What is Google Algorithm is an age old Search Engine Optimization question – and surely the answer is worth billions of dollars. Actually, figuring not what but how it works, with the exact formula and derivatives of course would be like finding the Atlantis or recovering every bit of gold in El Dorado. Ergo there are numerous attempts to crack and understand it, just like this post.
What is Google Algorithm?
Image from SearchEngineJournal.com
Wikipedia defines Algorithm as an effective method expressed as a finite list of well-defined instructions for calculating a function. Algorithms are used for calculation, data processing, and automated reasoning. In simple words an algorithm is a step-by-step procedure for calculations.
Now adding Google to that and translating what Wikipedia told us into simpler English and adding Search Engine knowledge to come up with relevant and easy to understand definition:
Google Algorithm or more precisely Google Search Algorithm is Google’s own way of ranking websites and webpages for a keyword based on many ranking factors – more than a single blog post can cover. We can just say that the formula is complex and some the variables to an extent are unknown. This is why you won’t be able to find a solver for it or a one guy who outside of Google who knows how it works 100%.
But because it involves math and there is a finite list of well-defined instructions (several hundred ranking factors see the video below) people always try to come up with explanations on how Google Algorithm works.
Here’s a video from Google explaining how it does improvements to its algorithm:
SEMoz made a very good historical list on changes in Google Algorithm based on what Google had announced since year 2000: http://www.seomoz.org/google-algorithm-change
As you can see there are constant updates, and that only counts for the announced changes. The bad news as theorized by many webmasters: there are algorithmic changes and updates that are unannounced and Google tweaks its algorithm more than 500 times a year (that’s at least once every day and twice on many occasions), which leads me to another point: Why it can be a Bitch (sometimes)?
Why Google Search Algorithm Can Be A Bitch?
Excuse the term but there’s just no more accurate word for it. My algorithm failed to compute for the right word. But seriously, just check the hundreds of threads and blog posts that concerns, questions and complains about every Google Algorithm update. Here’s a short anonymous list that I compiled through lurking the Internet:
1. Google Algorithm is Damn Hard to Understand
People say it’s hard to understand. Well what did expect billion dollars worth of Algorithm to be? You didn’t expect it to be as simple as understanding e=mc² right?
2. Google Algorithm is Impossible to Dance With
Do you think you’re flexible? Do you think you can dance well? Well think again. Changes in Google Algorithm is one dance that’s impossible to sync with, let alone listen to a music only it can understand says a lot of webmasters that I know.
3. Google Algorithm is a Mystery
Google Algorithm is a Mystery according to webmasters who are baffled at how in the heavens Google come up with ranking factors. Yes it is hard to figure, almost impossible to understand IF you don’t know who to ask and where to look for answers. It will be impossible to comprehend if you won’t be able to indentify causation and correlation between factors and search results. Just remember it’s an Algorithm and therefore its math composed of formulas and variables.
4. Google Algorithm Constantly Changes its Mind
How bad is it to deal with a person who changes his or her mind more often than you can follow through? Now think that you’re in a non mutual relationship with that person and you need him or her while he or she doesn’t need you at all. Now imagine that person to be emotionless, unpredictable and totally out of this world. That’s just how a few SEOs see Google Algorithm.
5. Google Algorithm Hides a Lot of Things
I remember a relatively straight to the point comment I read on YouTube saying how Matt Cutts often avoid really answering SEO questions by giving political and marketing answers rather than straight and useful information. The guy works for the company so don’t expect him to tell a clear list of yes you can do things that will enable you to be on the top of search engine results. The best he can tell you are pretty much what you can read on Google Webmaster Tool Help Guidelines – general facts and ideas.
6. Google Algorithm Loves to Slap
Every update it takes means a slap on your website. Just when you think you’re recovering from the last change in Algorithm here comes another update that will slap your website even harder and push you down the SERPs again.
7. Google Algorithm can be worse than Your Girlfriend
Now I don’t know how understanding or considerate your girlfriend is, but I’m pretty sure no person on this planet can be as complicated, as hard to deal with, and as hard to please as Google Algorithm. The algo can be pretty hard to understand sometimes. Okay maybe there are a few exceptions, let me hear it in the comment section below.
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2 comments
MarkSEO says:
Oct 27, 2011
Great post! This is a good primer for those who would like to get a glimpse of how Google Algorithm evolves.
MarkSEO recently posted..MORCON 2011 Launched
Aj Banda says:
Dec 22, 2011
This is a great analysis. It’s really hard to understand nor please google’s algorithm. The worse is, it changes every now and then.