OK just to clarify some terminology.
Page Rank is something Google awards over time - it is based on perceived authority. This is a score from 1-10. And anything with a 3 and above is like....WHOO HOO - awesome. 6 and above - 'knock me dead with a feather'
This is something that will come later - if/when you have identified your keyword phrase as being a 'money' phrase that both gets traffic and converts.
Right now you are testing - and your activities are unlikely to also attract page ranking from Google (you might, but at this stage we are not looking to achieve that outcome - that comes later
)
SERPS
Stands for Search Engine Results Page.
This is where you get 'ranked' (I prefer the word 'listed' to avoid confusion).
And if someone says they are at position 5, it would mean that in the search returns - organically they are sitting in the 5th position.
Which is FAB! YAY!
AND
It is very common - and there is MANY a thread on this forum devoted to this topic - for you to see a great listing position, and then fall dramatically.
And if you are new - you often feel confused, kicked in the stomach, fearful, wondering what you did wrong, questioning if it works etc...
Whereas the reality of the situation is that Google is still sussing you out.
They liked the idea of you at first - so let you into their club and actually give you the best table in the house on the first page.
You get excited! (understandably).
Then they go away, and start to watch you from afar, they serve you some drinks, see how you respond.
Then they're not so sure, so they simply guide you to the back of the club for a while, and do a credit and profile check on you.
At the same time - you are busy building back links, building authority...
So that when they look at you again - they see before their very eyes, someone who they decide to move back towards the front of the club.
It's very unlikely you will go back to the exalted position of say 5, at first.
This is where the work comes in - to build authority as you've been taught.
And over time - you'll get there.
That is why the matrix is so valuable - as it gives you an indication of how quickly you can expect that journey to take you.
Caro