--- title: Google Trial is Unveiling Some of Google's Ranking Methods description: Google's in the middle of a legal battle, and some clues are surfacing around the algorithm - read this. image: https://www.hireawriter.us/hubfs/HAW%20blog%20-%202023-09-25T160736.651%20(1).png --- [Skip to the main content.](https://www.hireawriter.us/seo/google-trial-is-unveiling-some-of-googles-ranking-methods#main-content) [![Untitled design (90)](https://www.hireawriter.us/hs-fs/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20(90).png?width=500&height=500&name=Untitled%20design%20(90).png "Untitled design (90)")](http://hireawriter.us) [![Untitled design (90)](https://www.hireawriter.us/hs-fs/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20(90).png?width=500&height=500&name=Untitled%20design%20(90).png "Untitled design (90)")](http://hireawriter.us) - [FOR BUSINESSES](https://www.hireawriter.us/for-businesses) - [SEO COPYWRITING](https://www.hireawriter.us/seo-copywriting) - [SOCIAL MEDIA CONTENT](https://www.hireawriter.us/social-media-services) - [WEBSITE COPYWRITING](https://www.hireawriter.us/website-copywriting) - [LEAD GEN COPYWRITING](https://www.hireawriter.us/lead-generation-copywriting) - [MARKETING STRATEGY](https://www.hireawriter.us/marketing-strategy) - [FOR AGENCIES](https://www.hireawriter.us/agency-partnership) - [WHITE LABELED COPYWRITING](https://www.hireawriter.us/white-labeled-copywriting) - [FRACTIONAL SEO LEADERSHIP](https://www.hireawriter.us/fractional-seo-leadership) - [TECHNICAL SEO](https://www.hireawriter.us/technical-seo) - [TRAINING](https://www.hireawriter.us/training) - [ABOUT HAW](https://www.hireawriter.us/about) - [JOBS](https://www.hireawriter.us/hire-a-writer-jobs) - [LEARN](https://www.hireawriter.us/learn) - [LEARN SEO](https://www.hireawriter.us/seo) - [LEARN BUSINESS CONTENT](https://www.hireawriter.us/business) - [LEARN SOCIAL MEDIA](https://www.hireawriter.us/social) - [LEARN STORYTELLING](https://www.hireawriter.us/storytelling) - [LEARN CREATIVE WRITING](https://www.hireawriter.us/creative) - [LEARN TECHNICAL WRITING](https://www.hireawriter.us/technical-content) - [LEARN FREELANCE WRITING](https://www.hireawriter.us/freelance) - [CONTACT](https://www.hireawriter.us/contact) Search Toggle Menu Search Toggle Menu - [FOR BUSINESSES](https://www.hireawriter.us/for-businesses) - [SEO COPYWRITING](https://www.hireawriter.us/seo-copywriting) - [SOCIAL MEDIA CONTENT](https://www.hireawriter.us/social-media-services) - [WEBSITE COPYWRITING](https://www.hireawriter.us/website-copywriting) - [LEAD GEN COPYWRITING](https://www.hireawriter.us/lead-generation-copywriting) - [MARKETING STRATEGY](https://www.hireawriter.us/marketing-strategy) - [FOR AGENCIES](https://www.hireawriter.us/agency-partnership) - [WHITE LABELED COPYWRITING](https://www.hireawriter.us/white-labeled-copywriting) - [FRACTIONAL SEO LEADERSHIP](https://www.hireawriter.us/fractional-seo-leadership) - [TECHNICAL SEO](https://www.hireawriter.us/technical-seo) - [TRAINING](https://www.hireawriter.us/training) - [ABOUT HAW](https://www.hireawriter.us/about) - [JOBS](https://www.hireawriter.us/hire-a-writer-jobs) - [LEARN](https://www.hireawriter.us/learn) - [LEARN SEO](https://www.hireawriter.us/seo) - [LEARN BUSINESS CONTENT](https://www.hireawriter.us/business) - [LEARN SOCIAL MEDIA](https://www.hireawriter.us/social) - [LEARN STORYTELLING](https://www.hireawriter.us/storytelling) - [LEARN CREATIVE WRITING](https://www.hireawriter.us/creative) - [LEARN TECHNICAL WRITING](https://www.hireawriter.us/technical-content) - [LEARN FREELANCE WRITING](https://www.hireawriter.us/freelance) - [CONTACT](https://www.hireawriter.us/contact) [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/Hireawriteronline) [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/joywriteryouell/) [Linkedin](https://www.linkedin.com/company/hireawriter/) [X](https://www.hireawriter.us/seo/google-trial-is-unveiling-some-of-googles-ranking-methods#0) [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8sZOTANgCCjtn29m4J0Z6A) [Medium](https://medium.com/hireawriter) [Tiktok](https://www.tiktok.com/@joyyouell) [Pinterest](https://www.pinterest.com/joyfromhireawriter/) 1 min read # Google Trial is Unveiling Some of Google's Ranking Methods [![Picture of Writing Team](https://www.hireawriter.us/hubfs/HAW%20Logo%20T%20%26%20White%20square-3.png) Writing Team](https://www.hireawriter.us/seo/author/writing-team) : Sep 25, 2023, 4:07:53 PM [SEO](https://www.hireawriter.us/seo/tag/seo) [Google](https://www.hireawriter.us/seo/tag/google) ![Google Trial is Unveiling Some of Google's Ranking Methods](https://www.hireawriter.us/hubfs/HAW%20blog%20-%202023-09-25T160736.651%20(1).png) Eric Lehman, a former Google software engineer with a 17-year tenure, recently testified in the ongoing U.S. vs. Google antitrust trial, shedding light on Google's ranking mechanisms. Lehman stated that clicks play a role in rankings, a point that has raised questions and debates within the industry. ## The Role of Clicks in Google Rankings However, [Lehman clarified](https://www.law360.com/articles/1724110/judge-told-new-google-search-systems-don-t-need-user-data) that clicks are not a direct [ranking factor](https://www.hireawriter.us/seo/decoding-googles-ranking-factors). This revelation has prompted discussions about Google's ranking algorithms and the weightage assigned to user behavior. ## The Ascendance of Machine Learning in Google's Algorithm In addition to discussing clicks, Lehman highlighted the increasing importance of Google's machine learning systems, [BERT and MUM,](https://www.hireawriter.us/seo/google-algorithm-updates-panda-penguin-hummingbird-and-bert) in comparison to user data. He pointed out that advancements in technology allow Google to rely more on unsupervised learning of raw text, potentially diminishing the need for vast amounts of user feedback. ## Distinguishing User Data from Training Data The distinction between "user data" and "training data" was also addressed during the trial. While some questioned whether BERT's effectiveness was linked to Google's access to user data, Lehman clarified that "training data" referred to a different dataset. ## Google's Avoidance of Click-Related Discussions Lehman's testimony also touched upon Google's avoidance of discussing the use of clicks in search rankings. This practice, Lehman explained, was aimed at discouraging the perception that SEO could manipulate search results. ## SEO Community Reactions and Google's Stance The SEO community has reacted strongly to Lehman's statements, using them as evidence of Google's alleged deception regarding the use of clicks in rankings. However, [Google's Gary Illyes](https://www.hireawriter.us/seo/bloom-filters-explain-increased-filtered-data-in-search-console) previously acknowledged that Google employs historical search data for its machine-learning algorithm RankBrain, indicating that user behavior data plays a role in the search giant's ranking systems. ## The Role of Clicks in Google's Algo In summary, while Google does track clicks and user behavior in its search results, it does not necessarily translate into direct ranking factors. The exact role of clicks in Google's ranking algorithm remains a topic of speculation and debate within the SEO community. - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![Is Technical SEO Still Relevant? Google's John Mueller Weighs In](https://www.hireawriter.us/hubfs/HAW%20blog%20-%202023-09-04T111726.646%20(1).png)](https://www.hireawriter.us/seo/is-technical-seo-still-relevant-googles-john-mueller-weighs-in) 1 min read #### [Is Technical SEO Still Relevant? Google's John Mueller Weighs In](https://www.hireawriter.us/seo/is-technical-seo-still-relevant-googles-john-mueller-weighs-in) ![Picture of Writing Team](https://www.hireawriter.us/hs-fs/hubfs/HAW%20Logo%20T%20%26%20White%20square-3.png?width=30&name=HAW%20Logo%20T%20%26%20White%20square-3.png) [Writing Team](https://www.hireawriter.us/seo/author/writing-team) : Sep 4, 2023, 11:18:43 AM In SEO, one question has been a topic of debate among professionals: Is technical SEO losing its significance? Well, Google's John Mueller's X... [Technical](https://www.hireawriter.us/seo/tag/technical) [SEO](https://www.hireawriter.us/seo/tag/seo) [Google](https://www.hireawriter.us/seo/tag/google) [Read More](https://www.hireawriter.us/seo/is-technical-seo-still-relevant-googles-john-mueller-weighs-in) [![Google June 2025 Core Update](https://www.hireawriter.us/hubfs/HAW%20blog%20(2)-Jun-30-2025-05-12-21-2589-PM.png)](https://www.hireawriter.us/seo/google-june-2025-core-update) 1 min read #### [Google June 2025 Core Update](https://www.hireawriter.us/seo/google-june-2025-core-update) ![Picture of Writing Team](https://www.hireawriter.us/hs-fs/hubfs/HAW%20Logo%20T%20%26%20White%20square-3.png?width=30&name=HAW%20Logo%20T%20%26%20White%20square-3.png) [Writing Team](https://www.hireawriter.us/seo/author/writing-team) : Jun 30, 2025, 1:16:25 PM Google just dropped the June 2025 core update, and SEOs everywhere are either celebrating or reaching for antacids. This marks the second major core... [SEO](https://www.hireawriter.us/seo/tag/seo) [Google](https://www.hireawriter.us/seo/tag/google) [Algorithm](https://www.hireawriter.us/seo/tag/algorithm) [Read More](https://www.hireawriter.us/seo/google-june-2025-core-update) [![Google's ](https://www.hireawriter.us/hubfs/HAW%20blog%20-%202023-08-23T103908.623%20(1).png)](https://www.hireawriter.us/seo/googles-search-off-the-record-podcast-sheds-light-on-evolving-ranking-systems-and-updates) 2 min read #### [Google's "Search Off The Record" Podcast Sheds Light on Evolving Ranking Systems and Updates](https://www.hireawriter.us/seo/googles-search-off-the-record-podcast-sheds-light-on-evolving-ranking-systems-and-updates) ![Picture of Writing Team](https://www.hireawriter.us/hs-fs/hubfs/HAW%20Logo%20T%20%26%20White%20square-3.png?width=30&name=HAW%20Logo%20T%20%26%20White%20square-3.png) [Writing Team](https://www.hireawriter.us/seo/author/writing-team) : Aug 23, 2023, 10:39:28 AM In the latest episode of Google's podcast series, "Search Off the Record," Danny Sullivan, Search Liaison at Google, takes the spotlight to... 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