Google Changes Algorithms, Sidelines Low-Quality Sites

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Google laid out details of how the search engine will filter results through an algorithmic improvement to its ranking, a change that impacts about 11.8% of its queries. 

Google Fellow Amit Singhal and principal engineer Matt Cutts explain that the update should reduce rankings for low-quality sites that add little value for users of its search engine or content from other Web sites. This move is intended to provide better rankings for high-quality sites that post original content and information, such as research, in-depth reports and analysis.

Singhal and Cutts explain in a blog post that Google's engineers can't make a major improvement without affecting rankings for many sites. The changes did not solely rely on feedback from the "personal blocklist Chrome extension" launched earlier in February. When making the decision, Google engineers did compare the data gathered through the browser tool to identify specific sites. "If you take the top several dozen or so most-blocked domains from the Chrome extension, then this algorithmic change addresses 84% of them, which is strong independent confirmation of the user benefits," they wrote.

The change initially rolls out in the U.S. to improve Google Search. Other countries will follow as feedback comes in. The search engine has been under fire to improve search results for each query. Some believe company executives have gone on a witchhunt to correct and punish companies -- jcpenney.com and overstock.com -- trying to game the algorithms by exploiting backlinks.

Demand Media, which has been under fire for scraping and repurposing content, responded to Google's post. Larry Fitzgibbon, Demand Media's executive vice president of media and operations, acknowledged the change and how it could influence rankings for content on the Web site. The company, which recently issued an IPO, has not seen an impact on its content and media business, which some view as a "content mill" or "content farm."

Fitzgibbon wrote that the changes were discussed during the company's 4Q earnings call in which it posted $1 million in profit, up from a net $3.9 million loss in the year-ago quarter.

Demand Media took spot No. 13 in comScore's top 50 U.S. Web properties for January 2011, with 75.5 million unique visitors. The ranking is based on data from the comScore Media Metrix service.

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0 comments on "Google Changes Algorithms, Sidelines Low-Quality Sites".

1. Joseph Benza, jr. from www.YourCity.MD
   

   commented on: February 28, 2011 at 12:55 p.m.

   Laurie...back to your story

   Many new websites with great content and new technology will by definition appear to have low page rankings because they are not "aged" to have good PR, per the new Google parameters, in their algorithms. Therefore, many sites will no longer be displayed in Google result pages because of this change. Low quality is being defined by Google as low PR not low Quality. This is a smart strategy to slow competition not to improve search for users.

   Understandably, when you are the big dog in town, it is easy to change shake off the tiny pesky fleas trying to horn in on your comfort. The concern for Google in the long run will be algorithmically removing good content that really makes searching the web easier and removing comprehensive results that would save us clicks. In effect ...losing their own ability to be more efficient.

   Google can eliminate all the sites they like in their result pages but eventually the public demand for better search and companies like Facebook, YourCity.MD and Twitter etc. will place useful websites in front of every web user as fast as Google can eliminate them.

   Google may be over-reacting to the new search competition on the web, instead of embracing the new search (find) technology like they should.

   Try searching a health condition at www.YourCity.MD/OneClick using one of the free widgets and see how search has changed to "Find". This simple trial will give you new perspective on this comment and the ever changing Google to remove comprehensive results, if they are not Google's results.

   Unfortunately, for all the big dogs and 300 lb Gorillas etc one day in the future, you will remember and quote my own favorite expression:

   Joe said, "Even the dinosaurs couldn't change the weather!"

2. John Grono from GAP Research
   

   commented on: February 28, 2011 at 4:04 p.m.

   Yes I have some thoughts Jack the Astroturfer ... but they're not fit to print here. Do everyone a favour and disappear.

3. John Grono from GAP Research
   

   commented on: February 28, 2011 at 4:07 p.m.

   Oops, wrong article - that's what happens when I have too many tabs open.

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