How to Find the PageRank of a Web Site with the Google Toolbar

The Google Toolbar adds some great functions to your Web browser. You can search a variety of different locations quickly and easily, translate Web pages, and use custom buttons to add even more capability. With PageRank, Google also provides you with a way of assessing the utility of the Web sites that you find when searching and surfing the Web. PageRank is built right into the Google Toolbar, and is easy to use and understand, helping you get more out of the time you spend on the Web.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• An internet connection
• Operating System: Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows ME, or Windows 98
• The latest version of Internet Explorer or Firefox
• The Google Toolbar

Enabling PageRank

1. Click the “Settings” button (in Internet Explorer) or the “Options” button (in Firefox).

2. Choose the “Manage” option then the “More” tab (in Internet Explorer) or the “Browsing” tab (in Firefox).

3. Click the box labeled “PageRank”.

4. Click “OK” to save your changes and exit the window.

Using PageRank

5. Check the rank for the Web page you are viewing by holding your cursor over the PageRank button in the toolbar.

6. Click on the PageRank button and select “Similar Pages” to perform a Google search for pages similar to the page you are currently viewing.

7. Click the PageRank button and select “Backward Links” to view a list of pages which link to the page you are currently viewing.

Tips & Warnings

• Google PageRank can also be enabled during installation of the Google Toolbar. To do this, simply choose the “Enable PageRank” option when prompted. Note that with PageRank enabled, the Toolbar program collects information about the pages you view and send it to the Google servers. Google does not collect information that can directly identify you.
• The PageRank value of a given Web page represents how useful and relevant Google considers the Web page to be. This value is assigned on the basis of two main criteria. The first is the number of pages that link to the page being ranked—each link can be thought of as a “vote” for the page’s quality. The second criterion is how well-ranked the pages that cast the “votes” are. PageRank is one of the key ways in which Google ranks search results.
• The Firefox version of the Google Toolbar adds another function to the PageRank feature called “Enhanced Safe Browsing”. This feature of the toolbar helps protect you from “phishing” sites that exist only to try and capture personal information about you. With “Enhanced Safe Browsing” enabled, you will receive a warning if you navigate to one of these Web sites.
• To disable PageRank, repeat the steps you took to enable it, but uncheck the box labeled “PageRank” instead of checking it.