Google Page Rank is the algorithm used by Google to rank web pages. According to Wikipedia, PageRank is a link analysis algorithm that determines how web pages rank on the Google search results. The algorithm was named after one of Google’s founders, Larry Page. It’s also based on the concept of a web page.
Sergey Brin and Larry Page developed the PageRank algorithm at Stanford University in the year 1996. It was part of a new research project about a new search engine. They both founded Google Inc., the company behind Google search engine in 1998. The word ‘PageRank’ is actually a trademark of Google. The PageRank process has been patented with the patent assigned to Stanford University. Google has bought exclusive license rights on the patent from Stanford University. PageRank and its all associated patents are expired on September 24, 2019.
Today, the significance of PageRank has diminished, and Google is considering a ton of different factors (other than just PageRank) to rank websites or web pages. But, Google PageRank is not entirely outdated or dead yet. According to Gary Illyes, the Google Webmaster Trends Analyst at Google, PageRank is still part of their ranking algorithm.
With that in mind, let’s discuss and find out if you can actually manipulate Google PageRank to get better rankings.
Let’s understand PageRank Sculpting with Nofollow Links Method
Manipulating Google PageRank and stopping it from flowing to useless pages is actually not a new thing. Many SEO people started attempting that in the mid 2000s, and it’s been a regular thing ever since. However, Google’s algorithm works above and beyond all kinds of manipulation.
Here’s an evidence: Former Google engineer, Matt Cutts, once said that “Google uses nofollowed links as part of the calculation of how much PageRank to send to other pagesâ€.
This means if a given page has 5 links and one of those links is nofollowed, then the flow of PageRank to the other 4 links is like there are 5 links on that page no matter how many links are nofollowed. This practice of setting nofollow links and asking the Google PageRank not to count on those links but focus on the links that matter is known as PageRank Sculpting.
So, the practice of PageRank Sculpting with Nofollow links has no benefit…
Let’s understand Cloaking Links Method
The Cloaking Links method is the practice of showing one page to Google and another page to the page visitors. This is basically hiding the links from Google.
Google’s Martin Splitt said that cloaking links is bad because it’s engaged in deceiving website users who find the page on Google and visit the page. So, cloaking is not a good ranking tactic as there’s the risk of getting banned by Google at any point.
Home page is no longer the mother of all inner pages
The idea that PageRank flows from home page to all inner pages is now outdated. Every inner page that attains links should be able to rank on its own. It has to feed itself and get links from pages outside the site. The PageRank is not going to flow from the homepage.
Yes, your home page is an important page of your site, and probably the most important page for some of your users as it has the ability to make conversions, but don’t expect it to flow the PageRank to inner pages or the pages that you want to rank.
Therefore, it draws the conclusion that PageRank manipulation is no longer an option. In fact, it was terminated eleven years ago with Matt Cutts putting that concept to an end back in 2009.
So, here’s what you need to know:
If you have a blog page that has individual blog posts, each of those individual blog posts is a complete page itself.
Every inner page that attracts links from outside the site to rank must rank on its own Make sure the site has an optimized architecture and the pages you want to rank meet the SEO requirements to rank. No more PageRank flow from the home page.
Say NO to any kind of PageRank manipulation as none of that works or is going to work anymore.
Don’t waste your time thinking or worrying about PageRank manipulation. Instead, use that time creating, optimizing and promoting the pages you want to rank.
PageRank manipulation is no longer a thing in 2020.