A Guide to Google Search Ranking Systems

Google recently issued a comprehensive reference to the various iterations of their Search ranking algorithms. It lists them all in one document and covers both those that are now in use and those that are no longer.

It’s a useful tool for staying current on all of the algorithms Google employs to prioritize search results.

To avoid confusion, Google also delineates between updates and systems in its nomenclature. For instance, the Useful Material Update, a new system that measures how helpful content is, is actually a system that is always running in the background.

A system is constantly active, but it can get updates to make it better. As it moves forward, Google will use more precise language to distinguish between systems and updates.

Current Google Ranking Systems

1. BERT
2. Crisis information systems
3. Deduplication systems
4. Exact match domain system
5. Freshness systems
6. Helpful content systems
7. Link analysis systems and PageRank
8. Local news systems
9. MUM
10. Neural matching
11. Original content systems
12. Removal-based demotion systems
13. Page experience system
14. Passage ranking system
15. Product reviews system
16. RankBrain
17. Reliable information systems
18. Site diversity system
19. Spam detection systems

• BERT: BERT, which stands for Bidirectional Encoder Representations from the Transformers, enables Google to comprehend how to word combinations might convey various meanings and intents.

• Crisis information systems: In times of emergency, Google has systems in place to give particular information sets, such as SOS warnings when looking up natural disasters.

• Deduplication systems: The search algorithms used by Google try to prevent serving duplicate or nearly identical web pages.

• Exact match domain system: A system to ensure websites with domain names that exactly match a search query don’t receive too much credit from Google.

• Freshness systems: A system created to display fresher content in response to queries where it would be expected.

• Helpful content system: A system created to make it ensure that genuine, helpful content is viewed by people as opposed to content produced primarily for search engine traffic.

• Link analysis systems and PageRank: Systems that use links between sites to assess what a page is about and which links might be most useful in answer to a query.

• Local news systems: A system that displays local news sources when they are pertinent to the search.

• MUM: An artificial intelligence (AI) system called MUM, short for Multitask Unified Model, is able to comprehend and produce language. Instead of being utilized for the overall ranking, it enhances prominent snippet callouts.

• Neural matching: A system that aids Google in matching together conceptual representations found in queries with web pages.

• Original content systems: A system to make sure Google prioritizes original information in search results over those of merely cited sources, including original reporting.

• Removal-based demotion systems: Systems that demote websites when they get a large number of requests to remove content.

• Page experience system: A system that evaluates several factors to determine whether a webpage offers a positive user experience.

• Passage ranking system: In order to better comprehend how relevant a website is to a search, Google utilizes an AI algorithm called to identify certain sections or “passages” of a web page.

• Product reviews system: A system that recognizes and rewards the creation of high-caliber product reviews by authors with relevant expertise.

• RankBrain: RankBrain is an artificial intelligence that helps Google comprehend the relationship between concepts and words. It enables Google to return results that don’t exactly match the search terms.

• Reliable information systems: Google utilizes multiple systems, such as demoting low-quality content, elevating authoritative pages, and rewarding quality journalism, to show reliable information.

• Site diversity system: A system specifically designed to prevent Google from showing more than two webpage listings for the same site in the top search results.

• Spam detection systems: A system to deal to prevent any content and behaviors that violate Google’s spam policies.

Retired Google Ranking Systems

The six systems listed below are mentioned for historical reasons. These have either been added to other systems or Google’s primary ranking algorithm.

• Hummingbird
• Mobile-friendly ranking systems
• Page speed system
• Panda system
• Penguin system
• Secure sites system

• Hummingbird: Google’s ranking algorithm was upgraded with Hummingbird in 2013. Since then, systems have changed, according to Google.

• Mobile-friendly ranking system: A ranking method that favors content that is more effectively displayed on mobile devices. Since then, Google’s page experience system has incorporated it too.

• Page speed system: A system introduced in 2018 that favored content that loaded fast on mobile devices. Since then, it has also been integrated into Google’s page experience system.

• Panda system: A 2011 algorithm that valued original, high-quality content. The algorithm was integrated into Google’s primary ranking algorithm in 2015.

• Penguin system: 2012 saw the implementation of the “Penguin” system, which demoted websites using questionable link-building techniques.

• Secure sites system: A system put in place in 2014 that preferred HTTPS-secured websites. Since then, it has been integrated into Google’s page experience system.

It’s a useful tool for staying current on all of Google’s ranking algorithms and their functions. According to Google, it will be updated to reflect changes and explain how these systems operate.