Google tweaked search 450 times in 2007

Google rejiggered its search algorithm 450 times last year, in an effort to improve the quality of results.

Google is typically tight-lipped about it the inner workings of its search business, but there are a few nuggets worth looking at in a Popular Mechanics interview with Udi Manber, the Google vice president who oversees search quality.

The job of the algorithm is to best match Web pages with people's search terms. One tweak the company tried last week was increasing the "diversity" of search results so the listed Web pages would cover a broader scope in an attempt to compensate for the ambiguities of search terms, he said.

While some might see the industry of search engine optimisation (SEO), which strives to get Web sites higher placement on search sites, as gaming the system, Manber said that at least a basic amount would make his life easier.

"I wish people would put more effort into thinking about how other people will find them and putting the right keywords onto their pages," he said.

He also said Google doesn't adjust search results by hand.

"If we find, for a particular query, that result No. 4 should be result No. 1, we do not have the capability to manually change it," he said. "We have to find what weakness in the algorithm caused that result and find a general solution to that, evaluate whether a general solution really works and if it's better, and then launch a general solution."

Talkback 4 comments

    Google Schmoogle Lord Watchdog -- 18/04/08

    "Google rejiggered its search algorithm 450 times last year, in an effort to improve the quality of results."

    Shame it didn't work. "Improvement" in their eyes is mind over matter. Bring on the Microsoft-Yahoo merger.

    What happened? Nehmo Sergheyev -- 18/04/08

    I'm still in the dark regarding what happened. Unless specific examples with details are given, I won't understand.
    And how do we know "450" is accurate? What did someone do 450 times? From many search results I get, I'm sure the results were "tweaked ". Considering the current capabilities of software, It couldn't have been done any other way.

    Search Tweaking - Google Manish Gaur -- 19/04/08

    I personally feel (my opinion only) that tweaking algorithm 450 times is more related to make search better. Anything better than current situation should be taken as a step forward. Internet and Enterprise search is moving toward a new era where other market players like Microsoft, FAST (now Microsoft FAST), Varity and autonomy are moving in to advanced and refined version of intelligent search. Coming months/years will define their capabilities and their placement within Gartner's chart. Thanks, Manish

    Google is not best way. Anonymous -- 21/04/08

    Google is not best way. Try metasearch http://www.tripleme.com which fetching results from Google,Yahoo,MSN on one screen in three columns side by side - 3 in 1 solution.

    According to TripleMe users statistic data of 20000 requests, 40% of results found in the Google column, 31% of results found in the Yahoo column and 27% of results found in the MSN Live column.

    So, if you use only Google - you lost 60% of potential results !!!

    3 in 1 solution is definitely the way of searching today.

Add your opinion

Latest Videos

Sponsored content

Power Centre - Content from our premier sponsors

Blogs

  • Brad Howarth The key Topik is always money
    One of the big problems of the internet is that is practically impossible to keep up-to-date on preferred topics. You can limit your sources, but this can mean missing a lot of valuable data.
  • Array Do we need the legislative blackmail?
    Virtually everyone in the telecommunications industry has their say in the Senate Standing Committee's public hearing into the pending legislation to split up Telstra, in this week's Twisted Wire podcast.
  • Array Give Tax a break for a Change
    Considering the circumstances the Australian Taxation Office's (ATO) Change Program has been operating in over the last few years, it really hasn't been going too badly.
  • More blogs »

Tags

Back to top

Featured