SEO Blog

I read this blog today posted by Jay Greene from CNET.  Google has altered its algorithm again to help searchers find the most relevant results and the timeliest results.

Google alters algorithm to make results more fresh

Google altered its search algorithm today to bring in more timely topics, a move that affects about 35 percent of all searches.

The Web giant said it’s trying to surface the most relevant results to users, and with more and more real-time data popping up on the Net, Google changed its algorithm to find it.

“Given the incredibly fast pace at which information moves in today’s world, the most recent information can be from the last week, day or even minute, and depending on the search terms, the algorithm needs to be able to figure out if a result from a week ago about a TV show is recent, or if a result from a week ago about breaking news is too old,” Google Fellow Amit Singhal wrote in a blog post.

In June, Google completed its Caffeine Web indexing system that provided “50 percent fresher results,” the company said then. With that tool, Google altered the algorithm to better determine when to deliver those more up-to-date results.

So now, when users search, for example, “Occupy Oakland protests,” Google returns results that are news heavy, surfacing links to articles from newspapers that may be only minutes old. When it comes to recurring events, such as presidential elections or corporate earnings results, the new algorithm produces results that are most recent unless the search specifies otherwise.

“Different searches have different freshness needs,” Singhal wrote. “This algorithmic improvement is designed to better understand how to differentiate between these kinds of searches and the level of freshness you need, and make sure you get the most up to the minute answers.”

This post was provided by Sarah Schwitters, Chief Marketing Strategist at lodestar marketing group.  If you would like to improve your search rankings or need help understanding Google’s recent changes, contact digitalmarketing@lodestarmg.com.

lodestar marketing group sponsored the Northshore Christian Academy (NCA) walk-a-thon held May 27, 2011.  Each year NCA holds a walk-a-thon to raise funds to improve the school.  Previous years funds have gone to build a library, gymnasium, covered sports court, soccer fields and to furnish each classroom with Promethean Boards.  This year’s funds will go to furnish the new Middle School Pavilion opening in Fall 2011, with desks, computers and other necessities. The Walk-a-Thon raised over $80,000 this year.

“We are happy to support such as great cause,” said Sarah Schwitters, lodestar’s chief marketing officer.  “The opening of the Middle School Pavilion will allow NCA to expand both its elementary and middle school programs and meet the needs of more families who have been on waiting lists for years.”

NCA has programs from birth through 8^th grade.  For more information on NCA, visit them online at www.northshorechristianschools.org. To learn more about lodestar marketing group, visit www.lodestarmg.com.