Each year, Google changes its search algorithm up to 500 – 600 times. While most of these changes are minor, every few months Google rolls out a “major” algorithmic update that affect search results in significant ways.

For search marketers, knowing the dates of these Google updates can help explain changes in rankings and organic website traffic. Below, we’ve listed the major algorithmic changes that made the biggest impacts on search. Understanding these updates can help with search engine optimization.

>Many SEO Gurus have attempted to give a rough outline of what the Google algorithm might look like. Based on research and suggestions this might be how the formula basically could look like;

Google’s Score = (Kw Usage Score * 0.3) + (Domain * 0.25) + (PR Score * 0.25) + (Inbound Link Score * 0.25) + (User Data * 0.1) + (Content Quality Score * 0.1) + (Manual Boosts) – (Automated & Manual Penalties)

Search Engine Optimisation

Key Word Usage Factors

  • Keyword in title tags
  • Rich Header tags
  • Documents rich with relevant text information
  • Keyword in alt tag
  • Keywords in internal links pointing to the page
  • Keywords in the domain and/or URL
  • The order key words appear

Domain Strength / Speed

  • Domain Strength
  • Domain Speed
  • Local/specific domain name
  • Quality Hosting

Registration history

  • When the Domain was registered
  • Strength of the links pointing to the domain
  • The topical neighborhood of domain based on the in bound and out bound links

Historical use and links pattern to domain

  • Inbound links and referrals from social media
  • Inbound Link Score
  • Age & Quality of links
  • Quality of the domains sending links (non paid)
  • Links from Authority Websites
  • Quality of pages sending links and relevance
  • Anchor text of links
  • Link quantity/weight metric (Page Rank or a variation)
  • Subject matter of linking pages/sites

User Data

  • Historical CTR to page in SERPs
  • Time users spend on a page
  • Search requests for URL/domain
  • Historical visits/use of URL/domain by users

Content Quality Score

  • Duplicate content filter
  • Order of key words in content
  • Content update frequency
  • Highlighted and visibility of keywords
  • Usability and W3C rules
  • Negative Penalties (for SEO purposes)

If you are using the social media for the sole purpose of boosting your rankings, Google might penalise your website. Google will not penalise your website if you are using these channels for normal activities.

  • Forums
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Directory Themes
  • Article Submissions
  • Blogs
  • Too much 1 to 1 Link Exchange
  • Paid Links
  • FFA’s (Free for all back links)