PR Lag: What the Heck is That?! - More Points About PR Lag

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So far we’ve covered two important aspects relating to PR lag. First and foremost, it is important for webmasters to understand the nature of visual PR and the updating of visual PR. Secondly (but just as important), webmasters should take the PR lag into account and understand that just because site has little or no PR doesn’t mean that it has no value.

Let’s move onto some other quick points to ponder:

1. PR lag has nothing to do with the theoretical “Sandbox.” PR lag is associated with visual PR while the “Sandbox” theory is associated with SERPs. Remember that visual PR is not a part of SERPs calculation. It is only a gauge of a site's "popularity" based on how many backlinks that site has, and how potent those backlinks are. Relevance factors such as content, anchor text, keywords, etc., have no bearing at all.
   
   
2. PR lag does not necessarily apply to the internal PR calculations used for the SERPs algorithm. Often, the effect of a new backlink can make an impact on SERPs almost immediately. It depends on the potency of the backlink, the current position within SERPs, and the level of competition for the given search term in question.
   
   
   Note: This entire statement is opinion. It is based purely on circumstantial evidence. Do not take this as a statement of pure fact! Feel free to strongly disagree.
   
   
3. It is somewhat difficult to accurately gauge the lag for a given PR update. It used to be much easier when PR updates occurred every 3-6 weeks. There is a thread discussing how long of a lag there was on the last PR update (October 7th). You can view that thread here:
   http://www.seoproject.com/forum/index.php?board=7;action=display;threadid=199;start=15
   
   
4. PR updates are not directly related to algorithm tweaks or SERPs changes. Google is now updating SERPs on a daily basis and algorithm tweaks come and go so it is pointless to try and predict them. Your rankings will ebb and flow from time to time, but if your optimization strategy is sound and you work on building content your rankings will tend to improve over time.

In the end, the bottom line is that visual PR should not be the focus of your optimization efforts. There are a lot of other factors that are much more influential on Google SERPs. Don’t spend all of your time fretting about your precious PR values. Spend more time developing content and acquiring potent and relevant content. The visual PR will take care of itself.

Visual PR may come and go, but a sound optimization strategy that factors in PR, on-page factors, content, design, and navigation will provide long term results. Remember that the next that you’re thinking about starting a post complaining about how you don’t have any PR yet. Focus more of your time on building content and acquiring potent and relevant backlinks. The little green bar should only be an after thought.

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Comments On: PR Lag: What the Heck is That?!

· Thanks for the great information. This will probably cure numerous people's...    · Thanks for the feedback! I certainly hope so.I feel bad when I see folks...    · Maybe it would not be a bad idea to include the number of backlinks you have in...    · Hugo, that was another quality article delivering information newbies like myself...    · Thanks for the feedback!    ·     · Thanks for that article. I found it very helpful. Google PR has been a source of...    · Just to add to my previous comment, that I have appreciated many of your other...    · You're welcomed! I'm happy to help.   >>> Post your comment now!