Page Rank

Links to non-content pages

[stevew]

PageRank (PR) is based on the idea that every link from Page A to Page B is a 'vote' by Page A for Page B.
Pages with more 'votes' (ie incoming links) have higher PageRank.

On some sites, I want a link to, say, a 'Contact Us' page from every page. But because this page has no useful content, and I don't want visitors to enter the site through it, I don't want the page indexed, or these 'votes' to be wasted.

If I place a ROBOTS/NOINDEX tag on the 'Contact Us' page, does Google ignore the link, or does the 'vote' still get assigned somewhere, even though the page isn't indexed?

Any ideas?
__________________

[Birdman]

Just use JavaScript links to any non-content pages. Then Google will ignore them and they wont count as 'outgoing'. This will preserve your pr. Hmm, I need to do that myself. Been putting it off ;)

[ciml]

If you use /robots.txt exclusion, then PageRank is passed on and the URL might be listed (but not fetched). If you link to a 404 then it doesn't get listed, but other links on the page are diluted as if the 404 link worked.

Therefore I would guess that noindex would loose you some PageRank. If the contact page has internal links, then almost all of the PR will be passed back to your other pages.

[fathom]

..and another thought... the likelihood that anyone would ever location your site via a limited content page is remote.

The PR consideration is valid but a site tends to have many "non-relevant" pages e.g. contact, privacy, warrantees, guarantees, return policy, press releases and media center etc.

Each page adds depth & breadth to a site and the normal "unchanging" characteristics of these pages means googlebot will crawl them often.

These pages can be used very strategically: refresh bot will post a new page added to your site but only for a fix period on time, adding a link from the contact page >> page found and posted (short duration) but add another link to privacy next day >> that link is found and although the a refresh drops the first crawled the new refresh keeps the page at the top of results and so on until the monthly update occurs.

Another example: with PR to these pages you have the ability to focus that PageRank to site pages that need help (heavier competition) and a relevant link anchor and NEW PageRank corridors to an existing page now supported until new content can be added or external links.

By limited these pages from the mix you limit your ability to remain flexible. Just because you save PR for your (e.g. mainpage) doesn't mean it need its. (e.g. if you are #1 on a specific page that page can afford losing some PR). Adding... if all your PR is fixed -- supporting "must have" pages you have no room to maneuver when things change.

Limited content pages are good for a few things (as long as they are indexed) e.g. brand names - having the company name in the title of say your mainpage or all pages is an under-productive use of the title element.

Rarely does someone search for "widgery" most times searches are generic "widgets" - place brand names on limited content page allows heavy competitive pages to sport highly targeted phrases while at the same time not losing out on your brands.