UNBELIEVABLE - PR 6 to 0!

[RobHughes]

This is starting to get frustrating - following everything I know to be right... came in 5 mths ago - omitted duplicate content issues, improved SEO immensely, have tons of links (that have been around forever), installed Google Sitemaps, installed Google Analytics, etc, etc, etc...

More recently I removed one website (couple days ago) which was located within this one's file structure to remove any possibility of duplicate content and installed 301 redirects to further correct any problems.

and today I come in to find PR 0 on all pages - site is still indexed by Google (for now) - but I can see why this would happen...

no spammy stuff, no black hat techniques, no quick link strategies, I'm baffled...

any thoughts or should I just wait it out to see if the problem 'corrects itself'...

(see further details below)

[RobHughes]

After reviewing Google Sitemaps - I can see the site I 'pulled' out still has MED-LOW ranked pages and the site itself still maintains a PR 6.

I thought if anything it would be the other way around...

This was how I found things when I arrived...

Site 1 - (links, trustrank, high traffic, etc...) - robots.txt disallowed Site 2
Site 2 - was located within file structure of Site 1 - domain pointed to folder within Site 1

Google cached...
http://Site 1/Site 2 and http://Site 2

A couple days ago - I made the following changes...
Site 1 - remains the same - except Site 2 removed from file structure
Site 2 - now sits in a folder of it's own with separate sitemaps, etc...
301 redirects created from Site 1/Site 2 to point to Site 2 URLs

If anything I thought Site 1 would maintain PR and rankings and Site 2 might start from 0... not the other way around...

(btw Site 2 was developed just last year - Site 1 has been around for MANY years and has well over 1500 inbound links)

[RobHughes]

perhaps I should just throw Site 2 back into Site 1? or will this be the true test if PR really has an effect on SERPs?

If I threw Site2 back into Site1 - would the PR for Site1 be 6 again??

does it matter? funny thing is Site1 has hundreds more quality links and has been around for years longer... confusing...

[rainborick]

This looks like a Google Glitch. Many sites are reporting that the PageRank score shown in the Toolbar has fallen to 0 with no change in their site's performance in Google search results. Some people have speculated that its a sign of the start of an update to the Toolbar PageRank database. Whatever the reason, I think its one of those rare cases when doing nothing is the best course.

[lazlozand]

my main site lost nearly all it's google traffic for a 2-3 month period before a correction happened. i did nothing black-hat, but somehow i was devalued.

it has since come back. i'd recommend you wait this out before making any major changes.


-LZ

[Tamar Weinberg]

There's a PR update going on and sometimes the PageRank does drop before a full update occurs. I would wait it out and not obsess over it -- it will likely come back soon.

[RobHughes]

well I guess you were all right - and I thank you for your comments...

I guess I have to calm down a bit when this happens - I'm aware that PR is not a good measure but an "indicator" - I just get worried when it indicates a huge drop...

This is the second time this has happened to one of my sites in the past two months. The first time it was definitely 'indicating' a problem - which I resolved.

Just now I have noticed that PR has returned to 6 - and on most data-centers... so guess I'll cross my fingers and hope it stays that way... and learn to calm down a little when it happens in the future.

Thanks all!

[lazlozand]

oh, btw, have the number of backlinks showing in your Google sitemap changed?


-LZ

[RobHughes]

Not sure what you mean? "Number of backlinks showing in Google Sitemap"
The Google sitemap reflects only the pages that exist in the site (1)...

Let me know what you mean exactly and I can answer...

[lazlozand]

1. Login to Google Sitemap (Webmaster Tools)
2. Click the Tab Links (External Links should be the default)

"This table provides a list of pages on http://www.example.com/ that have links pointing to them from other sites"

Unfortunately, if you haven't been monitoring this number for a few months, you might not know if you've experienced a recent drop in backlinks.


-LZ

[RobHughes]

ahhh gotcha - in the Google Sitemaps 'account'...

no I check this periodically and back-links haven't changed...

seems it WAS a PR update afterall... PHEW!! (makes your heart skip a beat however - especially after you work hard for results)

thanks though LZ, appreciate it!

[Chris Boggs]

This was definitely a scary ride for some. One very strong directory we often use lost a bunch of PR to zero accross the board, but has a 7 back today for the home page. As I have seen mentioned in other places (I think Barry or Tamar covered it at Search Engine Roundtable), the site now seems to drop one toolbar # for each driectory level down. This should be a good way to test your own site's ability to transfer PR "propoerly."

wow for once a toolbar PR update that actually means something? heavens forbid.

[CarrieHill]

Most of my client's sites have had some sort of PR flux issue over the last week. The nice thing about handling multiple clients is seeing things like this happen multiple times - not all at once - so i have something explain to my clients with ruffled feathers. Sometimes it takes longer to soothe feathers than it does for the whole flux to happen start to finish!

I'm not seeing a PR change in anyone yet - do you know if they run the update then change the toolbar? Or - if I see no change in PR after they blip around a bit they wont be changing at all? On the plus side - nobody went DOWN!

~Carrie

[RobHughes]

Thanks again everyone!
I certainly appreciate advice and support from SEO's of your caliber!

All the best,
Rob

[sdk1988]

Ive read that some that lost PR have come back to or where they were or even come back higher, how long does that take. I as well, went from PR4 to PR3, with no major changes, home page has not even been touched or changed.

Any suggestions will be appreciated.

[RobHughes]

There's really no way to tell. If Google does a PR update - only they (maybe) really know what's going on... we're just along for the ride.

If they've adjusted their alogrithyms - then there is a potential that this is now the 'value' / PR of your website based on those criteria.

But as you can see, there is a chance it could come back. There is no time limit on this - I have seen sites return in a few days (phew) and some take many months to return to their original PR.

Again, keep in mind that this is not an accurate measurement of your site's relevance/importance to Google - only an indicator.

The best advice I can give is to continue on course and build relevant in-bound links and follow advice of the folks here to increase the value of your site.

[sdk1988]

Thank you for your quick response, feel like Im sinking on the Black Pearl here! This position was thrown at me, and with limited knowledge and access, I thought.. Holy smokes, what did I do? Reading and learning here, has been a great help.

Thank you kindly!
Susie

[teacake23]

Originally Posted by Chris Boggs

As I have seen mentioned in other places (I think Barry or Tamar covered it at Search Engine Roundtable), the site now seems to drop one toolbar # for each driectory level down. This should be a good way to test your own site's ability to transfer PR "propoerly."

Chris, one of my sites homepage was PR6, one click and it drops to PR 4, then 3 then 1. Does that suggest a problem with PR transfer within the site? How can If so, how should I address the issue? Is it another needle in a haystack?

[RobHughes]

This position was thrown at me, and with limited knowledge and access, I thought.. Holy smokes, what did I do? Reading and learning here, has been a great help.

No worries - if it makes you feel any better - that's how I got started and I'm certain many others!

[shakes]

I had a site go from a PR5 to a 1 and a PR2 to a PR 6... Either way my results are still good. My sites are doing very well in the SERPS. I don't really pay attention to PR anylonger... All it does is mess with peoples heads if anything else.