PageRank Dilution Explained

Jul 15, 2004 - 12:43 pm 4 by

Simple works best, so no complex numbers here. Just a picture and words.

PageRank is a number. If you put a link from page A to page B, page A will distribute PageRank to page B. Page A's PageRank does not get diluted by linking out, but the links are worth less, in terms of the value of the PageRank, when there are more links on the page A. In other words, the PageRank to the pages page A links to does get diluted but not the PageRank of page A itself.

For example, page A has 5 links and page B has 50 links. Both page A and B have the same PageRank value. The pages receiving links from page A, will get a higher PageRank value then pages receiving links from page B. Why? Because the PageRank of a page can only give off a distributed fraction of its own PageRank. So pages with less links on them, are more profitable in terms of PageRank building.

The picture below is from a Google Image search on "dilution". Its not meant to explain how PageRank is diluted from page to page (it was meant to explain bacterial growth dilution), but I think it works in our case of PageRank dilution.

On the left is the most concentrated form of a colored liquid. Then you see the concentration is diluted as you pan across to the right of the image. Think of these test tubes as pages and the colored liquid as PageRank. As links develop from page A to page B to page C and so on, the PageRank value of those links dilute from the original numeric value. Kind of similar to how dilution works with the image below.

pagerank-dilution.gif

Forum discussion at WebmasterWorld.

 

Popular Categories

The Pulse of the search community

Follow

Search Video Recaps

 
Google Core Update Rumbling, Manual Actions FAQs, Core Web Vitals Updates, AI, Bing, Ads & More - YouTube
Video Details More Videos Subscribe to Videos

Most Recent Articles

Google Updates

Google Urges Patience As The March 2024 Core Update Continues To Rollout

Mar 18, 2024 - 7:51 am
Google

Official: Google Replaces Perspective Filter With Forums Filter

Mar 18, 2024 - 7:41 am
Google Maps

Google Business Profiles Now Offers Additional Review After Appeal Is Denied

Mar 18, 2024 - 7:31 am
Google Maps

EU Searchers Complaining About Google Maps Features Changes Related To DMA

Mar 18, 2024 - 7:21 am
Google

Google Showing Fewer Sitelinks Within Search

Mar 18, 2024 - 7:11 am
Search Forum Recap

Daily Search Forum Recap: March 15, 2024

Mar 15, 2024 - 4:00 pm
Previous Story: Provide SEO / SEM Services or Web Services