15 replies to this topic

[rcmedia]

Hi,

I have a dilemma.. I'm hearing 2 different things regarding what PageRank a link partners site should have and whether to bother linking to it if it's too low.
Some people say any inbound relevant link is good (*provided it's not from a banned or penalized site of course), while other people say they swear by only choosing links with a PR of 4 or higher.
Our website has a PR of 3 and I have had many people refuse my link offers because of it.

My main question is, if indeed any inbound link is good, do you link out to them regardless of their PageRank?

Thanks in advance.

[anthonyparsons.com]

Welcome RC

People who go on PR factor have no idea what their talking about. Google counts all links, just as the other engines do, though only chooses to show PR4+ links generally, not always the case. If the page is going to be good for your users and there is nothing wrong with the page, link to it.

Don't listen to silly people who talk about PR acceptance for link purposes. If the content is relevant, link to it and from it if you want.

[chris_g]

Its more important to look at the content of the website you are linking to and how much value it has to your visitors than the current PageRank.

anthonyparsons.com is right the link will still get counted it just won't be shown in the list of websites Google says are linked to you.

Remember quality is more important than quantity

[Jill]

Welcome rcmedia!

Today's PR3 site might very well be tomorrow's PR7 site. People who base their decisions on today's numbers are short-sighted.

If a site has great info that is useful to your users, then who cares what their PR is? Your users certainly don't. They don't even know what it is!

Jill

[MCP]

Welcome rcmedia!

Today's PR3 site might very well be tomorrow's PR7 site. People who base their decisions on today's numbers are short-sighted.

If a site has great info that is useful to your users, then who cares what their PR is? Your users certainly don't. They don't even know what it is!

Jill

That is the gospel truth.

Welcome aboard.

[Username]

What does it take to get people off the PR obsession.

Today's PR3 site might very well be tomorrow's PR7 site.

With any luck at all they'll ditch the whole darn idea.

[mopacfan]

I never cease to be amazed at how many myths and bad information there is out in the world about PR, let alone the obsession some people have with it.

[Scottie]

Higher PR does NOT mean more sales.

People need to focus on making their sites more profitable, not gaining higher PR!

[Username]

People need to focus on making their sites more profitable, not gaining higher PR!

You are absolutely correct, when will they get it.

[chrishirst]

and some more great news, is the Yahoo toolbar is showing webrank now.


Brace yourselves for the inevitable.

[Jbrookins]

You are absolutely correct, when will they get it.

It'll be a while. I run into it all the time, and am steadily working on purging the word PageRank from this office completely. It's not easy when you're dealing with a bunch of guys who've worked with data showing how something worked a year ago.

The inherent problems with PageRank from my initial evaluation was that it encouraged people to chase a number rather than chase what that number was intended to indicate. People will always want something quantifiable. A PR7 is scientifically and logically quantifiable, but "quality," "link-worthy" and "useful" are not. Numbers are nice and comfy things to work with as you know what they all mean. Regardless of your opinion, religion, gender, cult membership, alien abduction status, 2+2 will always be 4.

I said repeatedly then to "design your site for users and the rest will come" and STILL I get barraged with questions about tricks and linking structures.

[Deverill]

Higher PR does NOT mean more sales.
People need to focus on making their sites more profitable, not gaining higher PR!

You are so right and I have a great example that just happened. I got an email for my fishing charter client from a guy up in mainland Florida that loves fishing and flying. He wants to offer a service to customers that are not as financially challenged as I am that also love flying and fishing.

His offer is to pick up the rich folks from their rich area of So. Florida and fly them to Key West and hook them up with a pre-arranged fishing charter. My guy gets the regular fee and benefits from the links too and pays nothing to this guy in return.

Do you think I looked at his PR to see if it was worth the link? No way! This is a great opportunity for my client to pick up some extra business from folks who will tip his mate well and will probably become repeat customers. Besides that, he's getting people that wouldn't drive the 150+ miles each direction to get here! It's an all around winning combination. I still don't know what the fellow's PR is and don't care.

Websites are like ads in the newspapers. "Will it bring customers?" and "Is the cost lower than the profit?" are the only questions to consider.

[scolling]

If it makes sense to link - then link - if not then don't

[anthonyparsons.com]

and some more great news, is the Yahoo toolbar is showing webrank now.


Brace yourselves for the inevitable.

I don't see that one yet Chris....

[chrishirst]

it seems to have gone again. it was there, honest! or maybe I need more