8 replies to this topic

[websage]

Hello,

This might be a question with obvious answer but let me ask you this:

If my site used to have PR5 and now it has PR8, what has changed in terms of the page's ranking?

What I mean is, I am able to view the PR by virtue of having the Google Toolbar installed on my IE web browser.

Not everyone has the Google Toolbar installed.

Does having a higher PageRank impact the way search results are shown? If so, how?

What is the primary -- the PageRank or the page ranking? Or does one result from the other, and if so how?

Thanks in advance,

Mitko

[Jill]

There are two different things.

1. Your actual PageRank, what Google mixes into their algorithm to determine how to rank your page for specific keyword phrases.

2. Your toolbar PageRank, what you see when you install the Google toolbar, and look at your page.

Number 2 is supposed to be a graphical representation of number 1, but it's not very accurate, and sometimes it shows crazy things. Don't put too much stock in the green bar graph numbers when they go up or down.

If your rankings for your keyword phrases drop significantly, for many months, that's when you need to re-strategize. If your toolbar PageRank goes up or down, just ignore it. It means absolutely nothing, in 99% of the cases.

Jill

[websage]

Thanks, Jill!

What you answered makes sense. Yet I was trying to find out something else (I think )

Let me rephrase my question:

If there were two sites competing for the same keyword phrases, how much advantage would a site with PR8 would have over a site with PR5?

Thanks,
Mitko

[Jill]

Not much.

[Jill]

Ok, let me clarify that. If both pages were optimized exactly the same, then the higher PR page would win.

But most pages aren't optimized as best as they can be so you'll see many well optimized PR5 pages kicking the butts of the unoptimized PR8 pages.

Jill

[websage]

Thanks!

[Vermont]

I have to agree. Google page rank isn't worth very much as far as positioning for keywords. I know this to be true because I have gotten high rank on quite competitive keyword phrases with a PR of 0 and no outside links on brand new websites..

The real key is site optimization.

[dimok]

I know this to be true because I have gotten high rank on quite competitive keyword phrases with a PR of 0 and no outside links on brand new websites..

I think it's rather an exclusion but not the rule. Often you are very difficult to compete with well PRed sites on competitive keywords

[Mel]

I think it's rather an exclusion but not the rule. Often you are very difficult to compete with well PRed sites on competitive keywords

Hi Dimok
while I agree with your observation I am not sure which is the cause and which is the effect.
I would assume that most High Pr sites have also been well optimized, which might explain why they are hard to beat, not just the PR.