Possible Google PageRank Tweak Angers Users

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A drop in reputation scores for hundreds of prominent Web sites this week has bloggers buzzing that Google has tweaked its PageRank algorithm. Although Google hasn't admitted to tweaking PR (PageRank), which appears in the Google Toolbar and is Google's system for weighing a Web page for its relevance to a specific query based on the number of links that it has to it, Search Engine Land, one of many search-oriented sites to notice the move, pointed out the PR drops on Oct. 24, noting that Forbes.com, WashintonPost.com, SFGate.com, SunTimes.com and Engadget.com all dropped from PR7 to PR5.

While PR score is one factor that determines if a page will rank well in a search, it is also a factor in how much the Mountain View, Calif., company can charge its AdSense network affiliates, who pay to get connected to advertisers all over the world. Lower rankings can affect advertising dollars as well as how much Google charges these Web site operators. This is a big deal to many site owners, and some of them may try to beat the system by paying for extra links, said Forrester Research analyst Charlene Li. "I could link to a pig farm, and I have nothing to do with a pig farm but because they pay me I'll do it," Li told eWEEK, offering perhaps no finer example of site owners trying to hog traffic.

View: Full Story on eWeek

#1 SimpleRules on 28 Oct 2007 - 05:40

Well my brand new site went from PR0 to PR4 in one update and my old site went from 3 to 4 ... if you try to scam the system with all these link rings and what not, I don't care what happens to you.

#2 OrganicPanda on 28 Oct 2007 - 10:01

intentional pun?

#3 cork1958 on 28 Oct 2007 - 10:29

Oh no!!
The world is going to cease to exist now!!

#4 Jugalator on 28 Oct 2007 - 13:16

Good to hear they're tweaking things, because I think there's been more and more fake sites popping up early on the results. Of course, these sites like Engadget aren't, but could still be affected from changes because other sites were pushed down by "bad" sites too much, and in the process of having that fixed, overtaking Engadget.

#5 syncvichu on 28 Oct 2007 - 14:24

I never knew PR had so much importance among users!..
Anyways why should the users be bothered if the PR ranks go low for top websites?..

#6 Justin- on 28 Oct 2007 - 15:34

So I, with a PR of 6, am now higher than those news websites?

I'm not concerned ...

(1 reply) #7 Netrack on 28 Oct 2007 - 16:44

there is a massive market for paid advertising links....I do it on my website..why you ask? If you could make somewhere from $2-500 with a google page rank 3 site that costs you $13 a month to run...would you do it? I couldnt say no..sure it kinda ruins your site a little but for a college kid like me, making $327 last month for doing a couple hours of work a month is well worth it

#7.1 Magallanes on 29 Oct 2007 - 00:26

Quote - (Netrack said @ #7)

It's true but please keep it as a secret, specially for those people of myspace and facebook (they don't known how much money they are tossing).

#8 Skyfrog on 28 Oct 2007 - 17:53

Oh poor bloggers, my heart goes out to them. Good for Google I say.

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