There are a couple of ways. You can install the alexa/google toolbar extension for firefox (or IE). This gives you a quick view of the pagerank of any page. You can also use the bookmarklet from www.smartpagerank.com/bookmarklet.php to place in your 'bookmarks' to quicky get the pagerank of any page you are viewing from all of the google datacenters. This tends to give you a more accurate reading.
I can see you are one of those --who downplay the importance of PR. If you don't mind --please visit you G account and go through how Google's SERPs work. Also --please do a small search on G for any search term--and check PR of first 100 sites. Just let me know how many sites you find with less than PR4 that is I think standard for good SERPs. About the highlighted comment--well he owns an Article site. As it is only PR2 --very few are interested to submit their articles there. But if it was PR6 ---people would have made a bee-line to signup and post their articles on a reputed site. For your kind information --please check http://www.e-topic.com a strong PR6 Article directory-- and my friend --who started the thread --his site is http://www.shareyourexpertise.com PR2. Both these directories cater to unique articles. Naturally --e-opic gets huge traffic -( one of my article was read 300 times in 3 weeks) ---and my firend's SHE --my article has been sitting preety idle --with very few readings. One just don't have to go along with what those self-proclaimed SEO experts say---that PR is nothing!!! One has to be practical --accept facts --not follow those frustrated SEO experts wgo can't even put their own sites on Good SERPs. Thanks.
Some people are willing to pay more for links on high PR sites. Although the value of PR has become diluted over time it still holds significance in the minds of many.
Friend, You misunderstand my question. I know what it does for me. Because of the nature of my site it does bring in better content because people get higher PR links. B The nature of my question is why do YOU like PageRank.
Lol-- Ok-- you may ask that to Larry Page of Google --who started this whole thing to give grade to websites taking into account many factors --like how popular is your site, how are you respected on the web by virtue of getting votes by reputed sites If you get good votes from reputed sites ( inbound links) ---G thinks you site is also good. Its kinda democratic set-up and democracy thrives on difference. So many people despise PR ( I guess because they can't get it -- Lol--just kidin) and many people love the green on their toolbar like me. I am all for PR man. Have you visited that site I mentioned? http://www.e-topic.com You can compare your site with that --because that site owner only accepts articles that passes Copyscape test. His site also has high SERPs --because ????? There are very few Article sites with better PR--Well --self-proclaimed SEO experts won't agree --but i AM NOT AN seo MAN - I just follow the simple Googl'e webmasters guideline very religiously -- that says SERPs depend on two things -Quality-Contents and PR.
Yes --ofcourse. It becomes repititive for me. But please trype any keyphrase on Google ---with competition of over 10 million and check the first 100 sites --their PR. Some sites appear there although they are not at all related --by virtue of a keyword present on any of their page and because of their high PR. Just check --and let me know
I think after a few weeks of messing around. SERPS and good keyword research outweight PR by far. Maybe PR comes into play when you are competing for the top few spots but does it matter if your are 4 or 5 really