PageRank
Google's original algorithm for measuring a web page's importance based on its backlinks.
Definition
PageRank is the foundational algorithm developed by Larry Page and Sergey Brin at Google, originally published in 1998. It assigns a numerical score to every web page based on the quantity and quality of links pointing to it. The core insight: a link from a high-PageRank page is worth more than many links from low-PageRank pages. PageRank flows through the web like a liquid — each page distributes its PageRank to the pages it links to, divided among all outgoing links.
While Google no longer publicly shares PageRank scores and the algorithm has evolved significantly, the underlying principle remains central to how Google ranks pages. Third-party metrics like Ahrefs' Domain Rating and Moz's Domain Authority are approximations of PageRank calculated from crawled link data. When you earn a backlink from a high-DR directory, you're capturing a share of that directory's PageRank — which Google uses to rank your pages higher in search results.
Example
When Product Hunt (DR 91) links to your startup's homepage, a portion of Product Hunt's PageRank flows to your domain. Google sees this as a quality signal and raises your pages' rankings accordingly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes — PageRank is still a core part of Google's ranking algorithm, though it has been significantly expanded and combined with hundreds of other signals. Google stopped publicly displaying toolbar PageRank scores in 2016, but the underlying mechanism of link-based authority continues to influence rankings.
Every dofollow backlink you earn from a directory transfers a portion of that directory's PageRank to your domain. High-DR directories (which are approximations of high PageRank) pass more authority. This is the core SEO reason to submit to directories: systematically accumulating PageRank from reputable sites.
Put it into practice
Browse startup directories with DR scores, dofollow status, and submission tips — everything you need to build your backlink profile.
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