The Google Algorithm

[surreypcsupport]

Guys,

I thought it would be useful to start a thread to discuss what we know about the contents of the current Google algorithm. Much of the information I have found about it is now somewhat out of date and I hope this thread may throw up some gems.

Here's what I know so far:

What factors are used by the Algorithm?

I know the following factors have an effect on a sites Google score:

Keyword Related Factors: (I suspect this is the most important factor in the algorithm)

Keywords in Title, Description, page content and domain name. Also keywords in internal links pointing to the page in question.

Domain Related Factors:

Age of domain, strength of pages containing in-bound links to the page in question, relevance of subjects covered by pages with inbound links.

Inbound Links: (We know Google places a lot of weight on these factors)

Age of links, strength of domain containing links, anchor text keywords

Historical Data:

CTR from SERPS to website for keyword searches, bounce rates, time on page/in site, quantity of search requests for the domain, level of visits to domain. Google collect some of this data from SERPs pages and some from Google Analytics for sites that have it. I believe this is the case anyway.

Content Quality:

Google may well use tools to analyse readability, uniqueness, layout and variety of content.

Manual Penalties and Boosts:

Google can add manual penalties and boosts if they wish although I suspect this will only happen for sites in the top few SERPs postions for popular keyword searches.

I know there are other factors such as technical quality but I think these are the main points covered. Comments welcomed.

btw - if anyone has any practical suggestions about ways to manipulate these factors I would be very pleased to hear from you.

[surreypcsupport]

No comments? No one finding this info useful then?

[MichaelMelen]

Surreypcsupport,

It's not that no one is finding it useful... it's just a hard topic to discuss so holistically. There are many things we know but we don't no the specifics of it - and considering how many programmers are involved in the algorithm you can pretty much say no one really knows it.

This is why we focus on specific things that Google likes... i.e. backlinks.

[LeilaDee]

Its a bit of a worry that people start obsessing over figuring out the algorithm too, instead of making sure that their site content is up to par.

nice post though, I found it useful and I'm sure many newbies and not such newbies will too.

I know Rand Fishkin posted something on SEOmoz about the algorithm too a while ago...

[surreypcsupport]

instead of making sure that their site content is up to par.

Care to share with us what you saw?

[karmadir]

I read somewhere in seo forum (not in this forum ) that google is going to change its algorithm completely in 2009.

It will have lot of new policies.Is it true?

[mattinertia]

Theyre not going to completely change their algorithm. Why would they jeopardise their position at the top of the search engine market? Changing everything would be a HUGE risk.
What you were probably reading was more related to personalised search and geo-location. Some good threads on both these issues here:

Will Personal Search Turn SEO On Its Ear? | WebProNews

What Google’s Matt Cutts Sees In 2009 | WebProNews

[rginfotech]

Yes all discussion is right, pls read this link about updates and google
Explaining algorithm updates and data refreshes

[Arleigh]

Yes all discussion is right, pls read this link about updates and google
Explaining algorithm updates and data refreshes

This was an old stuff but find it interesting and useful to read.

[markweyner]

Its a bit of a worry that people start obsessing over figuring out the algorithm too, instead of making sure that their site content is up to par.

nice post though, I found it useful and I'm sure many newbies and not such newbies will too.

I know Rand Fishkin posted something on SEOmoz about the algorithm too a while ago...

Indeed bro... Google is totally unpredictable. No one knows, maybe the least the you did was the best factor you should have done.