PageRank is a link analysis algorithm used by the Google Internet search engine that assigns a numerical weighting to each element of a hyperlinked set of documents, such as the World Wide Web, with the purpose of “measuring” its relative importance within the set.
How often do you check your Google PageRank?
Last week I realized that Google had updated their Rankings for sites and ChurchCrunch moved from PR3 to PR4.
I’m quite excited about this move and have been waiting to make the jump for some time. It doesn’t surprise me that I’ve been able to make a PR4 but now I’m at the “invisible wall” for many bloggers which is the PR5 jump.
I’ve never personally owned a blog that was able to make a PR5. Human3rror.com has been sitting at PR4 for a while, and all signs point that I won’t be making a 5-card for at least some time, if ever.
And I’m not upset about that since Human3rror’s content coverage and purpose is lowball, but I’m gunning for top of the line for ChurchCrunch. I think there are a number of reasons it’s hard for a blogger to break the PR5 line, but at the end of the day one just doesn’t really know.
I do know that most “blogs” that reach a PR5+ typically are either a “network” or a multi-author type platform. I’m thinking (and dreaming) about both for ChurchCrunch.
More thoughts after the jump:
The problem, of course, is that although a number of people have done various research into how one get’s PageRank, and the apparent algorithms behind it, it’s still just as cryptic and ambiguous as ever, especially for the layman:
PageRank Technology: PageRank reflects our view of the importance of web pages by considering more than 500 million variables and 2 billion terms. Pages that we believe are important pages receive a higher PageRank and are more likely to appear at the top of the search results.
PageRank also considers the importance of each page that casts a vote, as votes from some pages are considered to have greater value, thus giving the linked page greater value.
We have always taken a pragmatic approach to help improve search quality and create useful products, and our technology uses the collective intelligence of the web to determine a page’s importance.
Yeah, whatever that means.
There are obviously some very typical and “understood” strategies of increasing PageRank and you can certainly do a Google Search for “Increasing PageRank” and you’ll get a million-and-one answers to that.
My suggestion is to avoid like the plague any site that says they have “figured it out” or know the “secrets” about it. I call a massive bull on those phonies.
But one thing is certain: There’s a deep connection between Google PageRank and Google Authority and being a “trusted” source for Google.
I’ve combed this article over and over again and have applied a number of Chris’ suggestions and apparently they are working.
His mindmap (image below, click for larger version) is extremely helpful.
One thing is for sure is that I’ve already begun to see that Google has, for some reason, seen ChurchCrunch as an “authority” and “trusted” source. It’s obviously apparent that I’ve been able to knock down historically rich sites on keywords without having to fight for spots.
Certainly I could expound on the reasons I believe this is happening, but at the end of the day I have to give a hearty “I don’t know.” because a large portion of it has to be luck.
My ultimate goal is that I can begin a much larger “networking” effect with other bloggers in our particular space that I feel have as much authority as this blog and slowly take over keywords and search results that link to valuable resources.
This is a long term goal and strategy, but I’m glad it’s moving forward.
What do you think? How often do you think about your Google PageRank? Do you have a strategy (and are you implementing it) so that you can grow it?
Noah says
Yeah, my website was listed on the Yahoo! directory back in 1997, but I'm still a 3/10 using Google PageRank. Ah well!
human3rror says
It can grow…!
Kent Shaffer says
You can do it!
human3rror says
so can you!
Lon says
i was at 4 and then got knocked back down to 3… not sure if it was due to a period of inactivity, downtime or what… i had no idea google would look into domain registration details as a notch in legitimacy…
human3rror says
Doh!
—Sorry for the brevity and rampant spelling errors… This was obviously “Sent from my iPhone”.
jonathan says
OK, now this might be the most depressing experience of my life…my pagerank is embarassing
human3rror says
PR3 is good! what are you talking about…
Jim says
uh, embarrassing…i don't wanna look…
Mikes says
I started blogging 2 months ago and I'm so happy that I now have PR2. I mean it's not high but at least I now have a page rank compared to having PR N/A. LOL! I think about it from time to time but not really my focus. Not my focus but still I hope it increases soon as I keep on blogging. Congrats to your PR4.
human3rror says
Thanks Mike! It'll grow overtime, I'm sure. Time is a large part in fact!