Topic Sensitive PageRank - Implications for Website Optimization

If the current system of Google PageRank were replaced by the Topic-Sensitive PageRank system, a new approach would have to be taken to search engine optimization. There is some speculation that the change may be taking place now, or in the near future. Should that indeed be the case, SEOs would have to learn the new system.

The current PageRank calculation is relatively familiar to search engine optimization specialists. Google has published the original formula used for the calculations, and the theory behind it. While that original equation may have been modified, the overall theory has remained fairly constant. The single PR number is universally recognized and understood.

If a Topic-Sensitive PageRank calculation is fully introduced, the task of optimizing PageRank will become more difficult. Simply adding incoming links, regardless of source, will no longer be as effective. In fact, it may even be counterproductive. Link exchanges will lose their former level of effectiveness.

Webmasters will need to seek out incoming links from similar themed websites. Constantly updating a website with fresh and relevant content, may become even more important than it is at present, in order to attract natural linking.

Searches could become more personally tailored, as the PageRank will be more specific to a given page. On the other hand, the relative importance of PageRank to the overall search engine algorithm, would have to be considered. That issue is one of debate within the SEO community. If PR is given only a small share importance in the algorithm, then TSPR won't make a large difference to the results.

Without some idea of the formula that might be used in the Topic-Sensitive PageRank calculation, specifics are difficult to ascertain. All that can be discovered are the potential implications of the system.

In which ever way the system is implemented, TSPR will have a profound effect on how PageRank is assigned by Google.