Is the Google Directory score the real score? An update to the Google Directory has webmasters puzzling over an apparent discrepancy in PageRank scores.

For months, the speculation surrounded an apparent decrease in PageRank scores on Google's Toolbar. It seemed the decrease in rank was connected to penalties associated with buying and selling links that passed on PageRank, a practice Google not-so-quietly condemned last autumn.
But what was more confusing was that though the toolbar scores were dropping, the actual search rankings looked to be unaffected. Google appears to have updated its Directory on January 8 along with PageRank scores that are significantly higher than listed on the toolbar.
Observers say the Google Directory update seems to be pulled directly from DMOZ, the open directory project. As a result, Barry Schwartz at Search Engine Roundtable joins others in discrepancy reports:
"…it seems like the Toolbar PageRank of this site is a PageRank of 4. But if you look at the most recent Google Directory update, this site appears to be a PageRank of 7."
There are few theories posted about why this is occurring, Andy Beard explains how this could be problematic for advertisers looking to assess the true value of a website:
"It seems Google used their real dataset for PageRank for the Google Directory export, forgetting that they are telling their millions of users lies on their toolbar with manual penalties, which until now had no visible proof.
"Google have the right to do whatever they like with their search engine, but this is another major demonstration of how Google are manipulating public and advertiser opinion."
About the author:
Jason Lee Miller is a WebProNews editor and writer covering business and technology.
Comments
Google Page Rank Links
All of my sites went up in rank. But I do have an off topic questions. Does the page rank of a site have an effect on the site it is linking to. For example, if a site with a page rank of 5 is linking to my site, does the page rank of 5 have an effect on the quality of the link, and therefore increase my rank in Google?
Page Rank
I was disappointed with the latest PR update. I expected my Web 2.0 blog to reach at least 2 with the SEO I had applied but it only got a 1. Anyway, I think the toolbars take longer to update.
PR dropped to zero overnight
Maybe you just lost a whole
Maybe you just lost a whole bunch of you links because a site that had your link on an abundance of it's pages was shut down. (that has happened to my site before)
looks to be fine
Weeks later it looks like it all is working out just fine, at least on my pages. There was some confusion because of some reciprocal links I had on my blogs, but after cleaning them up a bit, and increasing the one way links it worked out to be better than it was before the shake, which is great.
Cheers,
Justin
Cruise To Cash
Sudden Loss of PR
I went from a PR of 4 to 0 over night. I had been using Kontera on my site. I've since removed it. Do you think this is the reason for the loss?
pr
does google even bother with DMOZ anymore ?
Thanks for the interesting
PR Update
Google toolbar is always off the mark
Page Rank Issues
Google is Googling Now
Just like when share market ups, there is big smile on Investors & when it down Investors are crying, same here with Page Rank, when it increases webmasters are enjoying, when it downs webmaster also sit behind their computer to find, "how can PR of our site is down" & pulling their hairs.
.br> I noticed in this PR & Backlink update, that Google counts one way links coming from one way directory submissions, forum posting & articles. Backlinks of our most of the sites are increased & most backlinks are comes from directories.
I am Happy with U, my Sweet Google.
DO GOOOOOGLING
Im still new.
Change of My site
lost in google
the secret to google and rankings
The secret to how to treat google is simple. When you want something, use it to search with. for EVERYTHING ELSE simply forget they exist.
For years they have said exactly this, they don't want you to worry about them, let them worry about you. Provided you do the right thing they will index you. If your ranking and serps go up and down try not to sweat it. Its the nature of the game if the serps were static then nobody new would ever make the results page. so by their very nature the serps will change, your position will fluctuate.
As far as the toolbar goes I dumped that a couple of years ago. I simply do not need that level of stress in my life!
If not Google is not doing its job.
If google thinks your selling links they will give you a PR0
Google Is Evil
You say...
Page Ranking
they are simply de-valuing toolbar PR
Overreacting?
confused
Why a webmaster might overreact...
Dont forget the fundimentals
Very True
Good Advice
Weird Page Rank
I thought..
PageRank score from Google
Traffic vs. PR
Crazy Google
Google Dance on my website
Google Shmoogle
I second the motion!
It's not just me
Page Ranking
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