Google PageRank Doesn’t Matter. Can We Stop Talking about it Now?

I build websites and develop them for fun and profit. The wellspring and catalyst for both factors is people or what we call traffic.

The more people visit my web site, the more money I can possibly make, and perhaps the more fun I can possibly have.

Today, many websites had their Google PageRank reduced and many bloggers have been speculating about the causes.

Introspection is often forced. We don’t think about sustainability and our actions until unfavorable circumstances arises. If you only consider how a PageRank shift will negatively affect you after it has happened, you’re already screwed.

It’s all very simple to me. Google is an factor that is outside of your control. Sure, you can follow their rules or adjust your behavior to fit in but that still doesn’t put Google within your palm. What do good entrepreneurs do with uncontrollable factors? They create what-if contingency plans to accommodate for possible loss.

Keep this point in mind: People can do whatever they want to you and they often will. You however have the power to determine how you want to react to their actions. Google will adjust its PageRank scores in a way they deem fit (it’s their toy after all) and ultimately you must decide how you will cope with the possible results.

If your ad revenue is affected just because PageRank changes, then you’re not doing something right. Not exploring the right monetization options. Not having a long term business plan. Not making full use of the traffic you have. Not getting the right advertisers who know the value of your site.

And all these are factors within your control. Who cares what Google thinks about content or site quality? People are the ones who visit your site and decide if its worth reading or recommending to someone else. Google doesn’t own the way you write or think. They don’t influence the type of content you decide to put out.

I have never sold an ad based on my meager PageRank. Advertisers have approached me and have told me directly that they are interested in my websites because I rank for key terms relevant to their business and because I easily pull in a heck of a lot of targeted traffic that is likely to convert. And that’s what matters.

So what if PageRank weakens your position on a ranking list or advertising network? You don’t need systems that use PageRank as a metric for measuring comparative value. Really, you don’t need them at all. There are literally hundreds of different ways to build your brand and get valuable traffic from a variety of other sources.

Stop complaining. Pagerank is simply a webmaster fetish. It’s a inside joke that’s gone too far. Washington Post and Forbes were penalized. But do you really think Aunt Mary or Uncle Joe will give a toss about it? They’ll still type in the URL or click on the bookmark icon faithfully because they want to get the info-fix they need.

And that says a lot about creating remarkable brands that are trusted by your target market. Brands that bring in direct repeat traffic in the long run, despite unpredictable algorithm changes by corporations beyond comprehension.

I don’t see any point in blogging about PageRank drops or updates (yes, I’m guilty). I really didn’t want to write about this but I just couldn’t help ranting after seeing so many oh my god Pagerank dropped! posts all over the web today.