PageRank is a value determination tool used by Google to represent the importance of a page on the web. Google calculates the rank of web page on the basis of votes cast for it. It is a common knowledge that websites link to each other. When a page is linked to another one, then it is automatically casting a vote for the other page. The more votes there are for a webpage, the more ranking will it attain.

Now Google is updating its PageRank algorithms for the parameters with which it rates a website and the changes have started to show in the rankings. However, Google has stressed in the past too, that a Google Toolbar PageRank Update will have absolutely no impact on a website's ranking in Google. In February 2008, Google had performed a similar update too.

Having said that, there is a lot of chatter and discussions going on in the forums of Webmaster World about this latest update. It seems that inspite of Google's repeated statements about the Toolbar PageRank's zero-impact on websites' rankings in Google, an update in the simplest form is also considered to be a major event. Therefore, keeping the mood alive, here are some excerpts from a thread at Webmaster World:

“looks like a PR update just took place

I see new PR for the sites.”

“After noticing today that a site just went down from PR5 to PR4, I looked at a brand new one that just went up the first week in March and it's showing PR3 on the homepage and also showing PR on interior pages.”

“Yes I am noticing a +1 on all my sites. Me wonders if it's just Google disabling the -1 thing it did a few PR updates ago.”

I'm so confused. It looks like redesigning your site can get you penalized at least with pageranks. I NEED HELP.