In her testimony to the United States House Judiciary Committee, a representative from Google shared insights into the functioning of Google’s algorithm. She covered a range of topics, including details about RankBrain and the frequency of algorithm testing by Google.
1. Insight into the 15% RankBrain Queries
RankBrain was initially developed to understand the 15% of queries that Google had never encountered before (it now applies to "every query"). It is commonly believed that these are unique ways of searching for familiar topics, often referred to as long tail search queries. However, these unique queries encompass more than just that.
In testimony to Congress, Juniper Downs revealed that these 15% unique search queries often relate to current events, indicating a close connection between such queries and contemporary happenings.
Optimizing For RankBrain?
Optimizing for RankBrain is often debated among search marketers. The consensus is that clear content tends to perform well, whether for the regular algorithm or RankBrain. There is no specific strategy for optimizing for RankBrain beyond standard SEO practices, as some unique queries may relate to current events or trending topics.
Juniper Downs testified:
“Every day, 15% of the queries we process are ones we’ve never seen before. For example, we could not have anticipated queries about the soccer team trapped in caves in Thailand, but our systems quickly adapted to return results about the rescue mission.”
Monetizing these kinds of events is challenging, and attempting to optimize search for them may not be effective.
2. Google Penalizes Websites for Legal Reasons
The testimony did not specify the legal reasons Google might penalize a site, but it’s a noteworthy aspect of their algorithm management.
“Sometimes, the correct treatment for a given page is that it shouldn’t be ranked at all. When deciding whether to block a page from our results, we’re strongly guided by the law, relying whenever possible on court decisions.”
What legal reasons could be cited?
Possibilities include copyright issues and privacy rights, among other legal considerations specific to individual countries.
3. Experiments and Changes to Google’s Algorithm
In 2017, Google ran over 270,000 algorithm experiments, leading to approximately 740 search experiments each day.
From these, 2,400 resulted in updates to the search algorithms, equating to roughly seven updates daily.
Takeaway About Google Algo Updates
The search community often inquires about algorithm updates. Google’s testimony highlights the fact that there are, on average, seven updates daily throughout the year.
4. Search Quality Evaluators
Google has revealed that external Search Quality Evaluators are employed to assess algorithm experiments and live search results. These evaluators come from diverse backgrounds and geographies, likely referring to varied languages and countries.
5. YouTube Income for Creators
Beyond algorithm details, Google’s Director of Public Policy and Government Relations shared data about the earning potential for video content creators.
Juniper Downs noted YouTube’s role in democratizing video content creation, with those earning over six figures seeing a 40% increase from the previous year.
Facts About Google are Useful
Google provides valuable insights outside standard developer resources. Juniper Downs’ testimony offers an understanding of their algorithm and lucrative content creation areas.
Images are provided by Shutterstock, modified by the author.
