Many people building their web sites are concerned with PageRank, which is a number value that Google applies to online page content The value is higher as the website ages and or gains an authority status. While good content can and will help increase your PR, other things factor into the picture. Google has created a GoogleBot, which is a robot that spiders all online content in order to decide how to include it into their search engine results. This robot considers a variety of elements that help it determine just how relevant and valuable your content is. 

A brand new web site starts out with zero PR. Over time it can reach a higher PR if the content is managed well and others think highly enough to link to that content. However, a high PR does not always mean high search results. A site with a zero PR can be positioned higher due to a variety of reasons, including the content being deemed more relevant. Sometimes it’s downright frustrating trying to achieve a higher PR, but these days, webmasters should keep in mind that PR is not the end-all be-all of achieving a high position in the search results.

When Google established the use of PR as part of their search engine algorithm many unscrupulous webmasters began to abuse its purpose by manipulating the GoogleBot into giving their site a higher PR than deserved. This practice is still going on today and often times it is called a Black Hat technique. Yet using these techniques is something that webmasters interested in long-term gains and rewards need to avoid. 

PageRank is only one of 200 different components as to how any one page or website gains a search engine position for any particular keyword search. PageRank is still one of the more valuable components, yet it is not the only consideration. Google tries to understand the relevance of your sites content by taking into consideration all 200 components including what other people think of your sites content. 

One of the most important things you can do to build your sites PR is to provide relevant quality content. It is the springboard to a successful long-term search engine solution. 

There are two parts to relevance that are important to incorporate into your site content. 

1. Quality and relevance for your reader is the first consideration. Making sure that the GoogleBot can understand that information is also important. This is where a good understanding of SEO comes in handy. It’s not a secret on how to do this. Google offers an excellent guide for webmasters to help them apply the best type of SEO for both readers and robots. All one has to do is visit Google and read their webmasters guide. 

2. Back-links are another way of helping the GoogleBot understand that your site and it’s contents are valuable and relevant to others. Don’t be fooled into believing that using techniques to fool the GoogleBot offer you anything more than temporary results. 

Natural links can be acquired through sharing content of your site via RSS feed syndication, social networks, discussion forums, and articles submitted to other web sites and directories related to the content of your site. 

Buying your way to the top is a bad idea. People who sell back-links do so by way of Link Farms. Avoid paying for this type of service. Once Google locates these types of services all links are then recorded. If the trail of links leads to your site, it could result in your site being penalized and or removed. 

If you have the opportunity to read the webmasters guide from Google, take note of how they are working to stop the practice of PR and search engine results manipulation. There is no need to worry if you simply work at offering your visitors the relevant quality content they seek. Using these methods will help your site gain a higher PR over time and the results will be long term and rewarding. 

At Redding Search Engine Optimizationwe strive to help other webmasters and business owners gain better visibility through Google approved SEO methods. This includes both onsite and offsite content management. Visit ReddingSEO.com to learn how we can help your local business gain more visibility online.