If I have a site with solid, original content but it had no backlinks at all, could it still get a good page rank? If so, how to bots detect good content?

No and they couldn't

I don't think so, back links and good content both have same importance for page rank.

Then doesn't that seem like a flaw? The most relevant page to someone's search could possibly not be indexed because it has no backlinks.

If you would look at the pagerank algorithm you will see it depends on backlinks. So without that not possible. You can read more here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PageRank

Originally Posted by gray929

Then doesn't that seem like a flaw? The most relevant page to someone's search could possibly not be indexed because it has no backlinks.

How?
If the site owner isn't going to advertise the site, why should Google?

Originally Posted by gray929

Then doesn't that seem like a flaw? The most relevant page to someone's search could possibly not be indexed because it has no backlinks.

I agree with you, it is not a error-proof process. Its the search engines job to discover sites and content.

Using backlinks to determine PR is an erroneous process. Backlinks never could determine the PR of a site accurately. Look at all the talk on paid link, how people misused it and still doing it.

If you got no backlinks, Google will not recognise that your site is important. Only when you have a lot of backlinks will Google acknowledge your sites are important and will bring up your Page Rank. If you got Zero backlink...most likely your PR is also Zero !

Using backlinks to determine PR is an erroneous process. Backlinks never could determine the PR of a site accurately. Look at all the talk on paid link, how people misused it and still doing it.

Errmm??

PR being based on backlinks came first, idiots abusing came afterwards!!!

Do work in Off Page Optimization is really helpful to you.

Originally Posted by gray929

If I have a site with solid, original content but it had no backlinks at all, could it still get a good page rank?

NO because Page Rank or PR is a software/algorithm (some say it is an algorithm and some say it is a software) that measures the relevancy of a web page. It analyze the number of incoming links and the quality of the reffering web page to generate a measurement between 0 to 10. (0 as the lowest and 10 as the highest)

NO because Page Rank or PR is a software/algorithm (some say it is an algorithm and some say it is a software)

Only the truly clueless would ever call it "a software"!!

It analyze the number of incoming links and the quality of the reffering web page to generate a measurement between 0 to 10. (0 as the lowest and 10 as the highest)

Not even close.

PageRank is a probability distribution so it's value can NEVER be more than 1. Only the unimportant, useless value as shown on the toolbar is between 0 and 10.

i dont admit it that site must have atleast 1 backlink, seems like bline person must have sight for teach or learn,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

information is rather important than having a lots or atleast 1 backling,,

if i site is giving good info.. why should this site would not be indexed by google.....

backlinks esp quality backlinks from related content are as important as content, google does not know everything to judge your content, so if you have quality backlinks google thinks your site is good too.

otherwise google never know whether or not your content is good!

Content is important, but backlinks will always carry more weight in the search engines. Well, Google at least.

Having quality backlinks means having quality content.... At least for Google.

Originally Posted by esdee

Having quality backlinks means having quality content.... At least for Google.

Huh???

Or do you mean that only quality sites would be expected to get quality backlinks?

Backlink is important. Without it, your site could not rank well.

Originally Posted by chrishirst

Huh???

Or do you mean that only quality sites would be expected to get quality backlinks?

Maybe that is what he mean.. hahaha
And correct me chris i am wrong that you will get quality backlinks from a quality posting or submissions if it is related.

Originally Posted by gray929

If I have a site with solid, original content but it had no backlinks at all, could it still get a good page rank?

having good and authority backlinks would probably give you a reasonable page rank.