I have always had a love, hate relationship with the Google Toolbar and the simple little bar that tells you how much PageRank (PR) you have.
I think, as with most search marketers, if it's displaying some awesome PR, we couldn't be happier.. we'll even brag about it!
But then we, of course, spout on a regular basis how unimportant it really is. And truly the toolbar's bar itself isn't important in the grand scheme of things unless you are selling links or trying to attract people to your site that care about PR.
Repeat after me again.. the reality is the Google Toolbar PageRank Display is not important, not important... not important... not important...
In fact, today it's even less important than years ago because Pagerank changes constantly. And every few months the toolbar is updated it is only taking a snapshot. In between you could have anything in truth.
A site starting out might display Zero PR.. but in a few months raise that to 3 or 4.. but it won't be reflected until the next toolbar update.
Why am I bringing this up today?
With most search marketers they'll say over and over again that it's not important. They know even if it disappeared, the true metric we care about is how traffic and in the end conversions are being affected. If you go from a PR 3 to 4 in an update, you'll likely not show any difference in traffic that day.
BUT!.. that doesn't mean your 'actual' PR isn't influencing your rankings. Make sense?
But now let's look at this from a phsychological stand point. ;)
Even the most 'against' the PR toolbar marketers will FREAK OUT if that little bar drops to zero or one. Guarantee it!
One can talk their talk.. but until they are met with this little test.. they can't say anything. Because the pyschological impact, the mindset it gives you, the confidence it gives you..
..all those things play a roll.
The reason I'm bringing this up is because as some of you know I recently moved this site to a new domain. And Google is not loving me.
I understand I may not get the PR4 pagerank reflected at gripsuccess.com that was redirected here right away. But from past experience I'd think I'd at least have a rank (and the toolbar turned from grey to white). Even Zero!
For some reason.. 2 weeks later! ..I still have an 'unranked' toolbar.
I 301 redirected my old site to here.. I've pointing links to this site for the last few weeks. Changing the URLs in profiles and so forth around the net. Changing resource boxes with a link to this site.
I've done some content work and pointing links that way.
Still unranked!
And what's crazy is that I'm getting pages indexed.. Google knows I'm here! I'm ranking #1 for Niche Wisdom. And I'm starting to rank for other keywords.. I'm getting fresh long tail..
Know that I made this radical move to a new domain for long term gain.
I knew I'd be struck with a deficient PR Toolbar for a while in the process. I also understood that doesn't really affect actual Pagerank much or my traffic; and it hasn't.
BUT! having said that.. my feeling is NOT necessarily about myself, but how I feel this site will be perceived. Considering the market I'm in, I need to show I can at least get 'some' pagerank. ...and I want my personal confidence back! ;)
Even Zero helps in that department!
I would LOVE the day that the toolbar was more responsive and updated more regularly. I don't understand the technology behind it enough and the reason it's updated so infrequently.
But think.. if only, especially for a 301 redirected site, it would in a few days recognize that and reflect the orginal sites PR. Am I dreaming again? :-)
I'll live with it.. I've dealt with worse things and again it's really minor. I know that if I continue to create great content, point links and manage the site, it'll come around - especially in the next PR update.
But it's just an observation.. and maybe this post will help some individuals too that don't yet understand the importance and true impact of that little green bar.
-Matt Levenhagen
Search Engine Optimization - PageRank
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