Beta toolbar shows different PR values

[tedster]

I wouldn't have believed this if I hadn't seen it. We were struggling with a long established site where a PR8 home page was showing PR0 on most internal pages. We helped the client fix a number of issues, and some internal PR then showed up -- and then it vanished just as fast.

Today we confirmed the oddest thing. As part of this PR "problem" (and I hate focusing on PR) we downloaded the new beta toolbar -- and it is showing numbers on those internal pages that were showing zero just seconds before. And the PR values for the few other pages that were showing some positive PR is different, too -- A PR5 page (we thought) now shows PR6 with the beta toolbar.

Also note, the FireFox extension is showing values aligned to the old toolbar, rather than the beta version. Very, very odd.

What a boggle!

[Jane_Doe]

I waited for months to get some page rank showing for a couple of new sites and now both have the old PR values (0 -1) showing on the tool bar again.

Ironically, the new sites are not penalized or sandboxed and are getting more Google traffic than a few of my older sites with higher PR that got hit with a filter. However, most web site owners don't know how to tell whether pages are penalized or just new, and so are hesitant link to PR0 pages. :(

[tedster]

I understand -- several of my clients remain obsessed with PR no matter my best efforts. But the big deal for me is that two versions of the toolbar are showing different numbers. Now, on top of 3-4 months between PR updates, it looks like another very strange variable is running around in the mix.

Are you using the newer, beta version or the previous production version, Jane?

[Jane_Doe]

previous production version, Jane

I think I last installed the toolbar a year or so ago and I personally have not downloaded anything new since, but I don't know with the toolbar what updates are automatic.

[tedster]

It sounds like you couldn't have the newest beta -- you must intentionally choose it. If you're willing, you might be another good test case for what we're seeing. Here's the direct link for the beta version:

[google.com...]

[texasville]

Tedster-
I tried the beta toolbar just now and it shows the rolled back pr for my sites. I think it was just timing for your experience. Probably at the time it was linking from an updated dc.

[Jane_Doe]

Tedster, my PR is back to the latest update now on the new sites, so I'm just going to leave it at that.

I think if anything I'm going to uninstall the Google toolbar altogether. Having it makes me feel like someone is looking over my shoulder all of the time. :)

[texasville]

me too.