So what is Google PageRank? Google describes PageRank as “PageRank relies on the uniquely democratic nature of the web by using its vast link structure as an indicator of an individual page's value. In essence, Google interprets a link from page A to page B as a vote, by page A, for page B. But, Google looks at more than the sheer volume of votes, or links a page receives; it also analyzes the page that casts the vote. Votes cast by pages that are themselves "important" weigh more heavily and help to make other pages "important".”
So what does that mean? It is like a popularity contest in high school. The more people who like you the more popular you are, but if the in crowd likes you then you are even more popular. The more popular you are the more people see you or know how to find you. So the more links you have for your page on other sites the higher Google rates your PageRank. The more popular or higher PageRank of the page that has your link on it, the higher your page is ranked. The higher your PageRank the higher you are on the list of related web sites Google shows when some one does a search inquiry.
Google uses a very complicated PageRank algorithm to figure out all sorts of factors. But the general idea is to calculate the chances of a person randomly surfing coming across your site. This calculation determins where a site sits in a search enquiry. The Google toolbar shows a sites PageRank as a number between 0 and 10. 10 being the most popular. However no one out side of Google knows how they get the number they assign to the toolbar for a web site. It is kind of hard to know how valuable the toolbar PageRank is if you have no idea what it is bassed on.
So you type in Medieval Magic and several pages of sites show up with the words Medieval and Magic on the page. There are several sites called Medieval Magic, or Medieval Magic is part of the name, or some were on the page. The site on the top of the first page has the highest PageRank. So it pays to have the best PageRank possible. Most people will look at the first 10 web site or pages listed in a search enquiry. Some will even go to the top 20 or 30 sites, but not many.
So you work hard doing link exchanges, join every site registry out there, advertise your site on other sites so they have your link up, web rings, any thing to get links back to your site. Now if some one types in Medieval Magic as their key words you show up on the first page. Your site has been found and chances are some one will at least open your page and look at it. They may even look around, read what you have to say, bookmark it or buy some thing.
What happens if some one only looked for Medieval, or medieval jewelry or medieval jewellery? Unless you have a huge PageRank Medieval Magic web site is not found in the top 100 sites. It does not matter that if the words Medieval, jewelry and jewellery are all on the home page. There are a lot more sites or pages with the words Medieval, jewelry and jewellery that have a higher PageRank and are going to show up first. They did not show up when the person looked under Medieval Magic because they did not have the word Magic on the page.
This is why people tend to be as specific as possible when using a search engine. If you do not use the exact words for what you want then you have lots of sites that are not what you wanted. It is like typing in the word ring. You will get millions of sites and pages with the word ring. So you type in sterling silver ring. You still get millions of sites that may or may not have what you are looking for. Are you looking for a sterling silver ring to make jewellery with or a ring to go on a finger? Still need to be more specific. So now it is a sterling silver ring size 6. Still millions of sites to pick from. Lets say you want a sterling silver dragon ring size 6. So now you have the top sites or pages with the most links with sterling silver dragon ring size 6. Did the site Medieval Magic show up? No. Why not? The page that has the size 6 sterling silver dragon rings does not have a high enough PageRate to compete with the other sites.
The bottom line is that if people cannot find your site, they cannot buy from you, or read your work, or find the answer they are looking for. Google PageRank is what decides where your site is on the list when some one does a search. And the search is only as good as the keywords used.
Written by: Lori-Lee Craig
Medieval Magic
http://www.medievalmagic.ca/
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