Copyright © Partha Bhattacharya

Google PageRank has come to be synonymous with prestige and popularity of a website. It denotes, in the eyes of Google, how important a webpage is in terms of outside links that connect to it. In other words, if relevance of content contained in a webpage is one side of coin, the other side represents the value of the webpage seen from the angle of 'quality' and quantity of backlinks generated by the webpage. Together, the webpage signals its worth that is reflected in its Google PageRank.

Note that there is an emphasis on quality of backlinks. Simply said, the more weightier a backlink is, more the chance is of attaining higher PageRank. Since Google PageRank progresses exponentially, remember therefore that a higher rank by just one point is worth many times more than the previous rank.

Predictably, there is a constant rush to improve Google PageRank, and in doing so, webmasters overstep the limit beyond which no effort brings in commensurate results. That is not only waste of efforts, but it may also draw ire from search engines, conscious as they are to provide relevant search results. In this article, we'll discuss what we may not attempt to fetch higher Google PageRank. Because, over long term, they don't help. We'll also briefly look at ways to popularize website.

Reciprocal linking is passe.

There is enough indication in the blogsite of Google's Matt Cutts that reciprocal linking no longer works. The underlying logic is that 'mutual admiration' is not the way to show relevancy of webpage at either end. But there can be exceptions. What if your articles are published in a renowned web publication (say GoArticles.com) and you have a link on your webpage that leads your viewers to relevant section in GoArticles.com where your articles are listed? It would seem that search engines take due cognition of the fact that in latter case the purpose is not to deliberately concoct reciprocal linking.

Buying links?

This is a tricky situation. Why? Let's say you put an ad in another website for which you pay. This is perfectly legit, for you have every right to drive traffic from other websites. Isn't Google's AdSense a good example of buying links? The scene becomes murky when the links you buy have sole intention of inflating your Google PageRank. Here is where the axe falls. After all, unobtrusive paid links tucked away in some corner of a webpage do not contribute to relevancy of content.

For a more clear view on the issue, refer Matt Cutts' blog-topic http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/text-links-and-pagerank/.

What about blogs and forums?

Yes indeed, blogs and forums are powerful link providers. But there is a caveat. Which is that you need to positively contribute at these places in order to get noticed. No shortcut, no frill, no forced attempt. The idea is you need to establish your repute which happens brick-by-brick. There are many popular forums and blogs that actively seek discerning participants. If writing is not your forte, think of hiring a contributor on your behalf. The bottomline is that if you misuse your participation to only boost your Google PageRank, you'll be noticed soon and removed without much of an explanation.

The way out

Dr. Ken Evoy of SiteSell http://www.prioriti.in/af/sitesell.html propounds 2 main virtues to succeed on web - hard work and patience. I'm a keen follower of his advice. That said, what then are ways to aim high Google PageRank? Here's a glimpse of possible options:

1
Make an easily navigable well-structured website that allows viewers to proceed from the apex page (home page) to other webpages and back effortlessly.

2
Research and locate keyword phrases relevant to your website. If you discover niche keywords that look promising yet under-explored, you're a step ahead in the race.

3
Write good amount of content spread over large number of webpages. Each webpage must be informative, well-written and focused on a primary keyword phrase and one or 2 secondary keyword phrases.

4
Submit your website to niche search engines and human-moderated directories.

5
Write good and resourceful articles and include them in renowned web publications like EzineArticles, GoArticles and SearchWarp to name a few. Your author-byline will contain backlink to your website.

6
Prove your worth by regularly contributing in relevant forums and blogs.

7
Enjoy your work, write and write, and savor other worldly favors.

It is easy to get overawed by single-track determination to attain high Google PageRank. Don't be. If it is web traffic you are after in double-quick time, think of opting for AdWords and the like. In final analysis, there is just no proven shortcut on your way to top Google PageRank except slogging it out. It's worth keeping that in mind. Good luck!

A freelance content writer, Partha Bhattacharya owns and operates "Prioriti WebInfo" http://www.prioriti.in/webinfo/, a free web marketing resource. Contact Partha for your next content writing assignment. Quality writing at reasonable rate.