Search Engines
Understanding how search engines work, Google in particular, is important when working in SEO. The basics of crawling and indexing are amazingly useful to understand if you want to rank your own content.
Additionally, Google updates its algorithm several times a year. Understanding the more significant updates, and how they work, can help you to craft content and SEO strategies that are up-to-date.
We've written extensively about how search engines work, and included some of the top resources here. You can also browse the latest posts on search engines from the Moz blog below.
How Search Engines Work : New to SEO? Start with the basics of how search engines operate with our free beginner's guide.
Search Engine Ranking and Visibility : Learn the fundamentals of how search engines rank content on search engine result pages.
Google Algorithm Update History : A complete history of Google algorithm updates since 2000. This includes important links and references for understanding how Google works.
How Search Engines Value Links : Search engines work off a number of signals, but two of the most important are content and links. In this video, Rand Fishkin explains the basics of link evaluation.
MozCast : Is Google updating it's algorithm as we speak? MozCast is the Google algorithm weather report, so you can see how much Google results are changing each day.
Will Google Bring Back Google Authorship?
Recently, Google spokesperson Gary Illyes said that site owners should keep rel=author on their content pages, as it's always possible Google could start using it again. Does that mean that Google might bring back its Authorship program in search? Mark Traphagen provides in-depth analysis and a little educated speculation.
Have We Been Wrong About Panda All Along?
Everyone knows that thin and duplicate content are huge Panda factors. But are they really? In this article, Marie Haynes explores the possibility that Panda is about so much more than thin and duplicate content, and that salvation lies in overhauling your site to be truly excellent.
Google Glossary: Revenge of Mega-SERP
The Google Glossary is an ongoing attempt to catalog the rich Google feature set and the world beyond 10 blue links.
User Behaviour Data as a Ranking Signal
Do search engines collect and utilise user behaviour data for ranking purposes? We've got a deep-dive into the data and theories behind user behaviour, search visibility, and more.
Google's Local Snack Pack Shake-Up: What You Need to Know
Google recently shook up the local results in its SERPs, killing the local 7-packs in favor of a 3-pack that resembles the mobile experience. This post tells you everything you need to know about the change and what it means for your local marketing.Level Up Your SEO Skills With Our Free Training
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The Future of SEO: 2015 Ranking Factors Expert Survey Deep Dive
It's here! We're excited to announce the results of Moz's biennial Search Engine Ranking Correlation Study and Expert Survey, aka Ranking Factors. Moz's Ranking Factors study helps identify which attributes of pages and sites have the strongest association with ranking highly in Google. The study consists of t...
Announcing the 2015 Search Engine Ranking Factors Study
Today we're excited to announce the results of Moz's famous Ranking Factors study. The study helps to identify which attributes of webpages and sites have the strongest association with higher rankings in Google. Ready to dive in?
Controlling Search Engine Crawlers for Better Indexation and Rankings
Robots.txt, meta robots, and the nofollow tag are all ways to tell search engines how to crawl and index your site. In today's Whiteboard Friday, Rand covers four common use cases of these tools, offering guidance on when you should use one over another.
Big Data, Big Problems: 4 Major Link Indexes Compared
Size isn't all that matters when it comes to measuring links, how proportional the whole link graph is to Google's is essential. So, how good is your data?
How Google May Use Searcher, Usage, & Clickstream Behavior to Impact Rankings
The amount of data Google has about our habits on the web is absolutely astounding. In today's Whiteboard Friday, Rand explores the implications of a recent patent, offering views into how they might be using that data.