Google sends a message!
If your feedreader looks anything like mine, you’ve probably seen nothing but posts about Google hammering the PR of a lot of high profile blogs down to what seems to be deceitfully low levels compared to the actual authorithy these blogs have worked for a long time to build.
A feasible theory about what’s actually going on is that the good people over at the big G are simply readjusting the algorithm that determines a site PageRank. While this makes sense, one can only wonder why it has only affected certain sites, while others have been left untouched. This quite obviously means that they are just adjusting certain factors within the algorithm. ProBlogger for instance previously enjoyed a comfortable PageRank6, but now only has a 4 (in most datacenters, anyways), while my old pet-peeve Zelda Universe, which has been at a PageRank 5 forever, remains unchanged. The same goes for Techcrunch and their monstrous PageRank 8.
One theory that was presented by Andy Beard is that they are heavily punishing sites that are part of larger networks that practice a lot of cross-linking between their properties. It certainly seems like a valid theory to me, and to be quite honest, I support it. The message they seem to be sending is that it shouldn’t be any easier for large networks to build authority for their new sites simply by passing the juice from their already established sites.
While most that have been hit are throwing hissy-fits about the changes, I for one am encouraged by this. To me it simply means that Google are trying to level the field, and sending a message that if you want credibility from them you have to build it through natural links. Being part of a larger network doesn’t necessarily make you any more of an authority than the independant blogger that sits alone without a large network to back him up.
While this isn’t directly related to Net Neutrality, we know that the principle has always been important to Google, and some might even say that this could be a way of promoting just that, and as I said, trying to level the field and make it easier for the independant publishers to get a their toes in the game.
4 responses to this article :
And the message is bad ?
by Dexter / on October 24th, 2007, 11:14 pm / permalink
Did you read the article?
” While most that have been hit are throwing hissy-fits about the changes, I for one am encouraged by this. ”
I personally would say that, if I interpret the message they are sending correctly, it’s a good thing by all means. Of course, many (those who suffer because of it) will disagree.
by Lars-Christian / on October 24th, 2007, 11:29 pm / permalink
I’ve commented on the other big blogs about this already but PR shouldn’t be any blogger’s concern anyway. I say just concentrate on doing what you do and the traffic, PR, alexa rankings etc. will work themselves out. These things only matter for the various affiliate programs it seems anyway. I don’t read a blog or visit a site just because it’s got a high PR…in fact I didn’t even know TechCrunch existed were it not for John Chow’s blog mentioning it.
by James Wilcox / on October 26th, 2007, 9:00 pm / permalink
The strange thing is that my wife’s Algarve site has lost 2 PR places (I think) down from 4 to 2…
But, traffic continues to improve, and the best search terms still rank #1 or on the first page anyway -
So, really, what does PR do anyway?
And, as for Alexa ranking, don’t make me laugh. The site had an Alexa rank of around 380,000 back when it got almost no traffic. Now it’s doing 50 times the traffic, the Alexa Rank is more than 1,000,000.
As others have posted elsewhere, it’s probably best just to get on with building valuable content, if you want to placate the SE gods.
by NevD / on April 6th, 2008, 3:34 pm / permalink
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