The problem with Google PageRank is that it is both self serving and irrelevant to actual traffic and influence. The arbitrary and unpredictable nature of this ranking system has left both bloggers and advertisers longing for accurate statistical data since long before PayPerPost. Unfortunately, there are few options out there when it comes to determining the value of a blog. While sites like Alexa attempt to estimate traffic they are inaccurate and do a terrible job when it comes to blogs with smaller niche audiences.
I we believe we have a solution and that solution is RealRank. RealRank data is gathered from the IZEA Toolkit "ITK" (formerly PPP Tools). It is a piece of javascript that many of you already have and those outside of PPP will be able to get from a separate site without joining PPP or SocialSpark. ITK gathers REAL traffic information, much like your analytics platform and ranks users based on their standing within the network. The formula is relatively simple.
70% weighted towards visitors per day
20% weighted towards amount of ACTIVE inbound links per day
10% weighted towards pageviews per day
We are currently working on implementing RealRank inside of the PPP platform next week. The public site will be up within two weeks. I am excited to be able to finally provide bloggers and advertisers with a measuring stick that actually means something.
Unlike Google, we are open to feedback. We will publish the actual formulas for all to view. If we make any changes over time based on user input you will see what those changes are and why. We hope this becomes the most valuable site measurement tool worldwide and look forward to rolling this out.
Down with PageRank (beats war drum)!
TrackBack
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/t/trackback/2488636/23394404
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference What is IZEA RealRank™?:
» What is IZEA RealRank™? from bloggingzoom.com
Just when you thought you have seen the last of Google after the recent overdue PageRank update, Google had other ideas.
Google has nuked the PageRank off blogs doing paid reviews and most of the top paid reviewers' blog I've come across h... [Read More]
Comments (RSS)
skeet said...
I just printed a full-sized Ted Head so I could kiss you. On the lips. In front of everyone. Mahalo, Y'all!
Nov 15, 2007 5:53:41 PM
Jenn said...
Ted, I totally heart you. If I weren't already married and "fixed", I would totally bear your genius babies to populate the world with.
Nov 15, 2007 6:07:05 PM
Cass said...
Skeet told us to all come kiss you, but I probably would have done it anyway if Travis isn't around ;)
Nov 15, 2007 6:07:10 PM
Marisa said...
I am so coming to Florida to see you all give you all big hugs! I can't wait for PostieCon 2008.
Nov 15, 2007 6:11:16 PM
Jules said...
"20% weighted towards amount of ACTIVE inbound links per day"
Doe this count javascript blogrolls?
Nov 15, 2007 6:13:05 PM
Ellie Blunt said...
It's really good to see people doing something about the whole Google insanity! You all are awesome. As with anything though, change has its own brand of insecurities, but I am so hopeful.
Ellie
Nov 15, 2007 6:39:37 PM
Robert MacEwan said...
This is really encouraging to those of us financially hurt by dropping PR. Starting PPP with a PR6 was terrific. Dropping to a PR3 and watching all the good opps disappear over night was quite disheartening.
Everyone circle 'round for a group hug. Our family of bloggers will make it through the Christmas season with plenty opps to fill our tummies.
Nov 15, 2007 8:31:11 PM
Loretta said...
The more I hear of your realrank the more I am excited to see it!! It's a great idea and not at all what I expected when we first heard that ppp tools was going to be a big part of Argus/SocialSpark. I'm totally impressed thus far.
Nov 15, 2007 8:31:44 PM
skeet said...
Digg this post:
http://digg.com/tech_news/What_is_IZEA_RealRankt
And I'd love it if you find mine Digg-worthy, too:
http://skeetsstuff.skeeterbess.com/2007/11/15/worried-about-google-pr-drop-dont-be/
Nov 15, 2007 8:40:45 PM
dragonfly183 said...
This sounds soooo awesome. I am still wondering what "good" visits actually are though. Maybe I just need to be patient.
Nov 15, 2007 10:12:47 PM
Elizabeth said...
I am SO GLAD you are doing this. It's 9:58 PM on Thursday, and I just about had a heart attack when I looked at Table for Five and saw that my PageRank had dropped to ZERO. I checked iwebtool, and sure enough, half the data centers are DOWN. I've had it with this PageRank nonsense.
I hope this isn't too dumb of a question, but what exactly constitutes an "inbound link"? If my URL is on someone's blogroll, is that an inbound link? What about a link to me in a blog post? I know I should know that by now but I want to be sure :)
Nov 15, 2007 10:13:11 PM
Heather in Beautiful British Columbia said...
I want in on the IPO, okay?
Nov 15, 2007 10:16:06 PM
sukosaki said...
Werd. I think that it is about time that someone took the bull by the you know what's and put something else out there other than the norm. Good job!
Nov 15, 2007 10:49:26 PM
pablopabla said...
In view of the obvious thumbs down on Google PR, would PPP immediately remove the PR stats on posties' site analysis? It's redundant anyway.
Nov 15, 2007 11:08:30 PM
Nick Phillips said...
I'm looking forward to this Real Rank thingy. I had the shock of my life this morning when I saw my pagerank drop from 4 to a big fat Zero!
Nov 15, 2007 11:32:12 PM
Tina Kubala said...
Amazing and FAIR! I love it. I love thumbing our collective noses at Google.
Advertisers are going to love knowing how many eyes their ads are in front of in a real way. Happy advertisers mean more opps, plus (I'll bet) more advertisers.
Thanks Ted and Izea Team. I know this isn't going to be easy to put in place. Causing a revolution isn't ever easy.
Nov 16, 2007 12:26:36 AM
Tina Kubala said...
Amazing and FAIR! I love it. I love thumbing our collective noses at Google.
Advertisers are going to love knowing how many eyes their ads are in front of in a real way. Happy advertisers mean more opps, plus (I'll bet) more advertisers.
Thanks Ted and Izea Team. I know this isn't going to be easy to put in place. Causing a revolution isn't ever easy.
Nov 16, 2007 12:26:44 AM
Tina Kubala said...
Amazing and FAIR! I love it. I love thumbing our collective noses at Google.
Advertisers are going to love knowing how many eyes their ads are in front of in a real way. Happy advertisers mean more opps, plus (I'll bet) more advertisers.
Thanks Ted and Izea Team. I know this isn't going to be easy to put in place. Causing a revolution isn't ever easy.
Nov 16, 2007 12:26:49 AM
Mama BoK said...
Thank you very much..!
Nov 16, 2007 12:28:43 AM
Bless said...
Sweet! Thank you for taking this leap. It was crazy knowing that my PR from the longest 3 it sunk down to 0 as in nada. *Huggies to the brainiacs here in PPP!
Nov 16, 2007 12:57:28 AM
issa said...
so it isn't just me that got splattered back to pr0, sigh! anyhoo, thanks PPP for always improving things in the world wide web. as what jenn said above, i'd be happy to populate the world with your kids ted! lol!
Nov 16, 2007 1:05:43 AM
danielctw said...
That's a very nice way to view Page Rank. No more self reliance only on Google Page Rank
Nov 16, 2007 1:43:44 AM
sherri R said...
If they can take on the giant and find a new way to value sites and blogs this would be huge. The only problem if this works as well as proposed (which I have no doubt it well) then Google will only buy out PPP and we could be back to square one. Ted, please do not take anyhting less then $2 Billion. Then you can tour the US in the Postie mobile and come party with the rest of us.
Nov 16, 2007 2:20:43 AM
Clement said...
Good one.I am looking forward to it.
Nov 16, 2007 2:54:16 AM
Clement said...
Good one.I am looking forward to it.
Nov 16, 2007 2:56:59 AM
haze said...
This is exciting.....I am looking forward to it. My blog pagerank went down at a sudden from pr4 to pr0...unbelievable.
Thanks IZEA for making this blogging possible.
Nov 16, 2007 5:48:32 AM
Charity said...
After a disheartening drop in PR for Gothic Peach, and my Basically Geeky site still remaining unranked, I am glad to see Izea move away from using PR as a guideline. I can't wait to see what this brings. :)
Nov 16, 2007 7:32:36 AM
MyGoodFinds said...
Thanks for listening Ted(Izea)! :) Thanks for being a democracy rather than dictatorship.
Nov 16, 2007 7:43:27 AM
Jamaipanese said...
I can't wait, hurry up google kicked me from a pr 4 to 0 yesterday and I am steaming mad
Nov 16, 2007 8:03:27 AM
abelle said...
i just hope it will work with my blogrox.com blog. the HTML of this site is not editable :(
Nov 16, 2007 10:10:23 AM
abelle said...
addt'l:
u can't do anything with the layout. it is as it is. u can't put something extra on the sidebar, etc. :(
abelle.blogrox.com
Nov 16, 2007 10:14:02 AM
Laura @ Laura Williams' Musings said...
Will it worked differently than how it has worked in the past?
I ask this because I know that when Google did the PR update I went from 0 to a PR4.
When Google started the "redo drop PR dance", I went to a 2 and the PPP tool had me at 2 at the time as well.
Yesterday, Google dropped me to a 0 and so does the PPP tool now.
I was having a lot more PPP opps available to me with the PR4 and now I have basically nothing... except for two on a Paintball opp that I have already done and can't do again.
Frustrated is an understatement.
Nov 16, 2007 10:22:55 AM
Leigh said...
{{{SMOOOOOOCH}}}
Nov 16, 2007 10:59:36 AM
Kevin said...
Google PR is so sensitive that TLA can affect it ;)
Nov 16, 2007 11:29:48 AM
Melissa Markham said...
I am one of those affected by Google and its awful behavior! I look forward to your new product and will do all I can to support it!
Nov 16, 2007 12:09:42 PM
Ghosty said...
Now, THIS is something I can cheer about! I can't wait to see it.
Nov 16, 2007 12:21:13 PM
Darlene said...
I am looking forward to it, i am very excited for this. Hope everything will goes well. Cheers to us! Have a blessed Friday and have a happy weekend ahead to all!
Nov 16, 2007 12:27:18 PM
Darlene said...
I can't wait for this new Ranking thing. I am very excited. Thank you to all the genius in PPP for doing this, everyone will benefit this!
Nov 16, 2007 12:31:30 PM
summerbreeze said...
This is the best thing I heard aside from PPP. I always the PR didn't reflect anything about my blog. It is great that someone stepped up and came up with something better!
Nov 16, 2007 12:36:57 PM
Venomous Kate said...
I may have to go get pregnant now so I can name a child after you, Ted.
(Btw, my husband says "Thanks!" since he gets to enjoy the practicing part of that.)
Nov 16, 2007 1:17:20 PM
Mrs. Mecomber said...
Quote Ted: "It is a piece of javascript that many of you already have.."
How do I know if I already have it? How do I get it? I am watching my opps dissolve before my very eyes. :(
Nov 16, 2007 1:23:48 PM
Nyree said...
Oh wow! Thank you Ted! Mwah! :)
Nov 16, 2007 1:38:54 PM
Linda said...
Wait ... is that light I see at the end of the tunnel? Light that isn't the Google Page Rank train coming to run me down even further? Though is it possible to be lower than a O?? Thank you for giving me this glimmer of hope in an otherwise dismal day. Thank you, Ted, you rock!!
Nov 16, 2007 1:51:12 PM
Domestic Diva said...
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!
Nov 16, 2007 2:35:17 PM
MacBros said...
YES! Down with PR!
Stick that PR you know where, and smoke it Google!
Nov 16, 2007 2:41:08 PM
Miguel Salcido said...
I always do my due diligence when purchasing links and make sure that I check to see if the site I want advertise on has rankings itself and also if the other sites advertising there are getting rankings for their anchor text, I also check the backlinks using Yahoo! Site Explorer to see if the link(s) are showing up in the back links report.
I think that PPP needs to factor the rankings of blogs into the equation. If Google is ranking a site then it means that they like it and will generally like the sites that it links to. Its all about good neighborhoods!
Nov 16, 2007 4:43:48 PM
Shabem said...
You guys rock! Thank you so much.
Nov 16, 2007 4:50:13 PM
shutterbug74 said...
Cool! I am excited about this. I finally got my blog to a PR3 and recently it went down to a 2.
Nov 16, 2007 5:03:53 PM
webduck said...
I worked really hard to get my PR to 4 on Pentimento, and in an arbitrary flash of Google moronism it was dashed down to a 0, then back up to a 1. I appreciate so much that you are making this new ranking tool available, and that you have not left us all out twisting in the wind. Advertisers, thank you for sticking with us bloggers who haven't lost our subscribers, just our Google Rank, lame as it is/was. Thank you too Ted. You really care about us posties. I could just hug you! :)
Nov 16, 2007 5:50:06 PM
Venomous Kate said...
Miguel wrote: If Google is ranking a site then it means that they like it and will generally like the sites that it links to.
The problem, Miguel, is that Google's PR is an opinion and only an opinion. That's been their legal defense in several lawsuits now, and it's time that we start holding them to that.
I have never in my life let someone's opinion dictate to me what I will or won't do. When it comes to my blog(s), I'm even more of a stickler for that: I spend MY time writing MY opinion on MY blog paid for by MY money. I let my commenters know that their comments are subject to MY rules. And when it comes to picking sponsored entries, I do it based on what I think MY audience will relate to and whether MY writing skills are up to the task.
To back down now and allow Google's "opinion" of my blog(s) change what I'm doing would make a liar out of me. I'm not willing to do that.
I have, in the meantime, decided that I'm going to use Yahoo!'s links to show what a liar Google's PR is.
I invite my fellow Posties to join me in that effort so we can, together, educate advertisers on what PR really means these days.
Nov 16, 2007 7:36:04 PM
Venomous Kate said...
Miguel wrote: If Google is ranking a site then it means that they like it and will generally like the sites that it links to.
The problem, Miguel, is that Google's PR is an opinion and only an opinion. That's been their legal defense in several lawsuits now, and it's time that we start holding them to that.
I have never in my life let someone's opinion dictate to me what I will or won't do. When it comes to my blog(s), I'm even more of a stickler for that: I spend MY time writing MY opinion on MY blog paid for by MY money. I let my commenters know that their comments are subject to MY rules. And when it comes to picking sponsored entries, I do it based on what I think MY audience will relate to and whether MY writing skills are up to the task.
To back down now and allow Google's "opinion" of my blog(s) change what I'm doing would make a liar out of me. I'm not willing to do that.
I have, in the meantime, decided that I'm going to use Yahoo!'s links to show what a liar Google's PR is.
I invite my fellow Posties to join me in that effort so we can, together, educate advertisers on what PR really means these days.
Nov 16, 2007 7:36:05 PM
Rice Blogger said...
that is a great idea and good alternative
Nov 16, 2007 9:26:07 PM
Faith said...
Argh, you guys rule! Even if my blog is worth less link-wise without the PR, I'd rather it be worth what it's *actually* worth in linkiness than have to deal with PR that fluxes and apparently has nothing to do with actual link popularity. Screw you, Google! I'm free of you, free! *breaks my chains with a big rock and runs for the hills*
Nov 16, 2007 10:11:26 PM
Linda R. Moore said...
Does this work through the old PPP tools or must new code be added? It would be nice if you could post about how this is achieved.
Nov 16, 2007 11:52:19 PM
nimrodjo said...
Can't wait for this one...getting tried already with Google PR...
Nov 17, 2007 1:38:12 AM
J. Mama said...
Kate -- yeah, their defense in lawsuits that shouldn't have ever happened. Like, ever. Ridiculous what some people think they're entitled to.
Page rank is a ranking of how important a website is on the Internet. Important in relation to the information that it brings forth and how trustworthy the website really is.
Their algorithm is great... But now that they've done this for paid links, their own credibility has gone down amongst our own community here; however, that is just a tiny blip in their radar. Especially when you think about how they, themselves sell links... Then again, the selling links thing was in relation to page rank and they don't sell page rank, so there goes that argument :(
Nov 17, 2007 2:03:43 AM
Arif said...
Alternate solution to Google PageRank! Am shout all bloggers and advertisers never consider google PR and else! Hang up guys! Google think "only it is a intelligent". But we show our power to Google. We are the strength of google (see 70% income from adsense)But it penalized us! Huh! what a funny. If no one using Google then what will they do! Suck! Google should keep in mind that a great quote "Never, Never Give up". Hello Google! Do you know number of Bloggers are directly/indirectly help to drive the traffic for Google products like Gmail, Blogger, Google search, Orkut and etc... Don't forget. All products are not developed by Google some of purely soled out like Blogger and Orkut. So Google is not the King of Internet. End users like us are the biggest asset of it! This only a message to all about Google argorant philosophy! believe it should end very soon! Yeah! A great intelligent team investigate the Google's methodology! We will wait for the results.... Happy blogging for all posties!
Nov 17, 2007 4:59:41 AM
Stine said...
Bwwwwahaha - Checked my PR today = 0 (down from 2 this last time), and thought:PPP should create their own ranking system... Off I went to tell you about my great idea, and found this! ho, ho, ho - Christmas is early.
Anyway - I'm not sure I'd get a high ranking there either, but at least it has a shot at being fair!
Good luck, great job, and please make a BIG announcement when it's ready!
Nov 17, 2007 10:30:06 AM
drt said...
Glad to see there is an alternative. Good luck!
Nov 17, 2007 4:10:14 PM
xbrain said...
google put my little xbrain down from pr6 to pr0
Nov 17, 2007 4:19:53 PM
sagun said...
Hope it works well and has advantage to all the bloggers.
Nov 17, 2007 9:45:12 PM
Sudarshan said...
Looking forward towards the new system....hope it works out better than google pagerank
Nov 17, 2007 9:47:16 PM
liza said...
that its really great! im sure it will help all the bloggies!
Nov 17, 2007 10:27:18 PM
Teddy Wong said...
I hope your RealRank proposal workable and success!
Good luck ~
Nov 18, 2007 5:48:38 AM
AntiBarbie said...
Going my 70% traffic is a bad idea. There are too many ways to create false traffic for a website. Just look at all the traffic networks using bots to drive hit counters up.
Nov 18, 2007 11:14:03 AM
Adam said...
Looking forward to the implementation of the new ranking system.
Nov 18, 2007 12:23:42 PM
david said...
This sounds like a pretty good idea but is anyone actually using it? If not its really a moot point how well it works...
http://megagoogle.blogspot.com
Nov 18, 2007 2:12:20 PM
david said...
This sounds like a pretty good idea but is anyone actually using it? If not its really a moot point how well it works...
http://megagoogle.blogspot.com
Nov 18, 2007 2:12:37 PM
johnny said...
it is very very good. Since my pr keep dropping for unknown reasons while my visitors are keep increasing.
Nov 18, 2007 5:19:05 PM
Robert MacEwan said...
PayPerPost currently uses Google PR to value our blogs. Access to better paying opportunities is removed if your Google PR is lowered. Now Google targets Posties with a PR0 for paid posting and Izea still values our pagerank from Google?
Izea really needs to address this growing issue. It affects all your high paid bloggers and the issue isn't easily forgotten.
p.s. Christmas is right around the corner. Gives us back the better paying oppportunities.
Nov 19, 2007 12:02:24 AM
Big Pumpkin said...
Thank you, Ted! And everyone else at PPP. It's much nicer being able to predict a steady income and know where you stand, than to wait around to meet a schizophrenic, moody bitch who can't decide which way she wants to sway today. *smile*
Nov 19, 2007 11:42:10 AM
Niki said...
Nov 19, 2007 3:28:05 PM
skeet said...
@Robert MacEwan - You keep posting the same statement all over the place - my blog, Digg, here - that PPP is still using PR to value our blogs. Did you read the post that this comment appears on? PPP dev team is working around the clock to get RealRank out way ahead of schedule. Re-read Ted's post. Do you see PR in the breakdown of what stats will be used to determine our RealRank? Pete has also advised us that historical PRs are currently being used, ie: our rank before the Big G took us all down last week. What more do you want?
Nov 19, 2007 4:27:14 PM
Odysseus said...
Since the formula is given, will webmasters start to get around it to move the ranks of realrank?
Nov 21, 2007 9:18:14 AM
Monica said...
Hello,
This is great! Will this mean I might possibly get more higher paying advertisments to write about on my blog? Right now, Google has not been so nice to me with my ranking.
Happy Thanksgiving!!
Nov 22, 2007 4:33:15 PM
Avitable said...
Google's PR helps bring up legitimate search results for terms. I don't blame them for changing the way that paid posters show up in search terms. It also allows them to punish advertisers who try to artificially inflate their PR by having more links from bloggers rather than by having true, honest links to their site. Makes good sense, when you think about it.
Nov 24, 2007 5:14:43 PM
Jennifer said...
I hope this takes off. It would be great to see my better opps come back.
Nov 27, 2007 12:17:59 AM
apexad said...
My PR was at 5 when I started PPP, now it's at a 3. I am really scared it might drop to 0 like other's are experiencing.
Here is to hoping I have a Real Rank equivalent to a PR6 or PR7!
Nov 27, 2007 11:04:29 AM
tangyifeng said...
Nov 30, 2007 8:57:49 AM
miel said...
i had my pr rank gone down to 0. basically it means i might need to postpone any buying of christmas because of it. :/
lets hope real rank is something cool!
Dec 5, 2007 2:28:24 PM
Cody said...
Awesome! Sounds like a good formula for rating how well a blog does... unlike PR which is unfairly off balance towards incoming links.
Dec 16, 2007 6:39:43 PM
Vincent Abry said...
Hi,
Is it open to french blogs ?
thanks,
Jan 16, 2008 10:11:26 PM
John said...
As far as I understand, it will be open to people of all countries.
Apr 8, 2008 3:18:32 PM
Ivan said...
Hi guys, I've been reading your blog for some and even signed up for both PPP and SS. i think you're on the right track to establishing RealRank as a reliable and most importantly, realistic blog ranking system. My only concern is what happens to those blogs not having the JS code you require to paste into blogs to enter the RealRank.
Greetings from Argentina
Iván
May 4, 2008 6:33:26 PM