For those that haven't noticed, PageRank is currently unavailable via the Google Toolbar. Speculation is rife as to whether this is a glitch, or whether this is the beginning of the end for the trusty green bar... It makes me wonder: what will happen to directories if PR is no longer published? Will people be bothered to submit to directories if it is more difficult to measure the success of these efforts, or will it be business as usual? I have to say, submissions to Tsection have slowed somewhat over the weekend... Have any other directory owners noticed a drop? (...My feeling is that nothing will change. PR will still be important, it's just the we will be "flying in the dark" as to what our actual PR score is - unless of course you are listed in the Google directory. However, as I have said previously, I doubt that Google will ditch public PR - they would lose all of that free marketing it provides.)
For my own sites I never really submitted for the PR anyway. As web-rover says, free backlinks are always worth having, especially when you are in control of the anchor text.
I still believe its some error @ google. May be the directories will be valued by the SE friendlyness and features involved like anchor texts, multiple submissions, deep linking etc. Alexa will be used for ranking directories, also the number of backlinks and other usual SEO factors. Anyway I'm hoping PR will be back as normal and google introduces newer technologies in new form without replacing exisiting ones.
Maybe Alexa ranking would not be such a good thing since everyone knows how it works and it is very easy to manipulate Like everyone else I hope PR is back, but if it doesn't come back I am sure Google has something in mind to replace it.
I pretty much put my links whereever I can, regardless of PR. What is low PR today might be a high PR tommorrow.
Using Alexa to rank directories would result in all but a few being ignored. The only people who visit the majority of directories is to submit their websites and never come back... I've noticed a drop in submissions at my directory yeah. I think it's probably just everyone "holding their breath" and seeing what happens with PR. I haven't stopped submitting my sites though, like people have said, a backlink's a backlink, the value of it might change but it'll always be worth something... (I hope..!)
You can get really good idea about the quality of a site even without PR. Usualy I use PR only as one of many factors. Pages in G, Y, M index Backlinks in Y,M % of suppelemtal results, title and description of urls in the G index, spammy backlinks, outstanding directories that have listed the site, links pages with relevant or not partners, too many ads (adsense or affiliate), too litle content on the site, copyscape reports etc.
True. I guess the genius of the PR bar is that it only took a glance and you could get a rough idea of some of those factors.... If Google does away with the bar, then it is possible that someone else will come up with one... I hope that's not the case, as I really like the Google bar - especially some of the new features, like spell check etc
Quality directories were around long before the page ranking system was ever thought of. Submitters will have to go back to using their brain and explore simple demographics in deciding whether they want to submit or not. The pay and I will list anything Directories I’m afraid won’t make it. Gee what a loss to quality content on the internet! Chances are that the PR system will unfortunately be working again next week. If not emergency rooms will have to set up special wards for PR freaks going through withdrawal.
An error that some of the best software engineers in the world couldn't fix? I doubt it, I think they are guaging response for when they dissolve it...they could find themselves in some kind of legal battle over the sales of PR eventually. Directories will still exist, I submit my sites everywhere regardless of PR. Isn't that why we list sites in our sig's? A backlink is still a backlink.
I have noticed one thing however -- the quality of submissions has dramatically increased and there are fewer submissions!
My 2 cents, Im thinkking if Google does away with pagerank, a third party will soon pop up with a algo to rate a websites strength, based on links, penetration etc. Alexa is OK, but its weakness is that it is based on a smaller population of Alexa users, which can skew results dramatically. Google currently has a lock on this market...I can't see a reason why they would want to give it up, esp with other engines hot on their heels. Downplay it, sure, but I cant see them giving it up, if only so another company doesn't take their space in the market for determining a sites overall "strength". My .02.
I would have to agree with you on this, someone will come up with something more than likely. I also wouldn't be surprised if there will be a fee to get it too.
yup, good idea, but let's wait and watch and see what google has in store for us. BTW what happened to yahoo webrank ?