Google Dance and PageRank

I wrote an article / blog post recently called "Google PageRank vs. SEO" which talked about how Google's PageRank should not be considered an SEO meter. And the latest "Google Dance" as it's called (where the PageRank is updated in the Google Toolbar) on November 1st, seems to keep pointing in the same direction as many sites again lost PageRank points. But, as a website owner, should you worry about PageRank?

Here's a great article about the latest Google Dance with some quotes that I really liked:

Google Updates PR in Toolbar (www.kingpin-seo.co.uk)

Yet, a Toolbar PageRank update means little when it comes to your site’s ranking positions moving anytime soon. The PageRank value displayed in the Google toolbar are ancient artifacts from a time when the Toolbar PageRank might have actually mattered.

Today this has minimal impact on your Google SERP’s. This does not mean that PageRank has no impact in online trade, however the toolbar PageRank value displayed does not have any significant meaning. Google shows us one thing, then uses something completely different.

It's true. Google has removed PageRank from Google Webmaster Tools. Also, in the Google Toolbar, the size of the PageRank meter has become smaller as well. So it's pretty obvious that Google is putting less emphasis on it. More from the same article:

Maybe Google removing the PageRank score from their webmaster tools account will have at least some psychological effect upon new webmasters, helping them to realise that excellent content mixed with ethical promotion of their site will work much better than ‘link buying’ Especially in the long term!

Yes. Exactly. The days of cheating your way to the top of the listings (SERPs) are ending. Content is still king. Unique content is the more powerful king. To stand out now, your content needs to be link worthy. The content has to be so good that people will want to link to it. That is the best way to get organic link building going. Think virally. Pump out the content. If you can't write, hire a writer. I know a bunch that will write pages for less than $10 each (SEO writers cost much more, of course). So being able to update your website yourself would have to be "queen."

Like I've always said, every website needs a blog. You need a way to always add more content and blogs are pretty casual and easy to use. You don't need to be a great writer, just a good one. You can even outsource that to someone in the company or a friend or someone - but just do it. Don't wait. You need to make your website the hands down authority on a topic. That is your goal. You can start with someone else's article and add your comments - just like I did here. It's easy.

That topic is found by doing keyword research. Good keyword research. You need to know that you can actually rank well for the keywords you choose. One tip - long tail. Get a keyword phrase that has a few words in it and gets searches. Find 30 of those and use them. Webstix is here to help. We have the resources and can get you excellent return on your investment if you're willing to take our advice. That's what we do.

-Tony

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