Search engine giant Google has made the news, by applying for a United States patent, for its search engine technology formula.
Commonly referred to as the search engine algorithm, the patent application covers the various factors that go into ranking a site.
When a searcher enters a word or phrase into the search box, the mega computers at Google perform literally millions and millions of calculations according to a mathematical formula. That formula is designed by Google engineers to provide what Google believes to be the most relevant results for that search.
While not everyone would agree that the returned sites are the best fit for the searcher's needs and requirements, Google does have searchers in mind. It's even my opinion that Google is attempting to create its search algorithm to think like a real person, actively seeking information.
That is the main thrust of the Google patent information.
Google wants its calculations to think like a real person.
Google goes Pinocchio?
Many of the elements included in the patent are theories and ideas that many SEO professionals, including myself, have been suggesting for over a year.
While the information is technical, and can cause the eyes to glaze over rather quickly, there are some useful concepts for bloggers.
First of all, the older the blog in terms of time live on the internet, the better. While this is even more true of traditional websites, it does make a difference for blogs. As your blog ages, its rankings in Google will rise.
Another concept that I have talked about many times is how fresh content is very powerful in all of the search engines. Google is no exception. Fresh content is rewarded by Google. It's doubly rewarded as your blog becomes better established over time in the search engine rankings. Older sites, while still strong, slip lower in the search results over time, when no fresh content or information is added.
Google does apparently have a Sandbox filter effect.
In effect, new sites are placed on probation to see if they last, or if they are only disposable get rich quick spam sites. Those spam sites break every Google guideline in the book, but rise to page one very quickly.
The idea of spam websites is to glean as much revenue as possible, prior to a Google banning from their index. Google does ban them too. Don't worry about that one.
To prevent this sort of mischief, Google has instituted the Sandbox to keep the new sites lower in the rankings until they prove their worthiness. While the system might be unfair to new sites, it's a fact of life. There are also some ways of minimizing the damage caused by the Sandbox filter.
New links are held back in value by a fresh link filter. When first added, the new link doesn't transfer its full quota of Google Juice to the receiving page. Over time, the filter dissapates for the link, and all of the link popularity boost power is sent along to the linked site.
Bloggers are less affected because the links are from similar theme relevant blogs. Because the topics discussed are similar, the inbound links are given more weight faster by Google. The fact that links are often from within posts themselves help, as do permanent links from blogrolls.
Google is also rewarding sites that link out to other sites. Talk about another win for bloggers!
Bloggers freely link to other blogs and traditional websites. This generous linking policy, shared by most bloggers, is rewarded by Google. Higher search rankings for the helpful blogger are the benefit. The reason for this benefit, resulting from linking out, is to encourage links to other people who provide useful and interesting content.
Remember, Google is thinking like a seeker of information.
There is much more information in the patent application than what I have discussed today. This short post will serve as a brief primer to the much talked about Google search algorithm patent.
I will post more for you, in future columns, in digestable amounts.
I'll try to devote individual posts to one single aspect of the Google patent, if at all possible.
There is simply that much in the Google patent application.
As bloggers, we stand to continue to be rewarded in Google, for our generous links, and for our regular fresh content.
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