I am new to SEO and need someone to clarify this. I conducted research for my new site (3 month-old). While I searched for my desired keywords in Google, most of the sites it displayed in page 1 are PR 4. Assuming I have optimized my site using the keywords that I want. Fine tuned it with the right keyword density using a package such as Webposition or IBP, etc. Next step is to build quality (PR 5 or 6) and quantity BLs. After all that if everything works out and my site get to PR 4. Does it mean a search with my desired keywords in Google will get me to the Page 1 even though my site is new?
PR has nothing to do with SERPs and they might stop updating toolbar PR anyway. Make good content, then users will link to you naturally. And buy real ads not links!
Agree with hamidof that PR has no effect in site SERP. You can get better SERP even you have less PR as long as you have quality links using your targeted keywords as anchor text. Links from related sites also helps. And the most important thing that your site must have is a good content using your targeted keywords.
Site age is important, so if the others are very well established it might be harder. You don't need to worry about PR, just getting quality links from related sites. It is often difficult to rank for a competitive word or phrase with a new site (less than 6 months to a year old) - this is referred to as the sandbox, and DP has a whole section dedicated to it. (Many will tell you it doesn't exist, many that it does, for me it always exists!) Just take it steady and keep getting good links and it'll all work out in a few months.
Nowadays you have to analyze your link profile. Sometimes adding a lot of links can cause a site to drop if the site trips a spam filter.
I totally agree with the above, just make sure you have some unique content and you will see some real results if you got backlinks.
please also bear in mind that whilst having higher pr incoming links is nice, its better to have a link from a website with PR0 which is RELATED to your websites subject, then it is to have a PR5 from a website which is nothing to do with the subject matter of your site. You want quality RELATED incoming links. not just any old link with high PR
PR is a factor in SERPs, it basically shows you how good your links are Although that doesn't mean if you get PR x, you'll get on page y. The advices here stand. Make a lot of original articles and your site should go up quite fast.