Freedom From John Chow!

Before the Page Rank Update, one of the many ingenious methods I used to increase my future Google Page Rank was to be on JohnChow's top commentator list. I managed to do this using the URL of Affiliate Programs and Internet Scams. John had a PR4 but updated to a PR6.

Those of you who think of yourself as somewhat 'wise owls' will be dying to tell me that Google Page Rank is constantly being updated and that what the Toolbar shows is 'only a snapshot'. I have to admit I really don't understand why people bother saying this. The whole reason why I (and many other bloggers in this niche) were so exited about the update is because having that 'snapshot' is all it takes to convince advertisers that our site actually has that Page Rank; which in turn allows for easier and more lucrative site monetisation. It is only about your sites search engine optimization, what it displays as PR matters too.

You might say 'isn't he being a bit cheeky to the advertisers?'. I say I am defiantly not. The next update probably wont be for another solid three months and so by then I would have easily gained that Page Rank the 'white hat' way; and probably rise above and beyond the stated Page Rank, giving the advertisers even more than they bargained for. If I were some backwater vagabond who was going to give up his blog, this would not be the case, however, fortunately I am not!

If you think about it, Page Rank is just like Gold. It doesn't really have a practical use, it just looks nice, but we have developed around it in such a way that it carries great value. I.e.:

We want it, because we make more from advertisers,
Advertisers want it because they can make more from other advertisers
etc etc, It just goes on for ever.

Nevertheless, according to my Sitening Tool Google has only updated some of the 'data centres' and will be updating the rest shortly.

Trick of the day:
I am mind numbingly happy I no longer 'need' to be on John Chow's top commentator list. However, if you are looking for a devilishly cheeky way to get an easy PR6 link at the next update, you may want to consider giving it a try!

Google Updates Toolbar Page Rank!

At last Google have finally updated the Page Rank shown in their Toolbar! I am very happy about this! This site got a PR4 and Affiliate Programs and Internet Scams (my other site) did too. I am especially 'proud' to see how, despite my other site being only a third the age of this one, I managed to play 'catch up' and get an equal Page Rank!

I'm sure every other blogger in the blogosphere has posted about the PR update today. It could be said that it’s a waste for me to continue the trend. I could have gone for the 'controversial post', which I would have called 'Why all the talk of the PR update? but that would have been plain stupid. It is obvious why we are all exited about the Page Rank, simply because it allows for easier and more lucrative site monetization.

Page Rank is one of the major requirements third parties like Text Link Ads and ReviewMe are after.

I will post in more detail about Page Rank in the near future. In the meantime remember I am still looking for guest bloggers.

Google Page Rank isn't Everything

Its funny to see that with the impending Google Page Rank update everyone is scurrying around sorting out link exchanges and making their blog in tip top condition. It's almost as if Google is our mother coming to check up on us. We tidy our rooms, load the dishwasher and make sure we wear clean clothes. (some of you probably do this anyway... good for you!).

It is important to remember that Google, much like our mothers are not everything. Although the state of your blog at the time of the update is important, the old ways of getting a good ranking still apply.

What a higher Page Rank Does and can you achieve those things without it:

- Moves you up the rankings in Google for your keywords, sending you more traffic.

Page Rank helps with this but is not a necessity. The normal SEO techniques are still effective on blogs with a page rank of 0. Gaining inbound links and optimising your site for Google is still what it is all about.

- Allows you to be accepted by third parties to make more money from advertising E.G. Text Link Ads.

Garry conn doubts the importance of third parties and argues that you should do it yourself. However John Chow says its all about the relationship with the third party. I think for smaller-medium sized blogs third parties are defiantly the way to go; because after all, 'bad breath is better than no breath'. However for a site like Johns it’s easy to be nice to everyone including the third party.

- Allows you to be eligible for more sponsored posts. (This is a form of third parties advertising).

I'm taking about third parties like ReviewMe. There has been a raging debate in the blogosphere about writing sponsored posts. I say they are fine, but only in moderation. I have no problem with a blog I read making a few extra bucks by having the odd sponsored post here and there. However sponsored posts are often not written 'from the heart' and are not the bloggers actual point of view. Sponsored post run the danger of making the site lose its originality, and given that having unique content is what blogging is all about it then this is very bad!




I have previously written about the importance of blogging with personality; but as long as the normal, un-sponsored content continues as usual I have no problem with sponsored posts.

- Allows you to make link exchanges with more popular sites.

Link exchanges are a good way to get your site off the ground but as your Page Rank increases and your site becomes more popular they become less and less important. If your blog has good enough content you will be able to get 'natural' links from top sites anyway by 'link baiting'. I.E. If your contents stimulates a blogger to write about a similar topic they will probably use some of your ideas and reference you with a link in their post.

- Allows your blog to be accepted by directories that have a minimum page rank requirement.

- Is a way of promoting your blog, people like reading successful blogs. A higher pagerank indicates 'the blogger knows what he is doing'.

You can show you are a professional mannered blogger by your content and layout without displaying your PageRank. Remember most people don't even know what Google Page Rank is. Displaying it is only worthwhile on sites in certain niches.

This blog has been predicted a PR4,5 and 6 from various different predictors. As I have tried to explain, it is possible to have a successful blog without a high Google Page Rank. As long as I get PR4 I will be happy. My other site Affiliate Programs is predicted a PR3. If I can get that up to PR4 before the update I will be over the moon.

If you don't get the Page Rank you have been hoping for do not despair!. If you are battling to raise your predicted Page Rank just ask me for a link exchange. If I like your blog enough I might just go through with it.

IWEBTool's Funky Page Rank Predictor

CLICK TO ENLARGE.
First I want to say sorry for not posting yesterday, I was out all day celebrating me and my friends 18th birthdays, which took the form of paintballing. I am still suffering the consequences of this, with 'welts' in a number of painful locations (including my ass!).

Anyway, back to the point. For all those poor Webmasters out there who are dying to get a Google Page Rank, this tool will sooth your mind. It is an accurate (around 80%) Page Rank predictor that uses the number of back links to your site to make its prediction. You can see in the screen shot that it has picked up 2,320 back links to this site and predicted me a PR of 5. This is really reassuring, especially because the next PR update wont be for a couple of months so just think what it will be by then! You can increase it for me by linking to this site! lol.

You can find this handy tool here.

Coming up: a review of a blog you will find useful, and a post all about Traffic Exchange programs.