1 min read

Google Trial is Unveiling Some of Google's Ranking Methods

Google Trial is Unveiling Some of Google's Ranking Methods

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 that clicks are not a direct ranking factor. 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, 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 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.

Website Conversion Rates by Industry

7 min read

Website Conversion Rates by Industry

A website’s conversion rate represents the percentage of users that complete a desired action compared to the total website visitors. Depending on...

Read More
How Does Google Search Understand Human Language?

2 min read

How Does Google Search Understand Human Language?

Billions of searches are conducted every day. Google stands as the unrivaled gatekeeper to a wealth of information. Have you ever wondered...

Read More
Search-Friendly Blog Design

2 min read

Search-Friendly Blog Design

Blog design plays a crucial role in attracting and retaining readers while influencing conversion rates. With millions of blog posts published each...

Read More
Quality Impacts Almost All Aspects of Google Search

1 min read

Quality Impacts Almost All Aspects of Google Search

The latest episode of Google's Search Off the Record podcast provides fascinating insights into how quality plays a crucial role across Search. From...

Read More
Google's Bard: AI-Powered SERP

2 min read

Google's Bard: AI-Powered SERP

Google's Bard. Is it awesome? is it awful?

Read More
Google's Bard Enhancements and Integration with Google Services

1 min read

Google's Bard Enhancements and Integration with Google Services

Google has introduced new features to Bard, making it more capable and integrated with various Google apps and services.

Read More