Thread: The End of Toolbar PR?????

Check your Google Toolbar. Did you notice that it is no longer reporting PR?

Maybe it's some sort of update leading to a new toolbar PR, but I doubt it. I think that G is going into stealth mode with PR.

Think of the repercussions if this is not a system glitch and the toolbar PR is gone forever:

1. All those sites that make money by selling high PR links just went out of business. I hope that their contracts are worded very carefully. I bet there are a lot of these site owners that are feeling ill right now. It's a good thing that it's Friday and the bars are open late.

2. You will REALLY need to analyze a site before you decide to exchange links. If you're interested, see some of my earlier posts about link building.

Originally Posted by HHI Golf Guy

Think of the repercussions if this is not a system glitch and the toolbar PR is gone forever:

1. All those sites that make money by selling high PR links just went out of business. I hope that their contracts are worded very carefully. I bet there are a lot of these site owners that are feeling ill right now. It's a good thing that it's Friday and the bars are open late.

2. You will REALLY need to analyze a site before you decide to exchange links. If you're interested, see some of my earlier posts about link building.

Looks like Google has declared war on SEO marketers. It may be too early for them to declare victory, but I am sure they are gloating about now. This move also validaes my previous thoughts on PR being a dead end. Now what will they have to sell. I find it unfortunate that the vast majority of link seekers have not learned that "let's exchange links" no longer works.

PR is not dead - toolbar PR is dead.

Unless the Big G states otherwise, PR is still the the heart of their ranking technology.

Originally Posted by HHI Golf Guy

PR is not dead - toolbar PR is dead.

Unless the Big G states otherwise, PR is still the the heart of their ranking technology.

Yes, that is what they state. But what is PR? It may have started out as primarily as ranking system of linking behavior but things evolve and most likely PR is much different than any of us guess. I am inclined to think that many of the factors that originally made up PR, and perhaps even PR itself, have been substantially devalued but it is in Googles best interests to maintain their public stance on PR value to keep their competitors off balance. It also serves to keep SEO marketers chasing their tail.

Well folks like Einstein said "The only permanent thing on the universe is change" Only time will tell!

Noticed last night that all sites were "grey" PR.

Tick-tock-tick-tock...

I bet it will be back soon. It is a great marketing tool for Google and keeping the toolbar installed for webmasters.

Originally Posted by smindsrt

I bet it will be back soon. It is a great marketing tool for Google and keeping the toolbar installed for webmasters.

Isn't it amazing how easy it is for Google to get competitors and SEO mareters chasing their tails.

I enjoyed reading your articles especially "SEO & Internet Marketing." I have found the vast majority of SEO 'experts' are only 'marketers' mouthing current catch words.

Originally Posted by smindsrt

It is a great marketing tool for Google and keeping the toolbar installed for webmasters.

I disagree. Google is in a war against link spammers and traders. If they have to sacrifice toolbar PR for a week or forever to win this war, they will do it.

Google is now a publicly traded company and about to enter the S&P 500. The now have a different set of rules to play by.

All that we can do is wait for a press release from Google to see if this is a glitch, leading to a change, or the way things will be forever.