Google describes PageRank (which is a patented name) as:

“PageRank relies on the uniquely democratic nature of the web by using its vast link structure as an indicator of an individual page’s value. In essence, Google interprets a link from page A to page B as a vote, by page A, for page B. But, Google looks at more than the sheer volume of votes, or links a page receives; it also analyzes the page that casts the vote. Votes cast by pages that are themselves ‘important’ weigh more heavily and help to make other pages ‘important’.”

PageRank is just one process out there for measuring the importance of a web page. Others have followed.

From hereon in, it gets more and more complicated behind the scenes but the above gives you an overview of what it is.

So how can website owners improve their own page ranks? Here are just a few suggestions: