

Thanks John!

I fully understand PR, and how it works. I talk to SEO types about it all the time.

I made up my mind a long time ago not to worry about page rank. In my mind, it's just not that important!

I was just curious how other people felt about it that's all.

Judging by the lack of response to this thread, it's obviously not important to a whole lot of people.

Dale King

I agree with you, Dale. It's nice to have a good PR, but it's not a major thing to me. I suspect others feel the same way, as you may as well, but it would be good to hear from those who feel PR is a big part of their strategy and why.

John

John, it would be nice to hear from others, but I'm not going to worry about that either!

Thanks for your posts, John!

Dale King