Understanding The PageRank Numbers Game

A lot of web publishers think the fastest way for them to obtain a good PageRank or PR ranking is to entice websites with higher PageRank to link to them. The notion is that if a page with a higher PageRank gives a link, its PR will be passed on. Although this is true in theory, the actual process is much more involved.

In reality, Google's algorithm for arriving at PageRank dictates that the amount of ranking a page can pass along to those it links to is its own rank for the page in question divided by the number of outbound links on that page.

A site with a PR number of 7 won't pass on that 7 directly. If, for example, the site has 6 incoming links and yours makes 7, the number passed on is 1. Another thing that some webmasters fail to understand is that the number passed on is the one reflective of the page the link appears on. If that 7 is for the homepage and the link page only has a rating of 5, the real number will be lower.

Now, if you consider all those big hitting sites out there with great PR rates, but hundreds of outbound links competing for a slice of the pie, it becomes clear that they aren't necessarily the best to target for reciprocal links.

One of the better strategies is to target sites that are up-and-coming that have modest PR ratings. This might seem like an odd way to go, but it makes sense. As long as the sites are reputable, but have lower rankings just because of their relative newness, they can pay off in the long run.

A host of reasons exist as to why these lower PR sites can pay off. The biggest lies in the fact it is generally much easier to get these sites to put up links. Plus, when they do, they are often willing to use keywords in the links themselves. Also, there are more inclined to put links on their front page. Another advantage to these sites that they probably don't already have a bunch of outbound links. The appeal of these reasons is strong, but the most compelling is the potential these sites offer. If high quality sites are chosen, they can grow in PR ranking and your site can grow along with them.

When selecting sites to target, avoid those that have a PageRank bar that's white or gray. This is an indication that the site has no ranking whatsoever or that is has been banned. Gray sites can actually have a negative impact.

If you still find yourself wondering if this strategy will really work, consider the math behind it. An incoming link from a page that's ranked at 6 with only one other link will give you a PR boost of 3. A page that has a ranking of 8 with 100 links will only give you a PR boost of .08. The truth is in the numbers. Do the math and then choose sites that will benefit you the most.

Article Source: http://www.christiannotepad.com

About the author: Jeff Alderson develops pay-per-click and search engine software. He is an expert on boosting traffic and sales. Jeff suggests building a profitable keyword list using his Ad Word Analyzer software to increase website revenue.
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