The Intricate Workings of Google Search and Rankings
Did you know that not everything about your status on the Google Search Engine Results Page is algorithmically determined? A recent interview with Pandu Nayak, Google’s Vice President of Search, provides a surprisingly clear and illuminating view of how Google manufactures search rankings. Here are some of his most interesting points:
- Google prioritizes determining user intent: Google is committed to delivering high-quality search results. There are layered, complex processes involved in understanding user queries and surfacing relevant information, which points to why Google is constantly refining its algorithms to meet evolving user expectations. Their algorithms aim to decipher user intent behind search queries – to do so, Google uses sophisticated natural language processing and machine learning techniques to understand context, synonyms, and the reasoning behind user queries to provide the most accurate and helpful results.
- Quality matters: Google assesses various aspects to determine whether a search engine result is high-quality, including relevance, expertise, and authoritativeness. Google hires human evaluators who help fine-tune algorithms by providing feedback on search result relevance.
- User feedback is highly valued: Google has various feedback-gathering methods, including explicit user feedback and feedback obtained through experiments and live traffic. These sources of input help Google continually improve search algorithms.
- Ranking factors are complex: There are a variety of signals and considerations that contribute to search rankings. While some factors are more straightforward, others involve nuanced assessments of content quality, relevance, and user satisfaction.
The next time Google releases a new core algorithm, you can stay on top of your game and avoid seeing big changes to your SEO wellness by maintaining your site quality and regularly auditing your site’s technical SEO performance. Learn more about how ASTRALCOM can help unlock your business’s potential and increase your online presence.
