PageRank Example Reciprocal Link Exchange PR Calculations
We have a PR5 page with 49 links from it, you want to setup a reciprocal link exchange with this webpage which will take the number of links to 50. We look at the PR points table above and see PR5 equates to 32,768 PR points, plugging these values into our simplified PageRank formula–
32,768 * 0.85 / 50 = 557 PR points
We compare this figure on the table for the closest match. 557 is closest to 512 PR points or a PR3 (PR3 = 512 points). We can predict a single link from the PR5 page above would likely result in a PR3 page if no other links are involved.
We repeat the PR calculation for your links page. You have a PR5 page with 15 links from it, if you setup this link exchange that’s 16 links, what PageRank would your link partner receive?
32768 * 0.85 / 16 = 1,740 PR points (approx 3 times the PR points you’ll gain)
We compare this figure on the table for the closest match. 1,754 is between 512 PR points (PR3) and 4,096 PR points (PR4). So a single link from your PR5 page above would likely result in a stronger PR3 page (possibly a low value PR4 page) than your link partners if no other links are involved.
Easiest way to use this information is to compare the end results directly-
Partner Links Page: 32,768 * 0.85 / 50 = 557 PR points
Your Links Page: 32,768 * 0.85 / 16 = 1,740 PR points
Your partner gains 1,197 PR points (17,540-557) than you do, this is enough to make two more PR3 pages (2*512=1,024 is very close to the the extra points).
You then have to ask yourself is this reciprocal link exchange in your best interest from a PR point of view. On the face of it no, but you should look at the page/site you are exchanging links with. Is it a popular site, are you likely to receive click thru visitors etc…? Enough PR points to create a couple of PR3 pages isn’t that much of a big deal, the calculation below is where you should think twice about a link exchange.
85% of the PageRank of a web page is transferred to the web pages it links to, shared equally between all unique links.
Potential link partners PR7 page with 199 links from it (200 after the exchange).
You have a PR6 links page with 9 links from it (10 after the exchange).
Partner PR7 Links Page: 2,097,152 * 0.85 / 200 = 8,913 PR points (two PR4 pages).
Your PR6 Links Page: 262,144 * 0.85 / 10 = 22,282 PR points (five PR4 pages).
Even though the link partner has a PR7 page the large number of links from it makes it worth far less than the PR6 link. I wouldn’t make the above reciprocal link exchange if I owned the PR6 page, but would if I owned the PR7.
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