On what basis does Google rank search results?

On what basis does Google rank search results?

We explained in our previous article that the function of search engines is to guide users to paths that answer their queries.

And they perform this function through three basic processes: crawling, indexing, and providing results.

But the question here is…

On what basis does Google’s search engine rank results?

Google does not announce any of the factors of its algorithm, and webmasters want to know these factors to rank higher.

Thus, alternative methods were needed to better understand these factors.

One of the most important ways is through studies and statistics that attempt to predict the future behavior of Google’s algorithm by analyzing its past behavior.

When someone types a search query into Google’s search box and presses the search button, the search engine’s program filters its database and ranks the results based on:

• Backlinks still play an important role in improving ranking in search results.

Studies have shown that it is not just the number of backlinks that determines ranking, but also the number of domains that contain backlinks to the site.

“The number of backlinks and their quality still strongly influence ranking in search results.”

• High-quality content is also one of the key factors that affect ranking.
• Another finding from studies is that websites using HTTPS ranked higher, although the study concluded that the impact of HTTPS was less than expected.
• Relevance

Of course, the results that appear when a keyword is entered should be relevant to what the user is specifically looking for.

In the past, the concept of relevance was limited to matching the search terms with the words on a webpage.

However, now, with the technological advancements and the tremendous progress in search engines, especially Google, relevance has taken on another dimension.

There are now smart factors that contribute to shaping the relevance between the query and search results.

Some of these factors include:

• RankBrain

RankBrain is a name Google has given to a new system based on artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning technology.

The function of RankBrain here is to help provide web pages that are relevant to these search queries.

It does this by attempting to understand long and ambiguous search phrases and linking them to other search terms that may seem different on the surface, but are connected in some way.

It also measures the user’s experience with the results for these new search phrases.

• Synonym System

Google’s search engine has a smart and efficient system for understanding synonyms between words.

Thanks to this system, Google is now able to provide more relevant results for the user by understanding what the user means, regardless of the words used, and then providing results that serve the meaning rather than the exact wording.

This is crucial for both users and website owners.

On one hand, it allows users to reach more relevant results, especially when using local languages and colloquial expressions.

On the other hand, it gives website owners the opportunity to have their sites appear in search results for a wider variety of search terms.

• Quality

The primary criterion used by search engines to rank results is quality.

After identifying the most relevant results for the search user, the quality criterion determines the correct ranking of these results.

There is no doubt that the main goal of search engines is user satisfaction.

And of course, quality plays a big role in shaping user satisfaction.

Because we are talking about Google specifically, the popularity of the webpage and the trust it has with users significantly contribute to the concept of quality.

How important these elements are in ranking results in Google’s search engine.

From Google’s perspective, the more popular and trustworthy a webpage is with the public, and the more it belongs to a well-known and influential site, the more it is assumed that this page is of higher quality than others. A perspective that is respected, but…

The matter is not that simple, as there are more complex algorithms used by Google to rank search results.