Wy de-value a site for linking to another?

Johan007 · 12-02-2003, 08:10 AM

Quote:

Fact: A website has a maximum amount of PageRank that is distributed between its pages by internal links.

The maximum PageRank in a site equals the number of pages in the site * 1. The maximum is increased by inbound links from other sites and decreased by outbound links to other sites.

I read about this all the time. Why should a site be de-valued if you link to an external site? Linking to another resource should be seen as a positive step. If I may use my movie site futuremovies.co.uk or bbc.co.uk/film both sites use a link to other information on each page of our movie reviews. I dont see a drop in total PR or for that page.

PhilC · 12-02-2003, 08:39 AM

It's just the way the sums add up - a mathematical fact. But you won't see the PageRank reduction unless, coincidentally, it causes a page's PageRank to cross a Toolbar PR boundary. Don't mistake the Toolbar PR figure as being PageRank - it isn't. We never see the actual PageRank.

Johan007 · 12-02-2003, 09:26 AM

So does it have a negative effect on where a page is ranked?

PhilC · 12-02-2003, 09:33 AM

PageRank is one of the factors that Google uses to determine the rankings, so the more the PageRank, the better the ranking. But it's just one of the factors. You don't see rankings in PageRank order because there are other factors that Google uses. For instance, right now I have a PR6 page that's pushed Google's own PR10 page out of the top spot.

edbarton · 12-02-2003, 09:36 AM

What term is that with?

PhilC · 12-02-2003, 09:37 AM

pagerank explained

PhilC · 12-02-2003, 09:38 AM

Incidentally, it was #2 to Google until this forum got indexed (and PR).

edbarton · 12-02-2003, 10:00 AM

I see. Even if you aren't number one with it your pagerank search term rank is very good. You must get loads from that. Anyway back to the linking issue

Johan007 · 12-02-2003, 10:22 AM

I know it aint the only factor

So no one knows if linking to other sites have a negative effect? Thats good cos IMO it should not.

PhilC · 12-02-2003, 12:33 PM

You've misunderstood, Johan. Linking to other sites does have a negative effect.

Johan007 · 12-02-2003, 01:21 PM

Good cos no matter how people explain it its not clear.

PhilC · 12-02-2003, 02:27 PM

If you accpet that a loss of PageRank within a site is a negative effect, then you could experiment with the PageRank Calculator a bit and see the PageRank losses yourself.

I, Brian · 12-03-2003, 01:17 AM

A slight misnomer here - PR applies to individual pages, not sites.

Leigh · 12-03-2003, 03:09 AM

.....

PhilC · 12-03-2003, 03:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leigh

I think that it needs to be stressed here that it has a negative effect on PageRank and PR is just a small part of Google's algorithm.

I think I explained that above, but thanks for stressing it

A negative effect on PageRank is a negative effect on rankings.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leigh

It may have a positive effect on SERP ranking depending upon how relevant to your page content Google sees the link.

Some people have put forward that idea, but I have never seen any evidence for it. I'm not saying that it doesn't happen. I'm saying that I'd like to see some evidence for it. If LocalRank ever comes into play, then linking out can definitely be used to make ranking gains.