Value of a websiteTitus Hoskins has an excellent article on SitePro News, asking us “Is Google PageRank Still a Valid Marketing Tool?

In the article, Titus explains the confusion of Page Rank, and why there is now so much value placed upon Page Rank (i.e. one of the major factors affecting the cost of a purchased link!), and concludes:

Google’s PageRank system, including the PR Toolbar, is something every webmaster and online marketer should be aware of in their struggle for higher rankings. Don’t become obsessed with it, instead use this system to your advantage to build better pages and sites.

I really think it is well said – the PR system is something a webmaster must know about, but obsession over page rank is unnecessary. In fact, most metrices – Page Rank, Alexa Rank, Technorati Rank and even the number of visitors a month need to be read with caution. A site can have an Alexa Rank of 2000, or have over 50000 unique visitors a day… but what use is this if the visitors are not targeted?

The true value of a website is it ability to perform its intended objective, and value should not only be measured in terms of monetary value. If a website is meant to sell something, the best measure of the site is how much money it makes. If the website’s intended objective is to build a community advocating a cause, even millions of web visitors a day with credit cards ready in their hands might prove to be pointless!

(I’d not mind having a site like that though ;) )