Google Search Algorithm and Ranking System

Almost every day, Google introduces changes in its algorithm. Some changes are so small that they have little or no effect but some changes shake the complete SEO workings. If you keep up with Internet Marketing, or even just regularly scroll online for information, you have heard of Google Algorithms.

Today in this blog we will brief you about

  • What is the Google Algorithm?
  • What is Google Search Algorithm?
  • What is a Ranking System?

What is a Google Algorithm?

Google Algorithm is a complex system that helps to ease the search results of the user by retrieving the data from its search index and instantly delivers the best possible results for the query.

The search engine, therefore, uses the combinations of various algorithms and ranking signals to deliver the webpages ranked by relevance on its Search Engine Result Pages (SERPs).

What is a Google Algorithm?

What is a Google Search Algorithm?

The basic Google Algorithm is used for search, or say each search conducted on the site, but every user has different ways to put down their query or search or let’s say they use different keywords for the search. The algorithm is adjusted for each search and can be altered by even the slightest change in the spelling of the search or its word order. Accordingly, the results are generated and the users can visit the sites as per the relevance.

The amount of information-driven on the web is very important. Sorting is very important to reach the desired result. Search Algorithm considers many factors while delivering useful information such as meaning of query, relevance of website, quality of content, context, and settings.

  • Meaning of the Query:

To deliver the results of the query, we first need to understand the meaning and the intent of the search i.e. understanding its language and aspect of search.

Meaning of the Query:- Freelance Digital Marketers
  • Relevance of Webpages:

It analyzes the content of the webpages to examine whether the pages contain the information relevant to the query. The most basic signal to assess whether the information is relevant to the webpage or not is the same keywords as the search query. Beyond simple keyword matching, the other aspect used is aggregated and anonymized interaction data to assess the relevance of search results as per the query.

Quality Content- Freelance Digital Marketers
  • Quality of Content:

The search algorithm also aims to prioritize the most relevant and reliable source of content to your search query. For this, the systems are designed in a way that identifies the signals to determine which pages demonstrate expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness on the searched query.

  • Usability of the Webpage:

The search algorithm also analyzes the signals which indicate the usability of the webpage, like whether the site appears correctly in different browsers, its design is accessible for all device types and sizes (desktop, tablet, mobile phone), and the page loading time works well for all sorts of internet users.

  • Context and Settings:

The search history of a user also helps us to derive useful and relevant results for you at the moment. Country and location settings help to deliver the best possible results according to the area.

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What is a Ranking System?

Website ranking is a complex process, and hundreds of interconnected factors determine the ranking of websites and pages by Google. The pages or websites that appear on Rank#0 or Rank#1 for the said query is determined as the most relevant and useful. Google determines the websites that are most useful and relevant by using a complex algorithm.

Google’s complex process is a secret for everyone, however, through different combinations, a good SEO Strategist knows what the most important factors are. For Example,  SEO Researchers, SEO Professionals, Local SEO Experts, and SEO Link Builders would agree that the following are the important ranking factors:

  • Keyword Usage
  • Usability of website 
  • Number of Inbound Links
  • Quality of Links

The ranking given to websites and pages is wholly determined by the algorithm and no manual intervention by humans to adjust the ranking specific websites is done.

A website that is ranked 1st today could potentially not even be on the 1st page next week, as it totally depends on the factors of the algorithm and how much you pay attention to those factors being an SEO professional.

Update your website 

We the Freelance Digital Marketers are here just a call away to help you implement the changes updated by Google in its Algorithm and help you rank your website on Rank #1, that too for complete 360 Degree Digital Marketing Services.

To understand the requirements of our client in one-take is what makes us special and different from others.

Major 03: Updates and Algorithms that Shook the SEO World

Google and its algorithm updates are the most important part of the SEO industry. Most of the updates were so minor that they went unnoticed and few updates were so major that shook the SEO world completely.

Today! We will brief you on the Major 3 Algorithm of Google and Major 3 updates by Google that shook the SEO world. The flow of the blog will be as follow:

  • Google Algorithms
    • Panda
    • Penguin
    • HummingBird
  • 3 Major Updates by Google
    • RankBrain
    • MobileGeddon
    • Fred

Google Algorithms

Google Algorithms Updates - Freelance Digital Marketers

[Starting with the major 3 algorithms, As we all know that Google has named its Algorithms differently such as Panda, Penguin, Humming Bird and so on..]

GOOGLE PANDA

Panda update | Freelance digital marketers

Panda Algorithm was first launched on February 23, 2011. The reason to launch the Panda algorithm was to make a difference in the quality of search results. It focuses on promoting high-quality content sites in search results and demotes the sites with lower-quality content comparatively.

When the Panda algorithm was introduced, the working of the SEO Researchers, Digital Marketers, and SEO Professionals was majorly affected as it was all about on-site quality. There were a few factors in regards to Panda:

  • Thin Content – By “thin page” means a page that adds little or no value to the reader. The content shared on the sites in a frame of few words on a page does not have a major impact or solution to the queries of users. Hence, If you have a large number of pages on your site that contain just a few sentences and were indexed by Google, then the Panda algorithm may determine those as low quality or spam pages.
SEO Professionals
  • Duplicate Content – Panda algorithm reviews the content on the site and has several ways to identify the duplicity of the content. The duplicate content was viewed as a low-quality site by Panda. Panda takes action when a large amount of content on your website or blog was copied from other sources, hence, the originality of the content was questioned.
Seo Researcher - Freelance Digital Marketers
  • Low-Quality Content – Content could be of high quality and low quality at the same time depending on the reader’s query. The Panda determines whether the Content is of “Low-Quality” or “High-Quality” by users’ experience. When a user returns unsatisfied from your page and doesn’t return back and if this happens repetitively, then there were chances that Panda considers your site/page under Low-Quality content.

GOOGLE PENGUIN

Google Penguin Algorithm- Freelance Digital marketers

The Penguin Algorithm was rolled out on April 24, 2012. The focus of Penguin was to demote the unnatural backlinks and gain greater control over the authenticity and quality links.

Every time Penguin shares its updates, it has an impact on the search results. By Penguin Algorithm, google made it clear that only natural, authoritative and relevant links reward their website and manipulative, spammy links downsize it.

On September 23, 2016, the major news flashes that the Penguin became a part of the Core Algorithm, by this Penguin evaluates the websites and links in real-time. This implies that you can see the instant impacts of your link-building or remediation work.

GOOGLE HUMMINGBIRD

GOOGLE HUMMINGBIRD

Google announced its new algorithm named Humming Bird on September 26, 2013. The name was derived keeping in mind the features of the HummingBird i.e. speed and accuracy. In short, it aims to improve the search result depending on the needs of the query. The main purpose was to translate the semantic search into reality. This update is a path towards the betterment of the inevitable rise of voice search.

Additionally, the HummingBird has effects on the local SEO and local organic results as:

  • Greater localization of the organic result to the queries.
  • The substantial presence of a directory type results in the local organic results

3 Major Google Updates

Google Algorithm updates always had a major impact on the SEO world or should say they shook the SEO world to an extent. The updates are very important as they enhance the working of the industry. The major 3 updates that were noteworthy and have a major impact on the SEO world are:

  • RankBrain
  • MobileGeddon
  • Fred
     

GOOGLE RankBrain

GOOGLE RankBrain

RankBrain is a machine learning (AI) algorithm that Google introduced to sort the search results. It helped Google process and understand the search queries. RankBrain understands that these terms were the same thing and show nearly identical search results.

RankBrain process depends on the keywords, accordingly, it increases or decreases the importance of backlinks, content freshness, content length, domain authority, etc.

Back in the day, Google used to look at separate words within a query to figure out the search intent, which didn’t always work out. In April 2015, Google introduced RankBrain, the purpose of which was processing never-before-seen search queries and predicting the best results for them.

#How does RankBrain work?

RankBrain uses artificial intelligence to embed vast amounts of written language into mathematical entities — called vectors — that the computer can understand. If RankBrain sees a word or phrase it isn’t familiar with, the machine can guess as to what words or phrases might have a similar meaning and filter the result accordingly, making it more effective at handling never-before-seen search queries.

  • Greg Corrado

A few years ago, Google had a problem that 15% of the keywords that people search in the Google search query were ‘never seen before.’ But as these keywords were brand new, Google had no clue what the searcher wanted to know. So they guessed but today RankBrain tries to figure out what the searcher meant and show the relevant search results.

RankBrain working is as follows:

  • Keywords – Understanding search queries.
  • User Satisfaction – Measuring how people interact with the results.

Keywords 

  • Earlier Google used to figure out what the user search means.
  • RankBrain tries to deliver the search results according to the user’s query.
  • RankBrain helps the users by showing similar results of their search.

User Satisfaction

  • RankBrain shows the user a set of search results that they think match your query.
  • If a lot of people like one particular page in the search result, it will give that page a ranking boost, and, if they didn’t like it, RankBrain will drop that page and replace it with a different page.
User Satisfaction

# How RankBrain changed SEO?

RankBrain aims at connecting their searchers with the relevant search results, therefore, search intent had become a priority. That is why RankBrain boosts the rank of the pages that meet the user’s requirement. In the changing world, content optimization is impossible without understanding the search intent and carrying out intent specific keyword research.

Earlier, the majority of the SEOs used the ONE-KEYWORD-ONE-PAGE concept which is dead now. The change with the RankBrain is that it has shifted the focus from keywords to topics i.e. better content optimization.

#How to optimize for RankBrain?

We have learned and experienced a little more about the program since its launch, the most important aspects of SEO in general, or that RankBrain is amplifying the importance of quality content. Here are some suggestions to optimize for the RankBrain

How to optimize for RankBrain?
  • Natural Language – Since the search query was generated by humans, it was suggested to write content that sounds human. If one tries to write like a machine then RankBrain will get confused and probably pushes you back.
     
  • Search Intent – RankBrain supplies the most relevant search results, therefore, it was important that your page matches the desired search intent as it entails high CTR. So, to optimize for the RankBrain, try to understand the search intent.
     
  • Relevance and Comprehensiveness – As RankBrain is shifting focus from keywords to topics, one needs to make the content pages as comprehensive as possible by diversifying them with related terms and synonyms.
     
  • Snippets – As we learned that CTR is among the things that RankBrain takes into consideration when estimating page relevance, therefore, it was important to make sure your snippets were optimized as they directly influence the CTR.
     
  • Continuous efforts to monitor niche – The important factor to remember is that RankBrain can re-adjust SERPs if it thinks the search intent of your keywords has changed. Hence, it was highly recommended to keep an eye on the niche.
     

GOOGLE MobileGeddon

GOOGLE MobileGeddon

MobileGeddon’s name has arrived with the combination of two words i.e. Mobile and Armageddon. This Google update was way too simple than its name. When we talk about mobile phones in the present scenario no one will think of the keypad mobiles or any other model. It is a generation of Smart-phones, so Google also updated its algorithm to rank sites as a “mobile-friendly” label on mobile search results.

By this update, searchers could more easily find high-quality, and relevant results where the text was readable without tapping or zooming, tap targets were spaced appropriately, and the page avoids unplayable content or horizontal scrolling.

This update hit us on April 21, 2015, the major three working affected by this update are:

  • Search rankings on mobile devices.
  • Search results in all languages globally.
  • Applies to individual pages, not entire websites.

This update isn’t only about organic search, it was more about adapting consumer’s behavior, who was getting more mobile-friendly. MobileGeddon is an important update but Google used a variety of signals to rank search results.

# Is MobileGeddon Update Greater than Panda or Penguin?

 Is MobileGeddon Update Greater than Panda or Penguin?

It was revealed at the SMX Munich that the MobileGeddon update had a greater impact on the SEO industry than Panda or Penguin algorithm. Experts commented that the update worked as it was intended, and, non-mobile friendly pages were negatively impacted in the 360-Degree Digital Marketing Services and the mobile search began to fall in the SERPs.

# Impact of MobileGeddon on the SEO Industry.

Apart from ranking, the other things which were affected by this update were:

MobileGeddon Update Greater than Panda or Penguin?
  • Website Undiscoverable – The update in the algorithm had made most website Undiscoverable as the first-page acquires more mobile-friendly websites as compared to the non-mobile friendly websites.
     
  • Competitors Over-take – If you don’t get updated with the updates in the algorithm it means you gave the chance to your competitors to take the lead. This could lead to fewer clicks, fewer calls, and less business.

GOOGLE Fred

GOOGLE Fred

Google was pacing with the change in time. Accordingly, Google Fred was an algorithm designed to target Black-Hat tactics that were too connected with monetization. Google Fred specifically looks for low-value content, excessive ads, and websites that offer low benefits to the users. 

Google rolled out its new update as in March 2017, named “Fred”. SEO professionals determined that it primarily affected low-quality, ad-heavy sites with thin content and bad backlinks, as Google was indefinite about the target of the algorithm.

Websites with these attributes were affected the most:

  • Focused on over monetization.
  • Misleading or Deceptive Ads.
  • Ads that tricked the users to click them.
  • Saturated with affiliate links, ads, and low-value content.
  • Blogs with the sole purpose of SEO ranking.
  • Barrier and Issues to Users Experience.
  • Poor mobile-friendly.

#How to optimize your site for Google Fred?

Google Fred rewards websites that offer excellent user experience with relevant information and penalizes websites that focus on aggressive monetization. Here are some suggestions, mentioned in the update, that can help:

  • Clear and Specific Content – The content/information available on your website should have a clear and specific purpose.
     
  • Appropriate keywords and metadata – We suggest to use appropriate and relevant metadata, tags, keywords that clearly state the purpose of the content.
     
  • Layout – Review the layout of your site from the user’s point.
     
  • Ads– It was not bad to have Ads on your page, but you should limit the quantity and consider its placements.
     
  • Search Quality Rater – You should follow the guidelines of Search Quality Rater for the self-evaluation of your website.
Update your website - website  optimization

Update your website 

We the Freelance Digital Marketers are here just a call away to help you implement the changes updated by Google in its Algorithm, that too for complete 360 Degree Digital Marketing Services.

To understand the requirements of our client in one-take is what makes us special and different from others.

Impact of COVID-19 on SEO-2020

In this outbreak of the Coronavirus disease a.k.a. COVID-19, it has created global upheaval as the priority shifts from business and economies to human life.

As we all are aware of the sad reality of COVID-19, it is spreading quickly and will continue to spread for a while. We just need to calm down and keep ourselves healthy. Also salute, to the Government who is taking the front-foot measures to stop the connectivity of Coronavirus.

While newly imposed government measures restrict movement and foot traffic, that leads to determining creative ways to provide services virtually. So, Is it an opportunity for SEO Specialists to boost their business?

To know this. Let’s take a tour of this blog!

Well, looking into the SERP fluctuations of the last 30 days of 2020, it is difficult to determine whether it is an opportunity or a threat as every other business is getting affected by COVID-19.

Is selling the necessities on high stake is what we call business? The one thing as a human one should understand that every problem is not an opportunity. For the sake of humanity, don’t exploit the COVID-19 situation in the name of marketing.

As the whole world is affected by COVID-19, the business will be affected by its repercussions. According to recent data, the percentage of affected is dropping and we can think that the virus will slow down, still, the businesses are going to struggle for well over a year because they will have to make up for their losses.

The traffic impressions are affected by the breakdown of COVID-19. Only a few industries are active or should say is working in full force against COVID-19, other industries are working but productivity is somewhere affected.

Now, from an SEO standpoint, there is a huge drop in organic traffic for most industries as shown in the chart below (compares last week to the previous week).

As it is hard to predict how long COVID-19 will impact the economy, businesses should be aware of how SEO benefits in the short and long-run marketing strategies and how they can effectively plan for marketing-SEO during this period.

Short Term implications – (Q1-Q2 of 2020-2021)

  • Adapting the significant changes:

Top Digital Marketers, SEO Strategist, SEO Freelancers or Online Marketers all need to closely monitor Google Trends, Google Search Console, and other keyword tools to understand shifts in search interest for your brand and industry during this time.

Monitor the website performance to understand the factors affecting the conversion of users on the website during this time. Also, forecast the factors which would play an essential role in reporting under the impact of COVID -19.

  • Prioritize Content Initiatives:

Online Marketers should develop SEO-informed guides and other informative content around the product-services to build-up Expertise-Authoritative-Trustworthiness (E-A-T) signals.

As consumer behavior is likely to shift from actively converting over the short-term by E-A-T signals, the content initiative can benefit future consumer behavior with information for your business products-services.

Long Term implications – (Q3-Q4 of 2020-2021)

SEO Freelancers, Digital marketers, SEO Strategists should leverage the long-term nature of SEO working to ensure that the website ranks high-volume and high-competition keywords that are forecasted to be on the peak. 

Preparing for future upswings is what we call full optimization of resources and time in the stressful environment of COVID-19.

Consider this time as a challenge and plan things that can digitize your product-services or moreover your brand to future proof for future emergencies.

Impact of COVID-19 on specific areas of SEO

Content Strategy:

  • Consider having content related to the current scenarios, like, Coronavirus.
  • Leverage SEO insights to spread awareness through quality content, videos, etc.
  • Ensure new FAQ contents are updated timely on the website.
  • Consider some DIY topics in and around your product-services, so that the users can value their time in the isolation and social distancing period.
  • Cleaning and Care Instructions on the physical products and Self-care instructions on services that you provide can be included.
  • Brands should be mindful of potential changes in SERPs and Google Algorithms when developing content and monitoring performance.

Technical SEO:

  • SEO is very dependent on implementations, the focus should be given on the ability to perform necessary technical updates in the short-term.
  • Bugs are the hurdles and to fix them should be one’s first priority and the Site’s health should also be closely monitored.
  • One can also leverage new Coronavirus schemes and attributes if applicable.

Data and Analytics:

  • SEO Freelancers, SEO Strategists should be mindful of the data and analytics when monitoring organic search for the brand.
  • A decrease in sessions and impressions can occur, but if rankings are maintained, the declines can be shown under the effect of COVID-19.
  • If downfall in conversions and stagnant sessions and impressions are observed, it indicates that people are interested in your business but not conversion ready.
  • Changes in the search volume or average key metric for keyword research will be impacted due to averaged out over-time.

Takeaways:

  • Try to isolate and stay healthy. Hopefully, this time will pass soon.
  • As far as SEO is concerned, double your efficiency as when the world is lost this is the time for you to set the trend.
  • Update yourself with the latest SERPs and Google Algorithm to lead in the SEO World.
     

Update your website 

In this pandemic, we the Freelance Digital Marketers are here just a call away to help you implement the changes updated by Google in its Algorithm and help you rank your website on Rank #1, that too for complete 360 Degree Digital Marketing Services.

To understand the requirements of our client in one-take is what makes us special and different from others.