Most accurate method for checking Page Rank?

[Sub_Seven]

Hello world,

What is the most accurate method for checking Page Rank, I've always used third party websites and suddenly I find myself wondering if there is an official google site for this purpose (which I haven't been able to find btw), I know the info on the google bar is not really accurate so I don't rely on this at all.

Thanks for any responses provided...

[Andem]

The information you see on the Google toolbar *IS* the most accurate information. Most (if not all) third party sites which display a PageRank value from Google servers cloak their user agents to appear as if they are requests from the toolbar.

Toolbar is the only way to find out the most up-to-date PR value available to the public.

[martinibuster]

Good answer, Andem. With an emphasis on, "...available to the public."

[edited by: martinibuster at 8:40 pm (utc) on Mar 4, 2012]

[Sub_Seven]

hmmm I'm almost positive I saw a video once where Matt Cutts was talking about not relying too much on the info of the toolbar's PR...

[martinibuster]

Sub_Seven, you're right to point out that the toolbar PR is unreliable for basing business decisions with. We're in agreement about not relying on the toolbar. Apparently the message that the toolbar is unreliable sunk in for the OP but the OP is turning to third party apps to provide a more accurate picture of PageRank, which is a mistake.

Just pointing out that the toolbar is the most accurate available to the public and that third party services do not provide anything more accurate, such as it is.

[Sub_Seven]

Yes martinibuster I see what you're saying, it does make sense to rely more on a google product than on a third party when checking PR.

I was just hoping to find another way directly from google, truth be told, I never liked toolbars at all.

Thanks :)

[martinibuster]

You're welcome.:)

People are inventing their own methods for judging the quality of a site, assigning it their version of a quality score. We have an idea of the kinds of things Google is looking for in a site. We can start with Panda type variables. You can add in soft metrics of a site's true worth, soft metrics that demonstrate they are doing something right or wrong like checking it's traffic levels via Google Trends for Websites, Quantcast and others. Deduct points for certain factors and add points for others. Inbound links are an example of hard metrics that can help explain the soft metrics, in either a good light or a bad light. Traffic levels are generally good, unless it's because they're because of short term link building techniques- etc.

Personally I feel better making a decision about a site using my own metrics rather than relying on the toolbar.

[Sub_Seven]

AH!

This is exactly why I asked this question, Google has SOOOO many tools that I was wondering if I was missing a better one for checking PR, there is none other than the toolbar, I can live with that but every so often I find another tool that can provide lots of help, and now I find "Google trends for websites" lol I didn't know of this one and it looks like a great tool, there is always something new to be learned :)

[Sgt_Kickaxe]

Reminder: the Google toolbar has other implications, it tracks the pages you visit so many webmasters don't use it. In fact they remove the entire toolbar code because even having it just turned off has proven to still record in the past. Google chrome does the same thing. You can always use a 3rd party site to check pr if need be but honestly you shouldn't pay much attention to the metric since it's possible to have PR8 and no traffic or PR2 with lots.

I don't run the Google toolbar because I find it annoying to see pages indexed instantly that I either didn't want published(didn't have even 30 seconds to add a password to) or that weren't fully complete yet, the toolbar warns google of a url too soon sometimes.

[Sub_Seven]

Hey Sgt_Kickaxe,

Now that you mention that, the reason I'm doing some research and all is because I have never really cared much for PR, until recently that I started monitoring it and found out that out of all my sites the highest PR I found was a poor 3, I know there are more than 200 factors that affect your presence in the SERPs but I don't have the full list so basically I'm looking to improve in those that I do know.

And yes you're right I have a page with PR 0 that brings in the same or close amount of traffic as the one with PR 3.

[martinibuster]

it tracks the pages you visit so many webmasters don't use it

Doesn't seem to stop them from using Google Analytics and WMT, LOL.

[Sub_Seven]

Lol... they are great tools, I for one would be lost without them!