The little green meter bar in the Google ToolBar that shows your current page rank is actually only the page rank from the time of the last update.

Here is a brief look at the history of Page Rank updates:

Year Date Info Days (between last update)

2005 Apr 22 Page Rank Update 111 Days

2005 Jan 1 Page Rank Update 87 Days

2004 Oct 6 Page Rank Update 106 Days.

2004 Jun 22 Page Rank Update 22 Days

2004 May 31 Page Rank Update 38 Days

2004 Apr 23 Page Rank Update 16 Days

2004 Apr 7 Page Rank Update 22 Days

2004 Mar 16 Page Rank Update 50 Days

2004 Jan 26 Page Rank Update 15 Days

2003 Dec 23 Page Rank Update 17 Days

From the chart above we can see the frequency of which the public display of Page Rank is released. If Page Rank is a true concern, then you usually have 2-3 months of work to improve your page rank before it’s next public unveiling.

The factors that influence your actual Page Rank are a highly guarded secret by Google. The true mathematical formula or algorithm changes often, and the weight or percentages of key elements to that formula change as well.

Here is a brief history of the Google Algorithm changes or Updates.

Year Date Info

2005 Feb 03 Algorithm Update

2004 Feb 11 Algorithm Update (Known as Brandy)

2004 Jan 11 Algorithm Update (Known as Austin)

2003 Nov 16 Algorithm Update (Known as Florida)

With each update in the algorithm, Google changes the weight or percentage of some factors in its formula. These changes have a dramatic effect on Page Rank and on Search Engine Results.

One thing is known about the Page Rank calculation. It is highly determined by the internal and external links on your site as well as off site incoming links or Backlinks.

You can control the internal linking of your site, by utilizing a strong navigation plan. You can control the amount of out going links from your site as well. The real job to increase Page Rank is by receiving more off site Backlinks to your site.

A simple formula for personal use is to have more off site links (or Backlinks) coming to your site than out going links from your site. It is also key that your Backlinks come from different IP addresses than just links between several of your sites on the same server. Google also seems to weigh backlinks from relevant sites to the content of your site more than non-relevant site.

Increasing your page rank is simply done by increasing the amount of backlinks to your site, and/or having higher rated Page Rank Sites link to your site.

To improve your page rank through back links, see related topics of gaining backlinks or links (Live Link).