Search Engine Algorithms

How Search Engines Work

Search engines sort websites with complex mathematical algorithms. Each algorithm determines how relevant website content is to the search query requested by a user.

Algorithm - a precise rule [or set of rules] specifying how to solve some problem
- WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.

Simplified example of an algorithm:

Source

Leading search engines - Google, Yahoo, MSN and Ask.com operate through algorithms. Search algorithms constitute thousands of mathematical formulas that analyze close to a million web variables.

Each search engine uses its own set of algorithms developed by a group of engineers, mathematicians and coders. Search engines strive to develop algorithms that can automatically sort billions of webpages and return best results to searchers, regardless of the keywords.

Below, you will find information about ranking factors of 4 major search engines that hold 98% of market share in North America.

Google, Yahoo, Microsoft and Ask.com Algorithms

Google Algorithms and Search Technology
Started as a Stanford University project, Google PageRank algorithm proved to be the most effective and hardest to optimize for. All optimization efforts are geared towards Google first, only then towards other search engines.
Yahoo Algorithms and Search Technology
Yahoo, founded in 1994 by Jerry Young, for many years outsourced search to other search engines. From 2001 to 2004 Yahoo used Google’s search technology. In 2002 Yahoo acquired Inktomi for $235 million and became number 2 search engine.
Microsoft Algorithms and Search Technology
Microsoft officially launched search engine technology on January 31st, 2005. Optimization for MSN and Live.com algorithms [both powered by Microsoft] are geared towards on page factors, rather than outside links.
Ask.com Algorithms and Search Technology
Founded in 1996, Ask.com bases it’s search results on large community hubs. Until there is a broad online community around a specific topic, Ask.com will have trouble ranking it. Holding 3%-4% of search market share, Ask.com is the last of search engines to optimize for.

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