Help! My PR just dropped.

[arefsha]

I just started working on SEO for www.littleriverroasting.com about 6 weeks ago. The site was in bad shape when I got it, but had a PR3. I cleaned up the code and started working on getting links. I think I have probably gotten 40 - 50 new links in the last 6 weeks. Several of the links are even PR4.

Today, I saw my PR drop to 2. What's going on? Have I done something wrong. Please look at the site and let me know if I'm doing something to upset Google.

Do you think this will have a major impact on my serps?

Thanks, Drew

[wednesday]

I wouldn't be woried about the PR of a dmoz listed site. Get more links. Preferably one-way. If you haven't looked here do it. I guess it will be PR4-5 with the next update if you submit to the whole list.

[arefsha]

Thanks for the link. Looks like I've got my work cut out for me.

Why do you say not to worry about a site listed in DMOZ?

[wednesday]

Because DMOZ database is replicated by ... many sites. And you'll get a lot of links only because you're listed.
I manage one site that is listed and have 2k+ links reported by msn, 90% of which are by DMOZ clones. It is PR6. But your promotion effords should only start with a DMOZ listing ;)

Regards,
Martin

[jestep]

Do you think this will have a major impact on my serps?

No, PR has very little weight ranking in google. You shouldn't see any change in your actual rankings.

[arefsha]

If PR carries little weight, then why is everyone so worried about it?

[brian.mark]

The only real value it has is in getting links traded with people that don't truly understand the system. Many people will only trade links with a site that has PR_ or higher, just because they saw that once on a post or someone told them to do that or they have a misconception that it'll help them more if they exchange links with someone with a PR4 than a PR3.

As an SEO, you shouldn't worry too much about it, but rather worry about the SERPs, because those are what you really want.

Brian.

[incrediblehelp]

If PR carries little weight, then why is everyone so worried about it?

LOL

[DMC_34]

If PR carries little weight, then why is everyone so worried about it?

Because of the people out there who do not understand it.

For example, link exchanges, just a few examples I ran across, where PR is over emphasized:

http://www.holiday-gifts-gift-basket...ink_to_us.html

http://www.asecretadmirer.com/linkexchg.htm


Although PR is only one factor, relevant links are the most important factor in SERP's. But therein lies the problem: Little or No PR = difficult to get links.

Personally I will exchange with a relevant PR 0 anytime, as long as I can see they are not spamming and being penalized, and the link is indexable. Why? A UNIQUE RELEVANT link works for all SE's, to hell with PR :) Plus I believe this was brought up at the last SES, not sure. Links from all PR's seems more natural.

In short just another way Google green bar ploy even dictates your rankings on other SE's

[brian.mark]

Plus I believe this was brought up at the last SES, not sure. Links from all PR's seems more natural.

You're correct. I was also in the session where this was mentioned. I wish I could remember which session that was in, though.

Since I started getting PR0 and up links instead of searching for higher PR directories, etc. our SERPs have been tremendously improved. It is amazing how many PR0 and PR1 sites will give you a one-way link and be happy that someone contacted them about it.

#1 and 2 with the same site out of 23 million results in Google for our primary key phrase isn't too bad to me. :-)

Brian.