Seitenrang

What Is PageRank?

PageRank is an algorithm developed by Google to measure the importance of a webpage based on the quantity and quality of links pointing to it. It assumes that pages linked to by many high-quality pages are themselves likely to be valuable and authoritative.

The PageRank algorithm is named after the term ‘webpage’ and Google’s co-founder, Larry Page. It analyzes the quality and quantity of the backlinks pointing to a page and uses that to assign it a score between 1 and 10. Google then uses this PageRank to determine the page’s rankings on Suchergebnisseiten.

PageRank is based on the premise that authoritative webpages and resources will receive more backlinks than less important ones. So, the more backlinks a webpage gets, the more authoritative it is assumed to be. 

Google used to make the PageRank of every site on the web publicly available. However, Google stopped showing it due to the massive spam practices executed by bloggers and SEOs wanting to improve their PageRank.

Is PageRank a Ranking Factor?

PageRank is a ranking factor. However, it is important to know that it is no longer as important as it used to be. Instead, it is now one of many hundreds of signals that Google uses to determine rankings. 

How to Calculate PageRank

You can calculate PageRank using the formula below:

PR(A) = (1-d) + d (PR(B₁)/C(B₁) + … + PR(Bₙ)/C(Bₙ))

In the formula above:

• PR refers to PageRank
• EIN refers to webpage A
• d is the damping factor (It is usually set to 0.85)
• B₁ zu Bₙ are the pages that link to page A
• C is the count of outbound links on a page

So, from the formula:

• PR(A) is the PageRank score of page A
• (1 – d) is the base PageRank value that every page receives by default (This ensures the page has a PageRank even if no other page links to it)
• PR(B₁) is the PageRank of the linking page B₁
• PR(Bₙ) is the PageRank of the linking page Bₙ
• C(B₁) is the number of outbound links on page B₁
• C(Bₙ) is the number of outbound links on page Bₙ
• PR(B₁) / C(B₁) is the PageRank that page A receives from page B₁
• PR(Bₙ) / C(Bₙ) is the PageRank that page A receives from page Bₙ

Importance of PageRank

PageRank is important because it was one of the foundational algorithms Google used to determine the importance and relevance of webpages in its search results. It works on the premise that a page that receives links from multiple important pages is likely to be important itself. 

However, while early SEO techniques heavily focused on PageRank, its influence has diminished over time, and modern SEO must account for many additional factors like content quality, user experience, mobile-friendliness, Kern-Web-Vitals, und ESSEN (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness).

Nevertheless, PageRank’s core concept of link equity still informs many SEO strategies used today. It is the reason bloggers and SEOs continue to prioritize high-quality backlinks to build their page authority and improve their search rankings.

This is even though Google now uses hundreds of signals in its ranking algorithm and has demoted the importance of PageRank. That said, pages with great on-page, off-page, und technical SEO typically have a high PageRank and tend to rank higher on search results pages.

How to Improve Your PageRank

You can improve your PageRank by getting more backlinks to your site. The higher the authority of the linking page, the better it is for your site and SEO. However, make sure to focus on authoritative, high-quality links and avoid link schemes that can get you penalized. 

1 Earn High-Quality Backlinks

Backlinks from authoritative and relevant websites signal that your content is valuable and trustworthy. These high-quality links are great for your site as they pass more PageRank than irrelevant and low-quality links. 

So, make sure to get backlinks from reputable, high-authority, and relevant sites in your niche. You should focus on natural links, specifically, editorial links, as they signal to search engines that your content is highly relevant and very helpful. 

2 Create Link-Worthy Content

Make sure to publish unique and high-quality content. Such content makes you stand out, especially when it cannot be found elsewhere. This then earns you backlinks from other bloggers who want to cite sources related to that content. 

The specific type of content will vary, depending on your site, audience, niche, and data you have access to. However, you can publish original research, detailed guides, and similar data-driven posts. Just make sure it is original, informative, and helpful. 

For the best results, make sure the content is evergreen. That way, it remains relevant all year long and does not become outdated. 

3 Improve Your Internal Linking Structure

Internal links help to distribute PageRank across your site. So, if a specific webpage has high amounts of backlinks pointing to it, you can send some of that PageRank to other relevant pages on your site using internal links. 

Aside from passing PageRank, internal links also guide visitors to related content on your site. From the SEO perspective, they help search engines discover your pages and understand your site structure, which makes it easier for search engines to crawl and index your site. 

4 Get Featured on Authoritative Websites

Being mentioned or featured on trusted industry sites increases your popularity, authority, and credibility. The specific content you get featured in will vary, but can include interviews, guest posts, or expert roundups

However, note that these mentions may require some public relations-type content and may return nofollow links or even no links at all. However, they effectively introduce you to a high-value audience, which includes bloggers who can visit your site and link to relevant content on a future date. 

Häufig gestellte Fragen

Who Created PageRank?

PageRank was created by Larry Page and Sergey Brin, the co-founders of Google, while they were Ph.D. students at Stanford University. It formed the core of Google’s original search algorithm.

Does Google Still Use PageRank?

Google still uses a version of PageRank internally, although it is no longer publicly updated. The original public PageRank scores were discontinued in 2016.

Do Nofollow Links Pass PageRank?

Nofollow links are generally not used to pass PageRank. However, Google has stated that it may choose to treat them as hints on which links to include or exclude from its search results pages.

Do Outbound Links Reduce My PageRank?

Outbound links split the PageRank a page passes, but they do not negatively affect your PageRank if used naturally and in moderation.

Why Is PageRank Kept a Secret?

Google keeps the specifics of PageRank and other ranking signals confidential to prevent manipulation and maintain the integrity of search results. Revealing it would allow spammers to game the system.

What Is the Difference Between PageRank and SEO?

PageRank is one component of Google’s ranking algorithm that evaluates the importance of a webpage based on the links pointing to it. SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is a broader practice that includes content creation, technical improvements, and linking strategies to improve a site’s visibility in search engines.

Who Owns Google’s Original Search Algorithm?

Stanford University holds the patent for the original PageRank algorithm, but Google has the exclusive license to use it. The company has since developed more advanced proprietary algorithms.