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Can you explain how Google Page Rank works?

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Quick primer and practical next steps.

PageRank is the original link‑graph idea behind Google: it treats the web as a graph and uses the pattern of links to estimate how "important" pages are. The core idea and iterative method are documented in Google's early patent (the best primary source for the original algorithm). (US Patent: Method for node ranking).

Important clarifications many replies hint at but don't fully separate: the internal link‑based signal that PageRank represents is just one piece of a much larger ranking system. Google now uses hundreds of signals when serving results; PageRank-style link information is one signal among many. See Google's overview of how search works for the up‑to‑date framing. (How Google Search Works). The public "Toolbar PageRank" number people used to watch is no longer available (Google turned that feed off in 2016), so don't use that old score as a health metric. (Google Toolbar PageRank retired).

Practical, immediate checklist (apply this before chasing numbers or shortcuts):

  • Monitor indexing and manual actions in Google Search Console; use its Links report to sample your backlink profile. (How Search Works).
  • Audit backlinks with a tool (Ahrefs/MAJESTIC/SEMrush) and prioritize editorial, relevant referring domains. Avoid paid/reciprocal link schemes; Google documents link‑scheme behaviors and how they treat link spam. ().
  • If you find truly problematic links, try webmaster removal first and document attempts; use Disavow only when you have a clear manual action or cannot remove the links. (See practical disavow guidance). (Disavow guidance overview).
  • Fix on‑site factors that help link value flow: sane internal linking, canonical tags, sitemaps, and useful content that earns natural links.

Notes on the thread: many posters (for example , , ) were right to emphasize links and content; and were also correct that the public toolbar metric is outdated. The modern takeaway: understand link equity conceptually, but invest time in usable content, clean technical SEO, and earning real editorial links.

Recommended Answers

All 21 Replies

Member Avatar for prcys

Google page rank counts on behalf of many terms like quality information, inbound&outbound link, traffic, bounce rate of the page. And all page individually counts , and at last overall site page rank decide by calculation on each page value according to all above terms.

Member Avatar for DavidB

There are many sites that discuss the algorithm; have you done any searches?

Here's one:

There is a LOT of information available; you just have to look for it.

Member Avatar for freesms

Put the quality content on your website and create powerful link on .edu & .gov!!! Than your page rank will be good also you get the good keywords ranking.

Edited by Narue because: Removed fake signature
Member Avatar for freesms

According to Sergey Brin and Lawrence (Larry) Page, Co-founders of Google, the PR of a webpage is calculated using this formula:

PR(A) = (1 - d) + d * SUM ((PR(I->A)/C(I))

Edited by Narue because: Removed fake signature
Member Avatar for Mohammed Ammar

There is a lot of information about this on many sites find this websites on google

Member Avatar for craftingimage

Google PR sucks...it's update 2 or 3 months

Member Avatar for rapidsslonnline

Google Page Rank works multiple factors which we have listed below, Implement those Google Page Rank factors in your website and get ample amount of change in your PR.

-> Create Website content complete unique and customize.
-> Create search engine friendly navigation which includes simple directory or folder structure with proper file naming.
-> Execute file names with your business oriented key phrase, as result of this you will have good position in SERP at the starting.
-> Make your footer structure more friendly where your website visitor will have all pages which u offering in primary navigation and second navigation.


The Last and The Most Important

-> Create relevance and quality back links for your website.

Member Avatar for forkwatson

It is very useful for searching the visibility of site & traffic on site.It is measure as per traffic on site. Back link & visiting of people on site.

Member Avatar for Clarkjackson

Can you explain how Google Page Rank works?

Which page rank you talking about ??

There is two thigns, 1) Google search page rank and 2) Google toolbar Page rank

both are different things so let me know what you looking for ??

Member Avatar for DanielMilstein

Google page rank counts on behalf of many terms like quality information, inbound&outbound link, traffic, bounce rate of the page. And all page individually counts , and at last overall site page rank decide by calculation on each page value according to all above terms.

Thank you for this info, I have another question, How does Alexa calculates it ranks? and like we know that Page Rank is randomly updated by Google and it is not declared when they will increase the next update.. what about the Alexa? I have seen that the rank gets updated daily.. isnt that correct??

Member Avatar for instinctis

Nobody knows exactly how PageRank is made or how Alexa is computing the popularity, the known facts is that PageRank is function of backlinks and Alexa is getting it's input mostly by alexa bar.

Member Avatar for DanielMilstein

Nobody knows exactly how PageRank is made or how Alexa is computing the popularity, the known facts is that PageRank is function of backlinks and Alexa is getting it's input mostly by alexa bar.

Excuse me? I think you are mistaken, The Alexa bar is just to show that the rank & other features of the assumptions of a site by Alexa. the alexa bar is just a front end of the application. it does not have to do anything with the back-end of Alexa and its calculations

Member Avatar for seohouse

Google Page rank is the credibility of your Back-links. it all depends upon your back-link quality

Edited by seohouse because: Spelling
Member Avatar for jovy_WOG

Which page rank you talking about ??

There is two thigns, 1) Google search page rank and 2) Google toolbar Page rank

I mean, can you explain the difference between the two? I know I should just google it, however I'm quite confused already.. Enlighten me please...

Member Avatar for rahul.patil123

PageRank is Google's way of deciding a page's importance. It matters because it is one of the factors that determines a page's ranking in the search results

Member Avatar for indusharma

Goggle pr shows that your website has how much unique quality content. Those websites which has high unique quality content ,google gives them high pr.

Member Avatar for amilyjoe

Google page rank built based on many factors like link juice, traffic, marketing, Branding etc.

Member Avatar for abellasmith

Hi i am agree with all of you but i also added some formulas for calculating page ranks:
PR(A) = (1-d) + d(PR(t1)/C(t1) + ... + PR(tn)/C(tn))
or
a page's PageRank = 0.15 + 0.85 * (a "share" of the PageRank of every page that links to it)

Member Avatar for jeweling

I don't care how it works now,cause it is only a little use for ranking

Member Avatar for jim12345

Internet has a lot information about it. Try to find:)

commented: wow, that was helpful. NOT -3
Member Avatar for TWeber_TheSBA

Hi i am agree with all of you but i also added some formulas for calculating page ranks:
PR(A) = (1-d) + d(PR(t1)/C(t1) + ... + PR(tn)/C(tn))
or
a page's PageRank = 0.15 + 0.85 * (a "share" of the PageRank of every page that links to it)

Wow, that is some difficult math to compute right there. My head hurts just looking at that formula. Page rank is still valid, but the algorithms Google uses are so very complex that one formula is not going to explain it properly.

I believe page rank is still used to determine crawl priority and depth of a site. While still used, you still want to focus on the quality of your content and your links.

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