I set up this blog too late for the page rank update. I know that timing is very important when you want to get a decent page rank in the fastest time possible. My other blog, Blog From Cebu to The World, was set up weeks after the 1st update of 2008, so it was able to get a PR3 in less than 90 days when the 2nd update happened.

While I was vacationing in some paradise islands in Cebu, Google promoted some blogs and screwed some. I got none of those updates and downgrades. But you may ask, how should one get to PR3 fast? I got some self-explanatory list here, and I’ve tried this twice already:

1. Timing – Set up a blog right after the toolbar update. Normally, Google updates quarterly. Between now and mid-August is the right time to set up a new site.
2. Content – It’s not enough that you set up a blog and write an entry. Regularly update it. If you can post daily or every other day, do it.
3. Inbound links – Request for links from friends. Exchange links with other newbies, as they are most likely eager to fill their blogrolls. Submit your blog to directories. Include the address of your website in your forum signature. Comment on blogs with “Do follow”
4. No to paid links – Don’t immediately ride on the paid link bandwagon. Defer it till you get enough numbers.

And what if you got penalized? My penalized blogspots got zeroes still. I don’t know how I’d plea for my case. But since I am on a free-hosted platform, I cannot really do much. I was expecting that they’d expire the penalties, as Matt Cutts said in his blog. Here’s what to do when you are penalized:

1. Ask for A Reconsideration – This is when you go to your Google webmasters toolbars, click on a button at the lower right of your dashboard that says “Request Reconsideration”. When you make a request, be sure to back it up by following the rules. Some did and got a reprieve.
2. Just blog on – Posting a plea or a rant on your blog won’t do anything. Just blog on like you don’t care for page ranks. If you do paid posts and earn from paid links, as long as there are opps, continue doing your thing. One day, those penalties will expire in time. I’ve seen it in many blogs. But I have not seen it yet on those using blogspot.

By the way, this blog got a PR update from N/A to zero. At this time, I prefer the former.

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1. The Next Google Page Rank (PR) Update of 2010
2. Racing for Ranks
3. Ready for the PageRank Update of 2009
4. I Got Ranked!
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