Understanding Google's Algorithm

An algorithm is a mathematical formula that uses certain information from the site so as to define its own rankings. If you're searching for a printout of the specific equation Google uses to rank websites and how much each factor is weighed, this isn't where to get it. The actual algorithm used by Google is a secret, and will remain that way for as long as they can keep it. Even though the specifics of this algorithm aren't released in any way, Google patented the fundamentals of their algorithm, making it readily accessible to the general public. If you want to see the patent in all its splendor, simply search in whatever search engine you'd like for the term "Google Patent."

This is a general summary of the general things that this algorithm searches for, written in plain English for the average webmaster. This guide will discuss a few of the things Google's spiders are searching for, and how to use this knowledge so as to boost your rankings on the Google search engine. Bear in mind that while this guide is written especially for staying on Google's good side in relation to placement in their search engine, the very same tactics are definitely portable to another key search engines like Yahoo and MSN. Though Google's algorithm is extremely complex compared to those of Bing many of the very same strategies still apply.

So, how does this work?

Basically, when a Google spider, or robot, finds your website several things are taken under account. Does this spider hunt through the links and content on your webpage, cataloguing keywords, page names and descriptions, backward links, and meta tags because it moves along, it looks through your whois info. Whois information is the information provided through your hosting company on who exactly owns the site, including name, phone number, email address, physical address, how long your site is registered for, and much more.

All of these are important factors (yes, including your physical address and title and the length of your enrollment on a specific domain name) in the algorithm. Therefore, it's very important to optimize each and every part of your website, visible or invisible to the frequent browser.

Alright, then how can I use the algorithm to my advantage?

Understanding the Google algorithm, or at least the fundamentals of it, will provide you an edge on your competition by making you more likely to get higher positions under desirable keywords. Moreover, you may receive more traffic from these listings, thereby increasing the chances for getting links to your site, adding additional traffic. Through a couple of high listings on Google, or another search engines for that matter, the sky is the limit when referring to traffic and possible sales or users.

By way of instance, in case you wanted to broadcast a new song over the radio, but only did so using old equipment, whatever the quality of the tune, your whole station could be drowned out by the larger broadcasting companies armed with new equipment and a bigger range capability. Using the most recent tools and strategies will keep you on top of the search engine listings, in addition to put you on the leading edge in relation to your site's capabilities.

It is nearly painfully obvious that using the best tactics to get your website listed would, obviously, produce better results than using outdated tactics and attempting to acquire the exact same effect, even in the event that you spend three times the amount of time promoting your website using these tactics. Quality is greater than quantity in the current internet.

Alright, then how do I use the algorithm for my benefit?

There are a number of things to focus on when optimizing your website for the Google algorithm, but the main ones would need to be inbound links to your website and good, relevant content. Other things come into play, such as click through rates, the frequency of upgrades to your website, the physical address listed in your whois info, administrative and technical contacts, your host's IP address, and the amount of time that your domain name is registered for. All these things, even though some are weighed over many others, have a severe effect on your rankings.

Links

With a high volume of inbound links, or links coming from other relevant sites to your own, is king with Google, even though there are specific"rules" you have to follow to make certain these links are counted as"links that are appropriate." Get as many links back to your website as you can, but be sure these links are from related sites, or are in a class on their links page that's closely related to your own. Also, try to keep away from "FFA" pages, free for all listings pages with thousands of links on a single page, because these actually end up being a detriment to your website in search engine listings. This would also have door or portal sites, which concentrate on getting as many links to their website as they can, with as many keywords packed into the site as possible, as an alternative to actual content.

Make certain to change your text links marginally from time to time. Google's algorithm picks up on diverse text links to your website far more than if they're the same. This also helps to guarantee the spiders your links weren't spammed from the sites you're listed on.

Relevant Content

If using a great number of links is #1 on your priorities list, then using a wide collection of unique, relevant content should be #2. There are many benefits to getting a whole lot of original content on your website that it is difficult to list them all. The most obvious are the quantity of keywords and phrases which are picked up by the search engines spidering your website. Original content also helps prove that your website isn't a"spammer" who simply stealing content and articles from other websites to attract more visitors. Increased traffic is another significant benefit from having a good deal of relevant content, which is not something to scoff at.

Total, unique, relevant content is just as much a necessity for getting high listings as getting high quality links to your website, if not more so. Concentrate on both equally, and make sure both your content and your links page are updated monthly in the very least. Ideally, you'd want a high volume of incoming links being added every day, in addition to site updates with new content, but if you do not have enough time or energy to the continuous writing and editing of your site, you should still be okay. Keep in mind, you will only escape the algorithm exactly what you put into it.

Other Optimization Tips

Generally, just try and be careful on how you market your site, and how it seems to Google in the first location. If you keep your site clean and updated regularly and your whois information current, you should have no trouble getting adequate listings on desirable key words. Just ensure that your site by no means looks like a Spam site, either through falsified contact info or physical address, or by means of the quantity of keywords used on each page, or getting your domain name registered for just 1 year.