2 years ago I started this blog, it started like most blogs with low traffic and readers, sometimes I was the only one reading it, but I kept on posting and promoting it the best I could.

After 3 months, Google gave me a PageRank of ‘3′, this was fantastic since I was new.

Another 9 months went by and suddenly I had a PageRank of ‘5′, it only latest for about a week, and then I dropped back to a PageRank of ‘3′, another victim of the Google Dance.

However, 6 months ago I lost all of my PageRank, overnight it was gone. I was dumbfounded, no idea why it had happened.

I was doing everything I thought was proper and by the books. Something had penalized me. I was being indexed by Google but they seemed to have turned on me.

What I did:

• I did a complete overhaul of Pliggs, new design, got rid of all ads except Adsense.
• Ensured all images had the ‘alt’ tag
• Made sure all outbound links in my posts were using anchor tags
• Commented more on other blogs
• Removed all widgets from the blog (EntreCard etc…)

I have released numerous FREE templates for Pligg, they have been downloaded thousands of times.  This must relate to a lot of backlinks.  Wrong.  There are a few things that a lot of downloads of my templates mean:

• Not everyone will keep the backlink in the footer
• Not every download relates to a live website
• Not every website using my template has PageRank.

So, as an example lets say I have 2000 downloads(which I have), 25% of them are not live, 25% of them are not live and 25 % of them remove the backlink, this leave 25% that should be active.  Lets go further and say half are indexed by Google.

So, 125 backlinks from the 2000 downloads, which is low-balling, this is evident by looking at the numbers in my sidebar of the downloads, I still have no PageRank.

According to Backlink Watch, I have 1000 backlinks, upon studying the list, not one of those backlinks are passing on any PR juice.  However, upon even further studying I note that no backlinks are from a site using my templates.  Google does show sites using them though, and a few have PageRank, so wheres the PR love from Google?  Who knows.

Some of the websites using my themes with PageRank:

• Entreview – PR1
• Indonesian Circle – PR2
• Linka-me – PR1

While these sites have very little PageRank, and there are more with PageRank, I still do not understand my loss of it, maybe a decrease, but a total loss?

PageRank is a reflection of the number of backlinks to your website and the PageRank value of those websites and whether ‘bad neighbours’ are linking to you.

I have plenty of backlinks, no ‘bad neighbours’ I know of and fresh content, but no love.

I have come to the realization that beating myself up with this issue is over, I can no longer focus on what I did wrong but what I did right.  I have done almost all SEO tips I know of and have plenty of backlinks.

I will continue to produce FREE Pligg templates and posts and maybe someday I will be rewarded by Google, but from here on in, PageRank is the last thing on my mind and I have even gotten rid of the Google toolbar from my Firefox.

If you have any insight or a familiar story to share, please leave me a comment below.

What is your new PageRank now that the last 2008 update was complete a couple of days ago?