What is PR for?

[smeagain]

PR as used by Google (and kept secret) is an algorithmic calculation that takes into account backlinks value according to the PR of the originating site, the relevence of the page containing the link to the text content of the recieving page, the relevence of the link text (or image Alt) of the outgoing link etc etc.

So yes, the onpage content of a particular page is a factor in the calculation. An example would be a page selling financial services linking to a page on another site selling shoelaces. Now Google would discount such a link in its calculations to arive at the PR for the shoelace page. Furthermore if the Financial services site had a large number of such Non-Relevent (contrived) Links then its own PR could be damaged.

Just remember this when reading all the posts on this Forum offering PRx Links.

[tb987]

Smeagin I thought this was Page Rank - PageRank - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Is the secret one used by Google called Page Rank too?

[smeagain]

Yes Googles actual PR is the same thing (in name anyway) as the little Green Bar PR that is widely discussed however, the value of the two often bear little relation to each other. The Green Bar Tool is a toy for public use and to display it, you generally need a Browser Toolbar or Plugin that will most likely send information about your surfing habits plus other info back to Google. That's the price you pay for worshiping this little gree monster.

[rhyswynne]

When I was growing up PR meant public relations!

[LinkHunter]

PR is nothing more than a way to increase your advertising income, and with retail pricing on the sites that you sell.

That's It!!

Nothing To Do With Term Position!

Traffic is the name of the game! If Ebay was a PR1 would you use them? Sure you would because they are right in front of your face, and everywhere you look in the engines! And no, it is not because of their fantastic PR either! It is strictly the amount of indexed pages and backlinks....and a little help from the engines to get thrown in to the traffic terms that they target and land in due to content in their site!

My Opinion Anyways!

okay I will shut up now......Sorry!

[arora]

When I was a Student, PR - meant Per Rectum and I think the Google PR also belongs to that region!
Much ado about nothing!

[Lovely]

Yes, Google tools bar PR is becoming irrelevant to some webmaster, but I think it is very important to Google.

[rahulbaba]

PR is just a sign to make yourself happy thinking you have a green line on the toolbar! But yes it can be very useful for web directories though! Depends on what your using it for!