The worldwide web is gigantic, with millions of websites and billions of web pages infesting it. That’s because there’s democracy all over the web – anyone can publish any content and link to any website he/she wants, provided the laws of the land permit it. In this scenario, how does one go about separating wheat from chaff while hunting for reliable information on any subject?
Google has invented a system – referred to as PageRank – that gives a ranking, from 0 to 10, to a website based on the number of links that a website receives from other pages on the Internet. More importantly, PageRank is based mainly on the quality of the Internet pages that link to the website.
For example, let us take a website – say, website A. Now assume website A is a quality informative website; so, naturally, a whole lot of other websites will place a link of website A on their pages. What Google does is to figure out: (i) how many Internet pages have linked to website A, and (ii) how is the quality of the Internet pages that have placed a link to website A. If Google finds out that numerous Internet pages have linked to website A, then the obvious logical conclusion Google draws is that website A is a quality website, and that is why it has got so many links (or votes) in its favor by other websites. But, Google will not stop there: it will also analyze the quality of the websites that have placed a link to website A on their Internet pages – if these pages are of high quality, then website A will get a good rank, but if these Internet pages are of low quality, then website A will get a lower page ranking irrespective of the number of links it has received.
Google uses its sophisticated analytic software to calculate the number of Internet pages that link to a particular website as well as to analyze the quality of the linking Internet page. Both these factors are then fed into Google’s own formula and a PageRank is calculated.
As we have said before, PageRank can be from 0 to 10. PageRank 0 indicates that a website is not being referred to (or voted for) by other Internet pages. PageRank 10 means that a website is Va-Va-Voom, and surfers/web advertisers/websites are going ga-ga over it. PageRank 5 and above is generally considered as a good PageRank.
The importance of a web site's PageRank
By now, you would have figured out that if a website’s PageRank is high, then it is considered as a qualitative, important and relevant site.
However, if any website does not have a good PageRank, or if it has a low PageRank, it does not necessarily mean that the website is not qualitative. It may be possible that though the website features rich content, it may have been recently launched. Or, maybe it has been launched sometime back but has not marketed itself well. Remember, any quality website is sure to pick up its PageRank in the medium–long term.
On the other hand, you have websites that feature zilch content and are used as link-exchange websites, where links are placed and the website has no worthwhile content. Google, using its analytical software can figure out such “empty” link sites and ferret out the wheat from the chaff.
How Can I find out a Website’s PageRank?
That’s so simple. On Google’s site, you will see something called a “Google Toolbar”. Download it and install it – it will integrate itself in your Internet browser and display the PageRank of any website you visit. Here’s a link that will make your job easier: http://toolbar.google.com/
PageRank Tips and Tricks
If you’re looking to improve your website’s PageRank, remember there are no shortcuts. First, get great content on your website, for content is the king, and once you do that, you will find your popularity increasing fast. Second, if you are giving away a free software from your website, then remember to place your website’s link on the body of the software. Anyone who installs your software on his website, will be giving you a link, and if your software is popular, your PageRank will increase dramatically.
PageRank Trivia
The “page” in PageRank refers to PageRank’s developer, Larry Page – it does not refer to an Internet page as you may be thinking!
